Entertainment
Ava DuVernay recalls compelling Colin Kaepernick story about hair and famous cornrows: ‘This is historical in terms of the resistance that our hair represents’
Caption: Netflix announces new limited series created by Colin Kaepernick and Ava DuVernay Credit: AP/GETTY)
Ava DuVernay has teamed up with American football star Colin Kaepernick in an upcoming Netflix series.
The all-star athlete, 33, has teamed up with the When They See Us director, 49, to create a limited series based on his high school years, titled Colin in Black & White.
The limited series will explore Colin’s experiences of being a Black teenager living with a white adopted family.
When asked whether the footballer’s stories left her feeling emotional, Ava revealed it was Colin’s self-love journey that inspired her the most.
Speaking to Metro.co.uk, the filmmaker said: ‘There were so many stories that he told that Michael Starrbury and I put in something you can view and enjoy and watch in a TV show.
‘One of them was about the first episode which was about hair and Black people, who are challenged by a society who really wants to control our hair.
The football star was once told that in order for him to progress in the NFL, he would need to cut his hair (Picture: REUTERS)
Jaden Michael stars as young Colin in upcoming Netflix show Colin in Black and White (Picture: SER BAFFO/NETFLIX)
‘This is historical, this goes back centuries in terms of the resistance that our hair represents, and the social control that happens through requirements, curiosity and fear about our hair, something that grows naturally for us.’
Colin, who has always rocked an afro hairstyle, was infamously told by former football star Michael Vick, that in order for him to progress in the national football league, he would need to cut his hair.
In one of the episodes Colin discusses the level of ignorance he faced growing up due to his hairstyle.
Ava added: ‘Colin was telling me a lot of stories about that over the course of our time together and we put that into an episode called “Cornrows”.
‘Which was an episode I directed, which I think is a beautiful example of how a small story can illuminate a larger societal, cultural truth, so that’ll probably be the one.’
More: Netflix
Netflix describes the show as a ‘bold new limited series that chronicles Kaepernick’s coming of age story, tackling the obstacles of race, class, and culture as the Black adopted child of a white family.’
The series promises to guide viewers through a robust and colourfully presented array of historical and contemporary contextual moments.
Colin in Black and White premieres on October 29 on Netflix.
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