I’m with KAP

Edward Fultz

​Who is Colin Kaepernick? Colin Kaepernick is a former NFL Quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. During the 2012-2013 NFL season, he became known in the sports world when he led the 49ers to Super Bowl 47. Unfortunately, they lost to the Baltimore Ravens 31-34.
 
During the 49ers’ third preseason game of the 2016 season, Kaepernick became nationally known beyond the sports world when he was noticed sitting down through the playing of the National Anthem. During a post-game interview, he explained that “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.” After a discussion with former NFL player and U.S. Military veteran, Nate Boyer, Kaepernick switched to kneeling to give more respect to former and current U.S. military members.
 
Consequently, Kaepernick’s kneeling became highly controversial. The country took a stance on either supporting or not supporting Kaepernick’s actions. As a result of Kaepernick’s actions, he went unsigned throughout the 2017 season leading to allegations of being blackballed. Kaepernick claimed that he was unsigned due to his on-field political actions as opposed to his performance on the football field. Fortunately, Nike decided to partner with Colin Kaepernick and included Kaepernick in its 30th Anniversary ad of its Just Do It slogan on September 5th, 2018, which was the opener of the NFL 2018-2019 season.
 
On Friday, October 5th, Colin Kaepernick and his company, Inked Flash, filed an application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office to trademark his face. The trademark is an image of his face and will be used on various items such as shampoo, hairspray, jewelry, lampshades, cell phone cases and clothing. Kaepernick wants to use the image in association with “providing classes, workshops, seminars and camps in the field of self empowerment and awareness to properly interact with law enforcement.” Kaepernick also wants to “provide a website featuring information about education, social activism, self-empowerment and awareness.” As well as in association with “production of televisions shows and films.” The entire application includes 17 classes.
 
While there still remains controversy over Kaepernick’s actions, it can be said that Kaepernick represents an individual who believed in something by sacrificing everything.
 
 
 

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