“I think back to Emmett Till’s mom and the reason she had an open casket, she wanted to show the world what her son went through in terms of a hate crime in America. No matter how much money you have, how famous you are, how much people admire you, being black in America is tough.” –LeBron James
That is what I will be thinking about when I sit down to watch the NBA Finals tonight. LeBron James told us what we should have already known: White America may see LeBron James as an icon, one of the greatest players of all time, and even as a role model. But White America first sees LeBron James as black. And for many that means seeing LeBron James as a nigger.
It makes me uncomfortable to even write that word. It’s the first time I’ve done so. But as I listened to LeBron James’ reaction to the word being spray-painted on his front gate in Brentwood I realized that if it shocks my system to even write the word, how much would it enrage me if I were LeBron James right now? How much would it enrage me if my daily existence meant dealing with White America seeing me through the prism that it does?
And then I came to another realization: I am part of White America in the equation LeBron James referenced, which means, I am part of the problem. There’s no getting around it. I may vote in a way that aligns me with African Americans. I may represent African American clients who are victims of racial discrimination. But what do I really do to eradicate racism? Am I stemming racism if I sit idly by or even laugh at a racist joke? Am I sticking my neck out to combat White America’s racist ways? Those are just a couple of the questions that we, white people, have to ask ourselves. We are the ones with the problem and we are the ones who have to solve it.
“Hate in America, especially for African-Americans, is living every day. It is hidden most days. It is alive every single day.” –LeBron James
We don’t live in the pre-Civil Rights movement days. The 60’s, 50’s, 40’s, 30’s . . . all the way back to the days of slavery were a long time ago. We don’t own slaves. We aren’t lynching. But, to paraphrase Chris Rock, does White America want a cookie for that? Do we really want credit for ending atrocities that we should have put an end to so long ago? How low of a bar is that? What happened to LeBron’s house isn’t even in the top ten stories on ESPN right now. We’ve moved onto more important matters, like how Kevin Durant may give up more money to stay with Golden State long term. Do you think that’s what’s on LeBron’s mind?
“On my behalf, family’s behalf, I look at this as if this sheds a light and keeps the conversation going.” –LeBron James
That’s what made LeBron James’ reaction so amazing. Rather than resort to anger, he realized that what happened to him is another example to throw in the faces of those who say that we live in a post-racial society. Slavery and lynch mobs may be things of the past but what happened to LeBron James and what African Americans endure everyday evidences that the sentiment behind the racism of yesteryear is alive and well today. It’s merely hiding. But it’s hiding in plain sight. We, collectively as White America, just choose to ignore it. African Americans don’t have that luxury. Racism is there when you hear someone say “all lives matter.” It’s there when you hear someone talk about “real racism.” It’s there when you hear someone say “America first.” If you don’t agree then you’re lying to yourself, and you know it.
Here are two lessons I’m going to take from LeBron James: 1) White America, which includes me, must listen. LeBron talked about a conversation. But we as White America are too busy trying to tell African Americans what to do to even start to have a conversation. We must first listen, try and put ourselves in other people’s shoes, empathize, and then a conversation can happen; and 2) Don’t let racism hide. When we see it, call it what it is. The only way change will happen is if we police ourselves behind closed doors. If racism becomes unacceptable in white circles then change is possible. We, white Americans, have two choices: Be a part of the problem or be a part of the solution. There’s no middle ground. When you watch LeBron James tonight, don’t just think about whether he’s going to guard Draymond or KD, or whether Steph Curry will get switched onto him, think about Emmett Till, the Till family, and that open casket.
