Rodney Harrison Apologizes for Saying Mixed-Race Colin Kaepernick Is ‘Not Black’

Former NFL player and current NBC analyst Rodney Harrison criticized Colin Kaepernick today by saying he’s not black and doesn’t understand the black experience. Kaepernick is mixed-race.

In a radio interview, Harrison said that while his heart was in the right place by sitting during the national anthem to speak up about injustices against black Americans, but said that Kaepernick is “not black” and doesn’t understand that firsthand.

Hs suggested that Kaepernick should actually get more involved in causes instead of just sitting in protest.

You can listen to the audio here, via iHeartRadio:

A little later, Harrison ended up apologizing on Twitter (he apparently didn’t know Kaepernick was mixed-race):

I never intended to offend anyone , I was trying to speak about my experiences as a African American.

— Rodney Harrison (@Rodney_Harrison) August 30, 2016

I apologize to anyone that I offended , wasn't meant to be hurtful to anyone. God bless

— Rodney Harrison (@Rodney_Harrison) August 30, 2016

Last point I want people to know. I never even knew he was mixed.

— Rodney Harrison (@Rodney_Harrison) August 30, 2016

I should not have called Colin Kaepernick’s race into question during this morning’s radio interview. It was a mistake and I apologize.

— Rodney Harrison (@Rodney_Harrison) August 30, 2016

[image via Shutterstock]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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