Posts by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Op-Ed: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: It’s great that athletes are speaking out. But some of them are spouting nonsense
Three-time Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings is an amazing athlete. But her recent Instagram posts about being “brave” for not wearing a mask while shopping were ignorant and dangerous.(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) After years of being told to “shut up and play,” athletes have finally fought their way out of the Read More »
Read MoreKareem Abdul-Jabbar: The Real Superpower of Hollywood’s Black Genre Heroes
Illustration by Jaya Nicely Hollywood’s usual reaction to social protest is to produce a few sincere dramas about the African American experience, but “the real measure of a group’s acceptance by society is when its people are celebrated in popular culture.” When Black Lives Matter started rocking, Hollywood came a-knocking. Considered the largest protest in Read More »
Read MoreKareem Abdul-Jabbar on Chadwick Boseman’s Importance to the Black Community
FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty ImagesChadwick Boseman The Hollywood Reporter columnist reflects on Boseman’s legacy: “We saw a whole history of our people’s struggles and triumphs shining in the bright eyes of one indomitable man.” Chadwick Boseman was not Black Panther. He was not Thurgood Marshall. He was not Jackie Robinson. He was not James Read More »
Read MoreThe Arena: “We Are Home” by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar shares a powerful essay on standing up for social justice and equality. Video on nba.com
Read MoreKareem Abdul-Jabbar: Where Is the Outrage Over Anti-Semitism in Sports and Hollywood?
The Hollywood Reporter columnist calls out the hateful outbursts against Jews by Ice Cube, DeSean Jackson and others and explains how the muted response “perpetuates racism” and contributes to an overall “Apatholypse.” The Hollywood Reporter: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on Hollywood & Politics View Full Article
Read MoreOp-Ed: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: How to sustain momentum for the anti-racism movement
“I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear.” My old UCLA coach, John Wooden, used to quote that Walt Whitman poem often, and I’ve been hearing its echoes on the streets lately. The people out protesting systemic racism and vowing change are “singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs” about the America that could be Read More »
Read MorePraise for Kareem’s OpEd from LA Times Editor
“Kareem’s op-ed on racism resonated hugely with our readers as few pieces have done. More than 3 million people read the piece on our website.” — Sue Horton OpEd Editor LA Times Read full article on latimes.com
Read MoreKareem Abdul-Jabbar: Why ‘Gone With the Wind’ Needs a Warning Label, Not a Ban
The Hollywood Reporter’s columnist says that though such racist content is damaging, “we need a way to present art within its historical context so the works can still be available and appreciated for their achievements but not admired for their cultural failings.” I have mixed feelings on John Ridley’s well-reasoned Los Angeles Times Op-Ed article asking HBO Read More »
Read MoreKareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 6 Best Morale-Boosting TV Dramas for People of Color
In a world under siege, writes The Hollywood Reporter columnist and NBA great, “Good shows can boost a community’s morale and self-esteem — and make them feel connected to people like them and valued by people not like them.” We like to think adversity brings out the best in people, but usually it only brings Read More »
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