Colin Kaepernick, Nessa Diab on new e-book ‘We Are Free, You and Me’ : NPR

Former NFL quarterback, Colin Kaepernick continues to construct on his civil rights work spurred by the choice to kneel throughout the Nationwide Anthem at the beginning of the 2016 season.

His protest towards police violence set off months of intense nationwide debate about activism and sports activities.

Kaepernick’s determination got here at a worth—he remained unsigned after that season —however it additionally introduced him a brand new platform as an activist, writer and extra not too long ago as a father.

Parenthood and activism alongside his spouse and media character, Nessa Diab, has impressed a brand new kids’s e-book, We Are Free You and Me,out this month.

The 2 spoke to NPR’s Michel Martin on Morning Version about their new e-book, parenting and soccer.

This interview has been edited for size and readability.

Michel Martin: Colin, I’ll begin with you, as a result of that is your third e-book written for teenagers or younger adults. So I am saying you had this focus earlier than you turned a mother or father, simply questioning how that zeal got here to you and now that you’re a dad, is that this totally different?

Colin Kaepernick: Quite a lot of the eagerness truly got here from the work that we have been doing with the Know Your Rights Camp. Now, being a father– this kids’s e-book, We Are Free You and Me, with my spouse, Nessa– and all of that fruits has actually led to a lovely e-book that we hope younger youngsters can take, internalize use it as a basis as they transfer ahead.

Martin: Nessa, how would you describe this e-book to different dad and mom?

Nessa Diab:  You are going to get pleasure, you are going to get happiness, you are going to get energy, you are going to get, you understand, feeling empowered and neighborhood. That is likely one of the many issues that I am pleased with, as a result of there’s simply nothing you possibly can’t accomplish with the fitting assist system. And I really feel that neighborhood is that for most individuals.

Martin : Nicely, as you identified, it is colourful, it is joyous. However I’ve to say, it does take care of some weighty ideas. One of many passages says:  

“Your reality is your energy, just like the roots of a tree, belief in your energy. 

You’ve got the fitting to be free. The correct to be free is one thing we share. 

However life might be powerful and never all the time honest. Think about a future one that’s higher. 

We are able to construct a brand new world. We’ll do it collectively.”

These usually are not easy ideas. I imply, the thought of imagining a unique world is one thing that a variety of adults battle with. And I am simply questioning how you’re feeling, particularly the littlest folks will take that in. I might love to listen to from each of you on this, particularly now that you’ve your personal focus group at residence, proper? 

Kaepernick: Precisely. How we approached it was, how will we take a variety of the rules of Know Your Rights that’s targeted on the older age group, the work that we have been doing in communities, and the way will we put that ready the place our target market of 3- to 8-year-olds can learn this? Like, “Oh, I begin, I am beginning to grasp these ideas of how I can function on this planet and what rights I’ve, what I can do, what I must be aspiring for.” And to your level, I believe one of many causes that it is arduous for us as adults to even grasp a few of these ideas is as a result of they begin to get stripped away from us at such a younger age. But when we instill this concept of chance and a greater future in a really younger era, they do not must undergo rewiring their very own thoughts and the rhyming and the lyrical nature of it, we wish it to be enjoyable, we wish it to be joyful, however we additionally need to have that extraordinarily highly effective message that children can carry with them.

Martin: Nessa, what do you suppose?

Diab: I agree with all the pieces Colin stated. And I believe for me, after I was youthful, I’d have beloved to have had this message. I imply, the messages got here in several methods, however having empowering messages distilled in a really stunning, easy approach, I believe is one thing that I hope our daughter retains along with her eternally.

Martin: Colin, what about you? Is there one among these freedoms that you just want had been communicated to you once you have been rising up?

Kaepernick: Yeah, I believe the one which stands out to me is that first passage you learn that opens the e-book. “Your reality is your energy. Just like the roots of a tree. Belief your energy. You’ve got the fitting to be free.” To me, that is such a foundational message of 1’s personal energy to your personal identification. After which the way you truly categorical that and the way that reveals up on this planet. That was my private scenario. However we additionally created this e-book that everyone goes to have their very own situations the place folks apply totally different pressures or totally different perceptions or biases in direction of them and that doubtless is just not a mirrored image of them or what they’re doing, however how another person perceives them. So having confidence in who they’re, having confidence in their very own energy and their very own reality and what they consider in and actually carrying that ahead. And if we’re doing that in direction of a greater future with one of the best of intentions, that may take us a really good distance.

Martin: I am listening to a bit of particular person within the background. Is that your…particular person, your little particular person? Your focus group? 

Kaepernick: That’s our daughter working round.

Martin: Such as you stated, freedom to maneuver, freedom to play.

Diab: That’s proper.

Kaepernick: Precisely.

Martin: Truly, that is one of many pages that stood out to me, it’s “you might have the liberty to maneuver. You’ve got the liberty to play.” There’s analysis that reveals that notably youngsters of coloration– notably Black youngsters– are adultified. Quite a lot of observers see them as older than they’re after which deal with them accordingly so that they’re probably not allowed to be youngsters. I questioned if that was a part of your considering in together with that message there– that you just’re allowed to be a child.

Kaepernick: Completely. Giving youngsters the area to simply be youngsters like they don’t seem to be going to be excellent. They’ll play, they’ll discover.

Martin: They’re going to bust into your interviews.

Kaepernick: She is having the time of her life.

Martin: Colin, earlier than I allow you to go, I’ve to ask, It is soccer season. Do you miss it?

Kaepernick: Oh, I’ll eternally miss it. And I proceed to coach for it. On the finish of the day, I do not need to be ready the place I look again and must query whether or not or not I gave it my all to attempt to pursue that. I’ll make it possible for the explanation I am not enjoying is just not due to my work ethic or dedication, however as a result of I used to be held out of it.

This text was edited by Obed Manuel.