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This week, Harvard University announced Colin Kaepernick, activist and former NFL quarterback, will be a recipient of W.E.B. Du Bois award. The W.E.B. Du Bois medal is Harvard’s highest honor in African and African American studies, signifying “recognition of their contributions to African and African American culture and the life of the mind.”
Kehinde Wiley, the artist who painted Barack Obama’s official portrait, will also be among the recipients for the October ceremony. Some past recipients include Maya Angelou, Dave Chappelle, Muhammad Ali.
After kneeling during the national anthem during football games to protest racial injustice, Kaepernick has been out for two NFL seasons. During this time, he has continued to stand up for the rights he believes in. Most recently, Nike revealed he is the face of their newest campaign.