Colin Kaepernick to publish memoir 10 years after protest, tracing roots to Turlock
Former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick will release a memoir this fall reflecting on his life, activism and the events that led to his national anthem protest and exit from the NFL. It’s a story that begins in Stanislaus County.
Kaepernick announced Tuesday that his book, “The Perilous Fight,” will be published Sept. 15, nearly 10 years after he first kneeled during the pregame singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” to protest racial injustice and police brutality.
The memoir will be published by Legacy Lit, an imprint of Hachette Book Group, with an audiobook narrated by Kaepernick and released exclusively through Audible.
Announcing the book, Kaepernick framed it as a personal account of a story he says has long been told by others. “The world has been telling my story for ten years. It’s my turn,” he wrote on social media.
According to a press release, the memoir will explore “the becoming, the moment, and what’s still left to fight for,” tracing his journey from childhood through his rise to the NFL and his emergence as a prominent civil rights activist.
That journey, Kaepernick said, began in Turlock, where he grew up after being adopted as a child and attended Pitman High School.
At Pitman, Kaepernick developed into a standout multi-sport athlete, excelling in football, baseball and basketball before going on to star at the University of Nevada and later with the San Francisco 49ers, whom he led to a Super Bowl appearance during the 2012 season.
Kaepernick’s 2016 protest — kneeling during “The Star-Spangled Banner” — quickly became one of the most consequential and polarizing moments in modern sports, sparking national debate over race, policing and free expression.
He has not played in the NFL since that season.
In the book, Kaepernick describes the protest not as a spontaneous act but as the culmination of years of personal development and reflection. “When I took a knee, it wasn’t a sudden act. It was the result of years of becoming,” he said in the release.
The memoir is described as both a personal narrative and a broader reflection on identity, sacrifice and social justice, examining how a single act of protest evolved into a global movement.
For residents of the Modesto area, Kaepernick’s story remains closely tied to the region. His rise from Turlock to national prominence continues to resonate locally, even as his impact extends far beyond football.
“The Perilous Fight” is available for preorder. It’s $32.50 hardcover, $15.99 ebook.
