Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell has been a prominent figure in the fight against systemic racism for pretty much his entire life. The 86-year-old recently reflected on his experience nearly six decades ago as he attended the historic March on Washington and witnessed the monumental Martin Luther King Jr. “I Have a Dream” speech.
Russell revisited the location of that unforgettable moment in history:
In honor of the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington, 11-time NBA champion and social justice pioneer @RealBillRussell shares his memories of attending the event and witnessing Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream" speech.
(via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/5Hs5YHZ644
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) August 28, 2020
Bill Russell was an outspoken figure during his youth, and he was unafraid to speak his mind against the injustices that plagued the nation. He admits, however, that progress was slower than they hoped:
“For us that were deeply involved, the changes were very slow,” he said. “It's like walking down the street one step at a time.”
The sad part here is that the nation still remains in a similar predicament to this day. The issue of racial injustice continues to be a prominent issue, and for guys like Russell who have been fighting against this for virtually their entire lives, this cannot be something to be proud of.
Bill Russell also shared these words of wisdom:
“My pop used to tell me, ‘For survival, Black men had to understand white men — to survive. But it was not true the other way around. So you have to make your own way,'” he said.
This will hopefully strike a chord with the younger generations that continue to soldier on, despite the odds being stacked against them.
Bill Russell has likely come to terms that truly significant change will not come in his lifetime. Perhaps he is hoping, however, that it doesn't take another 50 years before real progress is made in this respect. The Celtics legend is certainly proud of what NBA players are doing right now to fight for change.
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