Lebron James
Wearing an “I Can’t Breathe” tee shirt while warming up for a game your paid millions to play is not activism and it is not fair to either side involved when you blame the media for questioning you about it. Honoring Muhammed Ali, a self-avowed racial separatist, as a civil rights and cultural hero is equal parts unfair and inaccurate. But that’s what Lebron James does.
Ali had more in common with David Duke, Richard Spencer, or Robert Byrd than he did with MLK – yet people like James, enamored with the nonsensical social justice agenda, continue to advance this myth and ignore the double standard in front of their eyes. James is paid to slam dunk basketballs – not social or political subjects – and he’s better all-around when he adheres to this. While not directly calling out the police the way he has done in the past, here’s what he had to say on that June 16th 2016 at the ESPY’s.
“We all feel helpless and frustrated by the violence. We do. But that’s not acceptable. It’s time to look in the mirror and ask ourselves what are we doing to create change. It’s not about being a role model. It’s not about our responsibility to a tradition of activism. I know tonight we’re honoring Muhammad Ali. The GOAT. But to do his legacy any justice, let’s use this moment as a call to action for all professional athletes to educate ourselves. It’s for these issues. Speak up. Use our influence. And renounce all violence. And most importantly, go back to our communities, invest our time, our resources, help rebuild them, help strengthen them, help change them. We all have to do better. Thank you.”
