Colin Kaepernick's Jersey To Be Displayed At Smithsonian's National Museum

Colin Kaepernick's 49ers jersey that he wore the first time he kneeled during the national anthem at a football game is headed to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Last year, Kaepernick shook not only sports, but entire entertainment world when he took a knee during the national anthem at one of his previous 49ers games to protest police brutality and the killings of unarmed young black boys and men at the hands of overly aggressive force from cops. 

Sociologist Harry Edwards donated some of the ball player's sports items -- including this jersey -- to the museum afterward, as a way to honor Kaepernick's fight for justice. Edwards told USA Today Sports, "I said, 'Don’t wait 50 years to try to get some memorabilia and so forth on Kaepernick ... Let me give you a game jersey, some shoes, a picture … And it should be put right there alongside Muhammad Ali. He’s this generation’s Ali.'"

The Smithsonian's curator of sports, Damion Thomas, also told USA Today that Kaepernick's items will be rotated into the museum within the next year or so. Respect.

Photo: Getty Images