The rise of activism in the NBA is not new or odd. The league has seen many socially aware athletes ready to use their platform to raise awareness. In the modern world, LeBron James has led the pack of such players. Recently, after the Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones’ leaked racist picture made the rounds, James went after the media. He called out reporters for hounding him after Kyrie Irving’s controversy and ignoring Jones altogether.
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After the Lakers game, LeBron James was in a conversation with the press for the post-match conference. The 6ft 8″ superstar highlighted his dissatisfaction with how the press handled the Jerry Jones incident and called them out for not mentioning it.
He also drew a parallel to the entire Irving incident and reminded them how they had hounded him for a comment on it.
LeBron James lashes at media over Jerry Jones
The garage of LeBron’s anger started almost without a hint. The superstar player began by calmly raising a question for the press. He revealed that he had been contemplating how he hadn’t been asked anything about the Jerry Jones incident.
He then recalled how when the Kyrie Irving anti-semitic row was going on, the media had asked LeBron multiple questions. LeBron then cut off a reporter who tried to talk and continued his monologue.
The Lakers star also highlighted how what Jerry did in his past, though happened a long time ago, should still be questioned. He accused the press of burying it and attacking only black athletes for their comments.
LeBron James: “When I watch Kyrie talk and he says, ‘I know who I am, but I want to keep the same energy when we’re talking about my people and the things that we’ve been through,’ and that Jerry Jones photo is one of those moments that our people, Black people, have been through in America. And I feel like as a Black man, as a Black athlete, as someone with power and a platform, when we do something wrong, or something that people don’t agree with, it’s on every single tabloid, every single news coverage, it’s on the bottom ticker. It’s asked about every single day.”
LeBron further continued, “But it seems like to me that the whole Jerry Jones situation, photo — and I know it was years and years ago and we all make mistakes, I get it — but it seems like it’s just been buried under, like, ‘Oh, it happened. OK, we just move on.’ And I was just kind of disappointed that I haven’t received that question from you guys.”
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Jones’ picture raises questions on Cowboys’ functioning
Over a week ago, Huffington post shared a highly controversial picture of Jerry Jones. The image in question showed a young Jones standing alongside racist students barring black students from entering Little Rock High School.
The 11 billion worth owner, who has the costliest Sports firm in the world, expertly dodged the questions. He claimed that he stood with those men because he was curious about what was going on. Per Jerry, it wasn’t because he was trying to stop the African American students.
It’s hard to refute Jerry’s claim but is also hard to refute the authenticity of the picture. But one thing is for sure, the sinister history of rampant racism in America is fairly recent, and most who waged war against innocent black communities live comfortably, hidden away from any criticism.
