Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaerpernick will receive one of Harvard University’s highest awards during ceremonies in Boston next month.
Harvard has announced that Kaepernick will receive the W.E.B. Du Bois Medal on Oct. 11. It is presented by the school’s Hutchins Center for African and African-American research.
W.E.B. Du Bois Medals will be presented to Colin Kaepernick, Dave Chappelle, Kenneth I. Chenault, Shirley Ann Jackson, Pamela J. Joyner, Florence C. Ladd, Bryan Stevenson, and Kehinde Wiley on Oct 11 https://t.co/H0IttulsjL
— Harvard University (@Harvard) September 20, 2018
DuBois was a leading African-American activist and writer. He was a leader in the Niagra Movement, which strove for equal civil rights for blacks.
Other DuBois medalists this year include philanthropist Kenneth Chenault and comedian Dave Chappelle.
A statement from Harvard indicates the honorees have made significant contributions to African-American history and culture. They are “individuals who advocated for intercultural understanding and human rights in an increasingly global and interconnected world.”
Earlier winners have included Muhammad Ali, Oprah Winfrey and U.S. Rep. John Lewis.
It’s not the first award Kaerpernick has been awarded since taking a knee during the national anthem to protest the treatment of African-Americans. He was named Ambassador of Conscience by Amnesty International.
And he’s also the star of a celebrated new Nike commercial that debuted earlier this month, although he has not played in the NFL since his act of civil disobedience.
