“I Never Felt Fully Safe Walking the Streets Again”: 6x NBA Champion Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Faced 1 Life Changing Incident as a Teenager

NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has always been at the forefront of protests against racism and social injustice in America. He has fought for equality and civil rights ever since he was a high school superstar, even attending rallies supporting Ali’s Vietnam decision. The Los Angeles Lakers legend continues to use his platform to talk about issues that are still persistent in society. The six-time champion recently addressed the time he felt very unsafe walking the streets as a teenager while talking about a newly released movie.

Till is a biographical movie about the aftermath of the murder of a 14-year-old boy named Emmett Till in 1955. The movie talks about the boy’s mother mother, Mamie Till, who fought for her murdered son’s justice.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on how his personal experience is reflected on Till

Chinonye Chukwu, the director of the movie Till and Tyler Perry talked about the importance of making movies about Black history during a recent interview with Variety. Chukwu noted that history is being erased everywhere, from American schools to libraries, and it is important for people to remember the actual history. Perry agreed to the notion and added that he wants his child to be aware of the real history.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recently gave his take on the comments from the filmmakers via his substack. The six-time MVP recounted that he came to know about the murder of Emmett Till when he was a teenager and added that it had a profound effect on him. Abdul-Jabbar noted,  “I never felt fully safe walking the streets again. White men tortured and lynched a young Black boy, were acquitted in court, then bragged about the murder in a national magazine interview. That was a world for any Black person to fear.”

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He observed that there have been multiple recent movies about Black history and wrote that it is necessary for a “climate of whitewashing our racist history”. Abdul-Jabbar stated that such initiatives are important for a better future. He added, “The atrocities of our collective past should make us uncomfortable in order for us to change our course for the future.”

The Presidential Medal of Honor awardee appreciated the efforts of the filmmakers and the risk they took in making the movie.

Abdul-Jabbar’s call to support the movie

The movie Till was released on October 2022 and was recently released in the UK on January 6, 2023. The movie does not show the death of the 14-year-old Emmett Till. Instead, it focuses on the mother’s fight for justice. Chinonye Chukwu directed the movie and played the role of Mamie Till.

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While giving his take on the movie, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar noted that movies like this should be supported in order for similar movies about Black history to be made.