Colin Kaepernick’s pledge to take a knee during the national anthem in protest of police brutality has the country split. To some, his actions are unpatriotic; to others, he’s demonstrating activism at its finest. But siding on with the later, is Muhammad Ali’s ex-wife, Khalilah Camacho Ali, who insisted Kaepernick’s action were “unheroic” and should result in a public apology.
“What he’s doing right now is not heroic,” Khalilah told TMZ Sports. “I would love to meet with him or talk to him on the phone to help share his message in a better way.” Khalilah, whom was married to the late boxing icon from 1967 to 1976, doesn’t have a problem with what he is choosing to speak up against, but more so his methods of bringing attention to the larger issue.
“I helped Muhammad decide whether he was going to the army or going to jail. He listened to my every word,” Khalilah said. She attributed Muhammad Ali’s decision to refuse to enlist in the army to good decision making. “You see the impact that had on our nation,” she continued. “Colin could absolutely have the same impact if he made the right decisions to really make a difference.”
So in order to correct the situation, she has a couple of solutions in mind. “The first thing I would do is ask him about his stance on humanity… What exactly is he trying to improve and how is he going to make that happen? Next, I’d have him make a retraction for his actions against the American flag. He needs to apologize,” she added.
But Kaepernick doesn’t have to do it alone. “I will help him meet the groups that will fight with him, donate to charities of all people — not just minorities — because we cannot single anyone out. If he wants isolation to end, he needs to prove that he cares about all people, and not just his people. If he is willing to get off his high horse and humble himself, we could do a lot of good together.”
While Colin’s silent protest has picked up steam in the last few days, he has vowed that it will go a step further in order to correct the ongoing injustices throughout the country. He has also pledged to donate his first $1 million in earnings to charity. “I am planning to take it a step further, I’m currently working with organizations to be involved, and making sure I’m actively in these communities, as well as donating the first million dollars I make this year to different organizations to help these communities and help these people,” Colin said during a post-game briefing on Aug. 29.