Colin Kaepernick: The Genesis Of A Protester Is A Netflix Drama About The Birth Of A Protester.

When American soccer star Colin Copernicus knelt during the national anthem, he symbolized overnight protest and division for US competition. Now he's partnered with Netflix to show what a sports-loving teenager did on his journey to become a civil rights activist.

When young Kapernik first explored and expressed his black identity, he did so through his hairstyle.

Before the typical Afro, she got braids and then in high school, but soon discovers that something as harmless as hair can spark strong opinion and contention.

So the story is told in Colin's first episode in black and white, an organic series that tells the story of Copernicus' origins before he became a star quarterback and then a contemporary protest leader after kneeling in 2016.

On the show, his hairstyle was symbolic of the challenges that young Copernicus had to overcome and shaped the personality of a man who faced or couldn't resist the power of the American national anthem and the restaurant.

"Colin wanted to focus on his teenage years," said Ava Duvernay, the Oscar-nominated director who co-developed the series with Kaepernick. It was exciting for me to take the challenge and focus on it because I think by concentrating on adolescence, we can get some insight into this male base that has become so important to our culture around the world.

"The basic elements of being who you are, of creating a uniquely American icon, of creating a warrior for justice - what are the things that make him up?"

"And it is the little things."

The six-part series, which landed on Netflix on Friday, contained a relatively small number of things that turned out to be significant in retrospect.

Kaepernick had to accept and affirm his identity in a predominantly white community and white host family; he had to fight a coach who ignored his talent for no apparent reason and dealing with prejudice from hotel managers and police. "Early in his life, we ​​get to see someone who listens to his voice, who believes in his strength every step of the way," Duvernay continues.

"There were times when he had to hold the tide. So you see how each moment is on par with the men we have today. DuVernay interviewed Kaepernick about his youth to focus on the storyline. Despite Kaepernick's close involvement with the series, 18-year-old star Jaden Michael says he "doesn't spend much time" with the man he plays. "We had a few dates and met up after the production," said the actor.