Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is set to be honored The Gordon Parks Foundation at its Annual Awards Dinner in May.
Kaepernick will be celebrated for his work in social justice.
“Athlete and activist Colin Kaepernick, civil rights activist and former chairman of the NAACP Myrlie Evers-Williams and mixed-media artist Mickalene Thomas have been added to the roster of honorees at The Gordon Parks Foundation’s Annual Awards Dinner, which will take place on May 21 at Cipriani 42nd St. in New York City,” Paul Grein of Billboard wrote.
The signal-caller is being recognized for taking a knee during the national anthem in 2016 in order to bring attention to systemic oppression against minority communities.
Kaepernick, who played his collegiate football at the University of Nevada, was originally selected by the 49ers in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft.
He led San Francisco to a Super Bowl appearance as soon as his second season, as he supplanted Alex Smith as the starter. Kaepernick then became the full-time starter, with his best campaign coming in 2013 when he threw for 3,197 yards, 21 touchdowns and eight interceptions while completing 58.4 percent of his passes and posting a passer rating of 91.6.
The 36-year-old played with the 49ers through 2016, losing his starter job multiple times over the last couple of years of his career.
During his final season in San Francisco, Kaepernick made 11 starts and totaled 2.241 yards, 16 touchdowns and four picks while completing 59.2 percent of his throws and registering a passer rating of 90.7.
Colin Kaepernick has not played in the NFL since and has accused the league of blackballing him due to his views on social justice.
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