Not many make the transition from athlete to social servant as seamlessly as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The man wowed audiences with his sky hook for 20 years and then took the same audience down important lanes for community change. KAJ was the voice of reason for many; he was articulate, and the public was ready to listen to him.
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He had built the audience for his philanthropic activities not by playing but by spearheading movements while he was still a player. He leveraged his influence for good, coupled with the fact that he understood the problems at hand. Along with Muhammad Ali, Kareem was on the front line for a lot of black and Muslim people’s problems.
When Ali, who recently converted from Cassius Clay, was on trial for not getting drafted into the army, Kareem was there. He was there to support his friend and partner. It was from this moment that he became a leader in the eyes of many; anyone who stood behind the Great Ali was a hero.
Also Read: 6ft 6″ Zion Williamson Joins Shaquille O’Neal and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in an Exclusive Club
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar still stays active in social service – his book Becoming Kareem: Growing Up On and Off the Court is a testament to that
KAJ grew up in a time of segregation; Rosa Parks hadn’t “sat down” until he was 8 years old. Segregation did not end until he was 17, well into his high school career. Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. did not like what he saw, and out of the racial injustices around him, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was born.
His book speaks about the injustices he experienced while growing up and the things he had to hear as a black athlete. Kareem is well respected now, but one person seems to think his opinions didn’t match the growth of the country. While in office, ex-POTUS Donald Trump sent a handwritten note on one of The Laker’s big man’s tweets about making America great again.
He went on the Tonight Show and spoke about his book and other things with Trevor Noah. The topic of the letter came up, and he had a witty answer to Noah’s question.
He said he didn’t take too much notice, joking about crumpling it into a ball and “sky-hooking” it into the waste basket! Donald Trump was a president who caused a lot of division amongst the people; he had his supporters and then rationalists like Jabbar on the other side.
The Tower from Power did not let power go to his head – there is a social justice award in the NBA named after him
With the inaugural award going to Carmelo Anthony, the NBA Social Justice Award started a movement. It recognizes people who pursue social justice and advance Lew’s life mission. He may have won multiple awards on the basketball court, but to many, he will be remembered for the efforts he put into them.
Almost every review on Amazon about his book talks about how kids should read it to understand their history. It came from a man who experienced it and took steps to change it.
Kareem is one of the very few people who cannot be asked to “shut up and dribble.” He dedicated his life to pursuing excellence, not just for himself but for the public. The man has withstood the ire of the public and seen the tide change massively in his favor. He’s not afraid to pen his thoughts about injustice when he sees fit, but he’s also the first to praise pockets of positivity.
He holds himself to a high standard, and we wish the 75-year-old man many more years as the front-runner for black excellence.
Also Read: A 41-year-old Kareem Abdul-Jabbar made 6 skyhooks for his 26 points in Game 5 of the 1988 NBA Finals
