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LeBron James has a legitimate claim as the greatest basketball player of all time. But in an era where the world's icons are as visible as ever, the Los Angeles Lakers star's impact has been felt far beyond the confines of a basketball court.
LeBron recently reflected on the 10th year death anniversary of Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old who was fatally shot by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman in 2012. Zimmerman was eventually acquitted at trial.
The Lakers star, then with the Miami Heat, tweeted out a photo with his teammates in solidarity with the fallen teenager. The decision to speak out became the starting point for what has been a decade worth of social activism for LeBron James.
#WeAreTrayvonMartin #Hoodies #Stereotyped #WeWantJustice https://t.co/tH6baAVo
— LeBron James (@KingJames) March 23, 2012
Via Dave McMenamin of ESPN:
“I grew,” the Lakers star said on going from that point to where he is today. “I grew. And as I grew to know who I am, to know what I want do with my life, to know the family that I have, now I understand that my calling is to be able to inspire others and also be able to give voices to people that don't have voices.”
LeBron James has always been the center of the basketball world ever since his rise as the league's best player. He was at the height of his powers with the Heat at the time, which amplified his voice even further. Martin's death became the impetus for King James to use his voice for social change.
“We [sat] on top of the biggest throne in the sport,” the Lakers star said of his 2012 Heat team. “Every single media outlet — good, bad, whatever — talked about the Miami Heat, the Heatles. Myself, [Dwyane] Wade, [Chris] Bosh, everybody, [coach Erik Spoelstra]. They all talked about us every single day.
“… We had an opportunity to make a statement. We had an opportunity to really raise awareness to a situation that hit home for a lot of us, because a lot of us had kids. A lot of us had sons.”
According to LeBron James, racism at this point is a reality that starts from the home and is hard to change in an instant. What he hopes is to use his status to sway those in a position of power to make decisions that benefit the greater good
James said racism is “learned in the household,” not something people are born with. So there is hope, even if things seem bleak, he said.
“That's how America has been for a long time and the s– ain't going to change, but what will change is how guys in power [respond],” the Lakers star continued. “And what will change for me, and what has already changed, is I will continue to speak up for my people no matter if [society] likes it or not.”
LeBron James simply refuses to “shut up and dribble”. His commitment to using his influence as an agent of change is unquestioned, and will likely transcend far beyond his playing days.
