Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James gives fans highlights every time he stops on the floor. His off-court charity work is often highlighted as he goes the extra mile for underprivileged kids as well. But one thing James has done throughout his career is used his popularity and the platform he has to voice injustice in society – which is what this sports legend touched upon in an interview.
Recently, Sociologist, Dr. Harry Edwards sat down with former NBA player Etan Thomas. Edwards appeared for an interview on ‘The Rematch,’ where he talked about multiple things involving Muhammad Ali, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, and more.
Dr. Harry Edwards on LeBron James and Colin Kaepernick
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One of the things Dr. Edwards touched upon was LeBron James’ greatness both on and off the court. He voiced his opinion on how James has tried to make a difference in the world using his voice and opinion.
Edwards said, “Black athletes who speak out and take a stand are historically pilloried and condemned in their primes. But once they retire they are reframed and rebranded as caricatures of what they really stood for.”
Powerful interview on #TheRematch with Athlete Activist Legend Dr. Harry Edwards. We discussed #LebronJames passing Kareem as NBA’s all time leading scorer but more importantly, the impact of how he’s used his voice and his platform throughout his careerhttps://t.co/970pdWqq2v pic.twitter.com/W0ctOIBDUC
— Etan Thomas (@etanthomas36) February 19, 2023
“This was done to Bill Russell, it was done to Muhammad Ali, and will be done to Kaepernick and LeBron down the road,” added Edwards.
While LeBron James has not faced any major repercussions for voicing his opinion on any social injustice. The same cannot be said for Colin Kaepernick, who has not played in the NFL since 2016.
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What happened to Colin Kaepernick?
Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the national anthem as a protest against oppression. He played for the San Fransico 49ers but was let go after the 2016 season. Since then, Kaepernick has become a social activist. Even Political sportswriter Dave Zirin touched on what Kaepernick did during the Brittney Griner situation.
Kaepernick has donated large sums of an amount to various organizations that try to fight civil rights issues. He faced a lot of scrutiny from fans and the media when he decided to take a knee during the national anthem before games.
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Watch This Story – Colin Kaepernick donates Nike backpacks to youths commemorating 6 years of protest
However, since then, Kaepernick has worked hard with organizations and used his voice and opinion to try to make a change. As did LeBron James over the course of his career. Hopefully, Kaepernick and James get the credit they deserve as time goes by.