In Colin Kaepernick and Nessa Diab’s household, reading is a big deal — and now the couple has poured that passion into their first joint picture book!
The activist and former athlete, 36, and radio presenter, 40, are releasing a children’s book ‘We’re Free, You and I’, which focuses on an issue close to them – the Know Your Rights Camp (KYRC) and its 10 points, which range from ‘You have the right to “Be safe” to “You have the right to be brave.”
The couple, who have a 2-year-old daughter, are donating all proceeds from the book to the organization, whose mission is to “promote the liberation and well-being of black and brown communities through education, self-empowerment and mass education.” Mobilizing and creating new systems that raise the level of the next generation of change leaders.
Nessa Diab and Colin Kaepernick with their daughter.
Tony Ng for Kaepernick Media
In an email interview, the co-authors of We Are Free, You and Me said that “as parents, this project was especially meaningful to us,” because the messages it conveys are “what we aspire to affirm in our children.”
“The book celebrates a fictional family enjoying a day together in their loving community,” say the co-authors. “We hope this book inspires young people to live in light of their strength, truth, and self-worth as they embark on their journey through life. Artist Gladys Jose has beautifully rendered the vitality that shines in universal joy and the promise that illuminates in the experiences of community.”
To learn more about Kaepernick, Diab and their children’s book journey, pick up next week’s issue of PEOPLE, or subscribe here.
Before We’re Free, You and Me hits bookshelves, and Kaepernick (who published his first children’s book in 2022) and Diab spoke with PEOPLE via email to break down some of the book’s most poignant moments — not to mention their daughter’s favorite pages!
“We are free, you and I.”
Study
I love the authors note at the end that talks about the “know your rights” camp and how you don’t want your family to be the focus of the book. Can you talk a little bit about why this is important to you and your family?
We wanted to keep the book’s focus on the family’s engagement with each other and their community about their rights and aspirations. The world doesn’t revolve around us, and we want to create stories that everyone can relate to and be inspired by.
Likewise, the principles of KYRC are very strong. I was particularly struck by the right to be brilliant, which set me apart. How did you obtain those rights?
KYRC’s Ten Points focus on our human rights and are inspired by the Black Panther Party’s Ten Points Program. These rights are often stripped from us, especially at an early age. Once someone convinces you that you have no rights, you lose all ambition and potential to become the best version of yourself.
Are there any new or in-development updates with KYRC that you can share?
KYRC has many exciting initiatives. We just concluded our 13th Youth Camp in Philadelphia, continuing our mission of educating and empowering youth.
In just over two years, our autopsy initiative has already helped 96 families by providing free second autopsies to loved ones lost to police-related deaths, giving them access to important information they may not have otherwise had in seeking closure and accountability.
We also launched the Know Your Rights app, a unique resource that provides state-by-state information about your rights when interacting with police, whether during protests or traffic stops. It also provides great information about KYRC.
You can follow our KYRC podcast where we dive into important conversations about health, education, and activism through art.
Colin Kaepernick and Nessa Diab.
Amari Kenoly Kaepernick Publishing
That hopeful line at the end that echoes Arundhati Roy’s quote at the beginning, “Another world is possible…and she’s on her way” is so beautiful. Can you explain why you wanted to publish this message?
Hope is so strong! Now, combine that with momentum and people will take action. When we’re constantly faced with the pressure of accepting things as they are, we wanted to offer an alternative option to relentlessly pursue a better future for all of us.
I like the phrase about “building your team” too. What does that mean to you?
It’s focused on finding your community! It could be through sports, music, science, art – whatever it is, there is a team everyone can be a part of. Being around people who love you and lift you up through the toughest times is powerful. We experience this every time we see our KYRC volunteers – who we only get to see a few times during the year. We all come together from different parts of the country and the world for the purpose of giving back. KYRC is our team.
Likewise, the phrase “freedom to breathe” – and that circle of children who appear to be meditating – really struck me. How do you explain this line yourselves?
In a fast-moving world that keeps getting faster, sometimes we need to stop. Moments of silence, contemplation and contemplation can bring us back into focus and make us more balanced and organised. This is something I’ve seen Colin do very well over the years. He is now teaching our daughter the same mindfulness/meditation practices as the children in our book. I will learn with them along the way, and it’s not too late!
Colin Kaepernick and Nessa Diab.
Kaepernick Media
I’m always interested in knowing why people write children’s books in general. Do you read together as a family? Any favorite books or authors in your home?
Yes, we read together as a family several times a day. It is very important to establish this habit with our daughter at an early age. Some of our daughter’s favorites now are: I Color Myself Differently, The Rocket Says Look Up, Elephants Can’t Fly, Giraffes Can’t Dance, and so much more.
I will say though that she loves seeing Colin’s face and saying “dada”. Those are her favorite pages.
Finally, as a Mets fan, I couldn’t help but notice the little “NY” on the baseball cap in the latest spread! Is this an easter egg?
It’s an Easter egg! There are a lot actually! The two wearing the “SF” and “NY” hats are our best lifelong friends, Katrina and Tony, who helped build KYRC. Nessa met them in the Bay Area over 15 years ago and we all eventually moved to New York together. Also, our family and Eric Reed and his family are in the background. You will also see other friends who are also part of KYRC like Kerem and his family in the latest spread.
We Are Free, You and I will be released on October 1, 2024, and is available for pre-order now wherever books are sold.
