Colin Kaepernick Talks ‘The Perilous Fight,’ Authenticity at CultureCon 2026

Ten years after Colin Kaepernick’s national anthem protest sparked a national conversation, the former NFL quarterback and civil rights activist took the CultureCon stage to discuss the experiences behind that moment and his newly released memoir, The Perilous Fight.

Kaepernick joined journalist and commentator Bomani Jones on Oct. 3 for “Beyond the Playbook: Colin Kaepernick on The Perilous Fight,” an Audible-presented conversation during CultureCon 2026 at Duggal Greenhouse in Brooklyn.

The appearance came less than three weeks after the Sept. 15 release of The Perilous Fight, published by Legacy Lit. The memoir has since become a No. 1 New York Times bestseller, according to publisher Hachette Book Group. Hachette Book Group

The book looks beyond the protest that made Kaepernick one of the most discussed athletes in the country, tracing his story from his childhood in Turlock, California, through football, his rise to the Super Bowl and the political education that influenced his activism. Hachette Book Group

During his CultureCon appearance, Kaepernick also offered a simple piece of advice that extended beyond sports.

“Be authentic to who you are,” he told attendees.

Kaepernick's CultureCon appearance came almost exactly a decade after his protest became a defining moment in American sports.

On Sept. 1, 2016, Kaepernick took a knee during the national anthem before a San Francisco 49ers preseason game as a protest against racial injustice. The decision would eventually become much larger than football, prompting years of debate over race, policing, patriotism and athlete activism.

In The Perilous Fight, Kaepernick provides more context for the years preceding that decision.

According to Legacy Lit, the memoir details Kaepernick's experience growing up as a Black child adopted into a white family, his development as an athlete and his later study of figures including Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Huey P. Newton and Angela Davis. Hachette Book Group

Kaepernick has said the protest was not an impulsive decision but the result of years of experiences and learning.

“People saw the moment. But they didn’t see the years that made it possible,” Kaepernick said when the memoir was announced. Hachette Book Group

The audio edition of The Perilous Fight adds another dimension to the memoir.

Kaepernick narrates the audiobook himself, with Audible incorporating archival audio, news clips, game commentary and sound design into the production. Kaepernick compared the recording process to a movie production during a recent Audible interview. Audible.com

Audible Head of Consumer Content Diana Dapito said when the project was announced that hearing Kaepernick tell the story himself brings a level of “urgency and authenticity” unique to his voice. Hachette Book Group

The audiobook was produced by Audible and released exclusively on the platform alongside the print and digital editions on Sept. 15. Hachette Book Group

For CultureCon attendees, the conversation offered an opportunity to hear directly from a figure whose actions have been analyzed and debated for a decade.

The session was part of CultureCon's 2026 “Museum of Us” weekend, which brought thousands of creatives to the Brooklyn Navy Yard for two days of conversations, workshops, mentorship and cultural programming.

And while Kaepernick's appearance revisited one of the most recognizable moments of his public life, the conversation also looked beyond it — toward the experiences that shaped the person who ultimately made that decision.

The Perilous Fight is available in hardcover and e-book through Legacy Lit, with the audiobook available through Audible.