Colin Kaepernick & Nessa Dibb Share the Special Reason They Wrote a Children’s Book (EXCLUSIVE)

If he didn’t already have enough on his plate as an NFL superstar and civil rights activist, Colin Kaepernick was ready for his next challenge, so he wrote a children’s book with his wife and mother of his child, Nessa Diab—called We Are Free, You and Me. 

In an email interview with First for Women, the two jointly shared their thoughts on the meaning of the book, what they hope their daughter gets from it and where the proceeds are going. Keep reading to learn more. 

First for Women: What made you want to write this picture book? 

Colin Kaepernick and Nessa Diab: We wanted to make sure there was a story that we could tell our daughter and other children about the power within themselves, the strength of the community and showing them what the world could be if we support and uplift each other.  

This book also builds on the work we’ve been doing with our first “baby,” the Know Your Rights Camp [KYRC], where youth learn about their rights and we encourage them to stand in their power and celebrate who they are. That’s why we felt it was so important to publish this book—to share these empowering messages with kids everywhere, helping them believe in themselves and their ability to make a difference.

FFW: How was the writing process? Were there any children’s authors or books you used that helped make it easier?

CK & ND: The writing process was meaningful for us because we focused on making important concepts like believing in yourself, especially during hard times, easy for children to understand and connect with.

The book was inspired by the Know Your Rights Camp 10 Points, which focuses on everyone’s right to be free, healthy, brilliant, safe, loved, and more. We’ve read so many books to our daughter, so creating something we believe in and worked on together has been very meaningful. We’re proud to share it with her and children everywhere.

FFW: What is one thing you want kids to take away from this book? 

CK & ND: We hope kids take away that they are powerful. We emphasized the power of community, drawing from the one we’ve built with the Know Your Rights Camp—from the volunteers to all the grassroots organizations we’ve worked with on the ground doing important work in the community. It’s about showing that while we may be strong individually, we’re even stronger and more powerful together. 

FFW: We’re living in such divided times, where does your book fit into that?

CK & ND: We know that many people continue to face daily struggles—whether it’s systemic oppression, lack of access to basic rights or the fight to have their voices heard. Our book is a reminder to believe in yourself, no matter what challenges you may face. It’s also a call to inspire your community to hold on to that same belief, even during difficult times. We want children to know that their rights and worth are non-negotiable. It’s about empowering them to help build a better and more loving community.

FFW: What’s next for you? 

ND: Colin still wakes up at 4:30 a.m. and trains six days a week, ready and prepared for any opportunity that might come his way. He’s also working hard on his new startup, Lumi, which seeks to democratize storytelling through technology, giving more people the tools to share their own stories in powerful ways. I continue to host my nationally syndicated primetime show on the legendary radio station HOT 97 in NYC and recently launched my podcast, Nessa Off Air.

But beyond our individual projects, the most meaningful part of our lives is raising our daughter and watching her grow. Parenthood has only deepened our commitment to creating a better world for the next generation, which is the foundation of the work we do at Know Your Rights Camp. We’re continuing to expand our programs, empowering young people to understand their rights, their power and their potential.

FFW: Anything else you’d like to get out there?

CK & ND: We would love for everyone to visit the Know Your Rights Camp’s website and learn more about the amazing work we do. And, if you feel inspired and can support our work, you can donate directly on the website. We are proud to say all of Colin's and Nessa’s proceeds from our children's book will go to KYRC.

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