Busboys and Poets Books Presents KAEPERNICK EFFECT with Dave Zirin
Date and Time
Nov 22, 2021 6:00 pm
Location
Takoma
235 Carroll St NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20012
Nov 22, 2021 6:00 pm
Takoma
In 2016, Colin Kaepernick first took a knee during the National Anthem before an NFL game to protest racial injustice, police brutality, and anti-blackness in the United States. He continued to do so during the 2016-2017 football season, and inspired Americans all over the country to follow suit in other organized sports. From the rugby pitch to the Nascar track to the football field, Kaepernick’s actions have left a lasting legacy. Join local author Dave Zirin (A People’s History of Sports in the United States) and Teaching for Change associate director Nakeesha “Keesha” Ceran for a conversation diving deep into what the “Kaepernick Effect” means and how this event reverberated not only across sports but politics and pop culture. THE KAEPERNICK EFFECT: TAKING A KNEE, CHANGING THE WORLD is a must-read for folks who love sports, politics, and racial justice. This event is free and open to all, and accessible through our Facebook and Youtube pages (@busboysandpoets).
Please RSVP if you are joining us in person or are interested in purchasing a signed book with shipping (limited to those tuning in via livestream)
Doors open to the Nicolas Guillen room at Busboys and Poets Takoma at 5:45 PM on November 22nd. The program itself will begin at 6 PM with an introduction from Busboys and Poets Books Director of Operations, Lori Barrientos Sanchez, before we get right into it with Dave and Keesha to discuss THE KAEPERNICK EFFECT in depth There will be time for Q&A with the audience before the end of the program, as well as the opportunity to purchase a copy of THE KAEPERNICK EFFECT for Dave to sign the night of!
THE KAEPERNICK EFFECT: TAKING A KNEE, CHANGING THE WORLD- In 2016, amid an epidemic of police shootings of African Americans, the celebrated NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick began a series of quiet protests on the field, refusing to stand during the U.S. national anthem. By “taking a knee,” Kaepernick bravely joined a long tradition of American athletes making powerful political statements. This time, however, Kaepernick’s simple act spread like wildfire throughout American society, becoming the preeminent symbol of resistance to America’s persistent racial inequality.
Critically acclaimed sports journalist and author of A People’s History of Sports in the United States, Dave Zirin chronicles “the Kaepernick effect” for the first time, through interviews with a broad cross-section of professional athletes across many different sports, college stars and high-powered athletic directors, and high school athletes and coaches. In each case, he uncovers the fascinating explanations and motivations behind a mass political movement in sports, through deeply personal and inspiring accounts of risk-taking, activism, and courage both on and off the field.
A book about the politics of sport, and the impact of sports on politics, The Kaepernick Effect is for anyone seeking to understand an essential dimension of the new movement for racial justice in America.
Dave Zirin: One of UTNE Reader’s “50 Visionaries Who Are Changing Our World,” Zirin is the sports editor of The Nation, a columnist for The Progressive, and the host of the Edge of Sports podcast. His many books include A People’s History of Sports in the United States, Game Over, Bad Sports, and The Kaepernick Effect (all published by The New Press). Zirin has also been a regular guest on MSNBC, CNN, and ESPN. He lives near Washington, DC.
Nakeesha “Keesha” Ceran serves as the associate director of Teaching for Change. Teaching for Change provides teachers and parents with the tools to create schools where students learn to read, write, and change the world. Keesha holds three degrees in Political Science as a proud community college graduate and a double alumna of American University, with Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Keesha also is a huge sports fan, often paying more attention to Sportscenter than the 24-hour news cycle.
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This event is co-sponsored by Teaching for Change. Teaching for Change provides teachers and parents with the tools to create schools where students learn to read, write, and change the world. By drawing direct connections to real world issues, Teaching for Change encourages teachers and students to question and re-think the world inside and outside their classrooms, build a more equitable, multicultural society, and become active global citizens.
