African American History Museum To Host A Colin Kaepernick Exhibit

People have had a lot to say on Colin Kaepernick and his decision to protest the national anthem, but there is one undeniable fact: It has impacted how we watch football.

Now it’s being recognized again. Kaepernick is getting his own exhibit in the National Museum of African American History.

This comes on the heels of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture collecting Kaepernick’s jersey, which was worn during one of his national anthem protests, along with other clothing items to be displayed in an exhibit.

Sociologist and author Harry Edwards encouraged the museum in its efforts to display something of tremendous significance.

“I said, ‘Don’t wait 50 years to try to get some memorabilia and so forth on Kaepernick,’” Edwards said, according to USA Today. “‘Let me give you a game jersey, some shoes, a picture. … And it should be put right there alongside Muhammad Ali. He’s this generation’s Ali.’”

Kaepernick’s protest has dominated football headlines for the past year, whether it’s being reported on positively or negatively. Other players such as Malcolm Jenkins and Michael Bennett have picked up where Kaepernick left off.

Kaepernick’s unemployment, of course, remains a hot-button topic throughout the NFL.

Seemingly every time a quarterback gets signed out of free agency that isn’t the former 49er, a new wave of disbelief crests on social media.

Kaepernick brought the 49ers to a Super Bowl berth in 2012, but had faltered in recent seasons before being benched last year. There has been a huge amount of speculation on whether or not he’s being blackballed by the league, but whatever the case, his presence is still hanging over football.

Moreover, maybe Kaepernick won’t get back into pro football, but he seems to be quite the attraction for highly regarded museums, as well as someone who is in fact making a positive difference off the field.

He pledged a $1 million donation to charity – most of which has already been fulfilled – and his 49ers teammates awarded him the Len Eshmont Award for his “inspirational and courageous play” last season

Whether he gets a quarterback job or not, Kaepernick — and his protests — are being immortalized by forces bigger than football.