Today’s Headlines The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy<doc-sep>Activist and athlete Colin Kaepernick will receive the W.E.B Du Bois Medal next month. (CNN) — Two years after he first took a knee on the football field, Colin Kaepernick will be awarded one of Harvard University’s highest honors. Since choosing to protest police brutality, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback has been shunned by the NFL and most recently criticized by President Donald Trump for his role in a controversial Nike commercial. On October 11, Kaepernick will receive the W.E.B Du Bois Medal, presented by Harvard’s Hutchins Center for African & African American Research. Du Bois was an African-American writer and activist, best known for his seminal book “The Souls of Black Folk.” Other Du Bois medalists this year include comedian Dave Chappelle and philanthropist Kenneth Chenault. All the honorees are individuals who, according to a Harvard statement, have made significant contributions to African-American history and culture and are “individuals who advocated for intercultural understanding and human rights in an increasingly global and interconnected world.” Previous honorees include Oprah Winfrey, Muhammad Ali and US Rep. John Lewis. Earlier this year, Kaepernick was named Ambassador of Conscience by Amnesty International.<doc-sep>Harvard University is planning to honor the former NFL quarterback turned anthem-kneeling activist Colin Kaepernick with a medal next month. The university plans to honor Kaepernick and seven others with the W. E. B. Du Bois Medal, which the university considers its “highest honor in the field of African and African American studies,” in a ceremony on October 11, WBZ reported Thursday. “The medal honors those who have made significant contributions to African and African American history and culture, and more broadly, individuals who advocate for intercultural understanding and human rights in an increasingly global and interconnected world,” the university said in a statement. Comedian Dave Chappelle and Kehinde Wiley, the artist who painted former President Obama’s presidential portrait, are also among the award’s recipients. Harvard’s announcement comes weeks after Kaepernick, who has still not appeared on the NFL’s roster, appeared as a spokesperson in a Nike ad campaign featuring athletes who overcame obstacles such as injuries or disabilities to succeed. Kaepernick can be heard in the ad sporting the slogan, “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.” The ex-NFL player for the San Francisco 49ers became famous in August 2016 for kneeling during the national anthem to protest law enforcement, and many fans bristled at the idea of using someone who disrespected the national anthem as a spokesperson for an ad about sacrifice. Police groups, colleges, and fans launched protests against Nike and boycotted the brand for using Kaepernick as a spokesperson.<doc-sep>Colin Kaepernick will receive an award from Harvard University. Colin Kaepernick is one of eight notable Americans being honored by Harvard University for contributions to black history and culture. The Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard will present Kaepernick, comedian Dave Chappelle and others with the W.E.B. Du Bois award on Oct. 11. Kaepernick’s story Kaepernick, a former quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, began kneeling during the national anthem during the 2016 preseason as a way of protesting police brutality and racial injustice. The move set off a national debate, with critics of Kaepernick’s move fixating on whether it was unpatriotic while supporters in the NFL have begun building bridges between police and the communities they serve. Kaepernick remains unsigned by any NFL team despite possessing quarterback skills that are certainly the equal of many of the league’s signal-callers, and it’s impossible to say that Kaepernick’s strident public statements didn’t have a role in that. After a year of virtual silence, a period in which critics up to the president of the United States attacked the act of Kaepernick’s protest without addressing its purpose, Kaepernick has begun returning to public life. Most recently, he became the centerpiece of a new Nike ad campaign that, predictably, divided Americans along political lines. Kaepernick’s honors The W.E.B. Du Bois awards recognize ”significant contributions to African and African American history and culture” and ”individuals who advocate for intercultural understanding and human rights.” Kaepernick has arranged for $1 million in donations to a range of charitable causes. His jersey and other mementos have been added to a “Black Lives Matter” collection at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African-American History. As Kaepernick’s days as an NFL quarterback appear over and continue to recede into the past, it’s apparent he will be moving into a more activist role going forward. ____ Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at jay.busbee@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter or on Facebook. More from Yahoo Sports: • Wrongfully imprisoned man freed thanks to Golf Digest • Former NFL player explains why he retired at halftime • Tim Brown: Story of the man who replaced Cal Ripken Jr. • Arbitrator: Former UFC champ Jones had ‘no intention’ to cheat<doc-sep>
Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick and comedian Dave Chappelle are among eight people being honored by Harvard University for their contributions to black history and culture.All eight recipients of the W.E.B. Du Bois Medal will be honored Oct. 11 by the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard.The medal is given to those who have made "significant contributions to African and African American history and culture" and "individuals who advocate for intercultural understanding and human rights. "Kaepernick, formerly of the San Francisco 49ers, created a firestorm when he began kneeling during the national anthem in 2016 to protest police brutality and social injustice.The other honorees announced Thursday are Kenneth Chenault; Shirley Ann Jackson; Pamela Joyner; Florence Ladd; Bryan Stevenson; and Kehinde Wiley. Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick and comedian Dave Chappelle are among eight people being honored by Harvard University for their contributions to black history and culture. All eight recipients of the W.E.B. Du Bois Medal will be honored Oct. 11 by the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard. The medal is given to those who have made "significant contributions to African and African American history and culture" and "individuals who advocate for intercultural understanding and human rights." Kaepernick, formerly of the San Francisco 49ers, created a firestorm when he began kneeling during the national anthem in 2016 to protest police brutality and social injustice. The other honorees announced Thursday are Kenneth Chenault; Shirley Ann Jackson; Pamela Joyner; Florence Ladd; Bryan Stevenson; and Kehinde Wiley.