Beyonce has handed over the Muhammad Ali Legacy Award of Sports Illustrated magazine to contractless quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
Kaepernick was honored for “embodying the ideal of sportsmanship, exemplary function and philanthropy in order to change the world”, said the singer at the gala at the Barclays Center in New York.
“I will continue to work for the people, whether with or without the NFL as a platform,”promised Kaepernick. In 2016, the 30-year-old was the first NFL player to express his protest against racism in the USA with a kneel, thus kicking off a wave of protests. In March he was released from the contract by the San Francisco 49ers after six years. Although many clubs are worried about injury at the quarterback position, the former star is still looking for a club.
“Colin has acted without fear of the consequences and effects to make the world a better place. In order to change our perception, the way we interact with each other, especially with dark-skinned people,”Beyonce said in her laudatory speech. Last year, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar received the award. In a video message, former NBA star Kaepernick called it “a worthy successor.