This NBA offseason has been a source of storylines involving players advocating for social change. Jabari Parker just spoke out about violence in Chicago. Many reacted on social media to recent police shootings. And Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, and LeBron James spoke about that issue in particular at the ESPYs.
James expanded on that speech on Tuesday at a charity event (via Dave McMenamin of ESPN):
“Myself and my brothers Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony — you guys probably have heard of those guys,” James told the crowd at an event hosted by his LeBron James Family Foundation at Cedar Point amusement park. “We just talked about how we felt and the state that America is in, but more importantly, what I wanted to talk about is the state of community.
“I believe in order for us to ultimately be as great as we can be as a nation that all of us have to go back into our communities and lend our hand. It starts brick by brick. It starts person by person. Family by family. Kid by kid.”
“Just using our resources, using our strength, using everything that we’ve been able to do to just build up these communities,” James continued. “That’s why I’m excited to be up here right now, because with the help of my foundation and with the help of everyone that gives us so much leeway to do what we want to do, we’re able to do that and give back to these young kids because we all know that they’re our future. We have to understand that.”
James has done plenty of charity work since he’s been in the NBA. He has helped send kids to college and just recently paid for thousands of kids to go to an amusement park.
Social change is a difficult goal to pursue, obviously. But LeBron is completely right. The platform that athletes have, especially those in the NBA, is enormous. When used for good intentions, it could have a sizable impact on necessary societal changes.
The NBA put actions to its words when it moved the All-Star Game away from Charlotte. Players have the same opportunity to take action against injustice.
And LeBron James is paving the way.
