All photos via: GQ magazine
For its December Men of the Year issue, GQ Magazine is celebrating the “man who became a movement,” Colin Kaepernick by naming him its 2017 Citizen of the Year.
According to GQ, its cover story titled, “Colin Kaepernick Will Not Be Silenced,” features a “ten-person team of (Kaepernick’s) closest confidants—including rapper J.Cole, director Ava DuVernay, activist Harry Belafonte, and Women’s March co-organizer Linda Sarsour—to speak on the subjects of activism, protest, and equality, and to offer some rare insights into Colin Kaepernick himself.”
Photo by: Martin Schoeller
Kaepernick is not quoted once in the story as he has “grown wise to the power of his silence,” however, he agreed to do the project to “reclaim the narrative of his protest,” GQ writes.
The project also includes photos of Kaepernick by Martin Schoeller that seek to evoke the spirit of Muhammad Ali’s anti-Vietnam War protests in the 60’s. Since taking a knee during the national anthem to protest racial injustice and police brutality last year, Kaepernick has donated almost one million dollars to organizations working in oppressed communities, and launched “Know Your Rights Camp – an organization that seeks to inform youth about higher education, self-empowerment, and how to properly interact with law enforcement.
We can’t think of a more deserving person to be named GQ’s Citizen of the Year. Congratulations, Colin!
Visit GQ.com to read Kaepernick’s full cover story.