Colin Kaepernick accuses his White adoptive parents of 'problematic' upbringing, perpetuating racism

Former NFL player Colin Kaepernick said his parents perpetuated racism at times during his young adulthood in a new novel.

Former NFL quarterback Colin Kapernick accused his adoptive parents of "perpetuating racism," in an interview that aired Thursday.

Kaepernick talked about coming to terms with his racial identity while growing up in a White family in his new graphic novel, "Change the Game." The former football player recalled disagreements with his parents that he attributed to racism, calling his upbringing "problematic."

"I know my parents loved me. But they were still very problematic things that I went through," the biracial quarterback said to CBS News.

"I think it was important to show that, no, this can happen in your own home, and how we move forward collectively while addressing the racism that is being perpetuated," he added.

Colin Kaepernick arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix's "Colin In Black And White" at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on October 28, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Kevin Winter/WireImage)

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Kaepernick illustrated one specific example of this in the novel, depicting a fight he had with his parents during high school over his hairstyle.

Inspired to braid his hair in cornrows like his hero, NBA star Allen Iverson, Kaepernick recalled received pushback from is parents.

"He's getting what rolls?" his mom says in the graphic novel. 

Kaepernick said that after styling his hair this way his mom warned his hair was "not professional" and he "looked like a little thug."

 (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)

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