When it comes to using his platform as an NBA star player for causes he believes in, Jaylen Brown has no illusions about the kind of friction it can cause in him. But he spoke for Brown in a recent interview the Sopan Deb of the New York Timesthat friction is a price well paid for the good he can do in his personal struggle against inequality In Training And Society writ large.
The Boston Celtics star revealed that despite all the work he and his peers have done in the league to combat structural and overt racism, he has seen little significant change for black Americans.
“I didn’t see it, to be honest,” Brown said. “I think the problem is more systemic.”
“I think what I’ve learned about policing is that it’s not like the NBA where everyone has these kinds of rules that they follow,” he explained.
“How a Memphis police station runs their police station is different than how they run it in the New York City Police Department. I don’t want to say it’s like the Wild West, but it’s different, you know?”
As for his own experiences as a black American in Boston, the results have been mixed.
“There are multiple experiences,” Brown said, “as an athlete, as a basketball player, as a regular civilian, as someone trying to start a business, as someone trying to do things in the community.”
“There’s not a lot of space for black, black entrepreneurs to come in and start a business,” said the Georgia native. “I think my experience there wasn’t as fluid as I had imagined.”
“Even as an athlete, you would think that you have some influence, to be able to have experiences, to have things that open doors a little bit more easily. But even being who I am, trying to start a business, buying a house, doing certain things, you run into some adversity.”
And that series of experiences as a black American in Boston, according to Brown, wasn’t without its worst engagements. “I pretty much block everything,” he suggested.
“It’s not the entire Celtic fan base, but part of the fan base within the Celtic nation is problematic. If you have a bad game, they tie it to your personal character.”
“I definitely think there is a group or group within the Celtic nation that is extremely toxic and doesn’t want athletes using their platform or they just want you to play basketball and entertain and go home. And that’s a problem for me.”
Education, and its ability to shape the direction of generations, has long been a focus of Brown’s activism to remedy societal ills that Brown separates from overt racism.
“There (are) other forms of hegemonic racism that are subliminal, like educational inequalities,” said the Cal Berkeley graduate; “The lack of resources and opportunity through local elections and people voting on how much money or resources should go into that area versus that area.”
“What about these kids who are extremely talented? What about the gifted children who can contribute to society? But they’re at a loss because they don’t have the opportunity,” Brown asked rhetorically.
“I will fight for these children forever because I am one of them.”
listen to this”Celtics Laboratory“Podcast on:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi
YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ
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Source : sports.yahoo.com