Rodney Harrison says Colin Kaepernick isn’t black

by | Aug 30, 2016

Former Chargers and Patriots safety Rodney Harrison had an interesting take on the whole Colin Kaepernick situation. He says the 49ers quarterback isn’t black, so he doesn’t fully understand what black people face on a daily basis.

“I tell you this, I’m a black man. And Colin Kaepernick—he’s not black,” Harrison said during a radio appearance on Houston’s SportsTalk 790. “He can not understand what I face and what other young black men and black people face, or people of color face, on a every single (day) basis. When you walk in a grocery store, and you might have $2,000 or $3,000 in your pocket and you go up in to a Foot Locker and they’re looking at you like you about to steal something.”

“You know, I don’t think he faces those type of things that we face on a daily basis.”

Kaepernick was born to a white mother and black father before being adopted.

“I’m not saying he has to be black, but I’m saying, his heart is in the right place, but even with what he’s doing, he still doesn’t understand the injustices as a black man, or people of color, that’s what I’m saying,” Harrison said.

Kaepernick’s decision to protest the national anthem has caused national controversy, and Harrison isn’t the only former player to offer his take on the situation. Jerry Rice, the Hall of Fame receiver for the 49ers, tweeted about it on Tuesday.

Harrison’s comments are just the first of many that Kaepernick will face during his protest.

Update: Harrison apologized on Twitter shortly after the radio interview.