“Colin in Black and White” gets us back to Black issues
I didn’t know what to expect from the limited series, Colin in Black and White. Lately, I’ve been very careful about what I watch or read regarding “thought” pieces on Black culture. I’ve noticed that the Black American struggle has become trendy, lucrative, and in many ways, hijacked by other agendas that are not our own.
Black movements today
Ironically, what starts out as a movement to bring attention AND reform for systemic black issues, quickly becomes a self-interested attention grab for some of those involved. What happens next is shameful.
Those who have been unjustly killed end up becoming tag-lines, while their faces sell over priced tee-shirts, and their tragedies boost social media “likes”. Meanwhile, things stay relatively the same. Or worse, “Black issues” are reduced to “one issue” while everything else is underplayed or overlooked. So, after the marches, the photo-ops, and moments of silence…things go back to “normal” and the same injustices like clockwork happen again.
Colin’s important role
By taking a knee, Colin Kaepernick was arguably the catalyst that helped bring real attention to Black issues in modern times. His decision to take a knee was marred in controversy, misinterpreted, and spun into something negative when objectively it was not. Kaepernick was clear from the beginning: His aim was to bring attention to black injustice, police brutality, and to finally see change.
The world watched as a man put his career and reputation on the line for Black issues. For that reason alone, the bar was set high for this series. I was really hoping Colin in Black and White didn’t miss the mark – especially since Colin Kaepernick was part of it’s creation. Thankfully, the series did its job very well.
What to expect from the series
The series touches on hair, micro-aggression, subtle racism, black “exceptionalism”, colorism, white beauty standards, white approval, and how Colin navigated through all of this to walk his own path. What the series highlights more than anything else, is that his experience is very similar to many Black experiences in America. While we are not a monolith (and shouldn’t be viewed as such), Black people often deal with the same struggles.
Overall, it was a really good series that touched on so many issues that are worthy of thoughtful discussion and consideration. I laughed many times, teared up a few times, but was glad that time and care was taken with Colin’s story, because in many ways it is a story all Black Americans can understand.
Colin in Black and White premieres October 29, 2021!