[ad_1]
LeBron James dismissed Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s criticisms of his social activism and pointed to the hypocrisy of the AC Milan star’s comments on Friday.
Ibrahimovic, whose time playing for his former team, the LA Galaxy, coincided with James’ first season with the Lakers, criticized James on Thursday in an interview with UEFA for Discovery + in Sweden, saying it was a “mistake” and “no look good” when James and other “famous” people get involved in politics.
“This is the same guy who said when he was back in Sweden … because his last name was not a certain last name, that he felt like there was racism. when he was in the field, ”James said. “I speak with a very educated mind, so I’m not really the person to go to because I’m doing my homework.”
Several years ago, Ibrahimovic said he was a victim of “undercover racism” in his native Sweden because his Bosnian roots gave him a last name that does not traditionally sound Swedish.
“I’m not Andersson or Svensson,” Ibrahimovic told Canal + in 2018, referring to what he saw as racist treatment by the media. “If I was like that, believe me, they would defend me even if I rob a bank. They would defend me, I’m telling you.
James was not put off by Ibrahimovic’s stance against him and explained why he approached matters off the pitch the way he does.
“I would never be silent about things that are wrong,” James said after the Lakers’ 102-93 win over the Trail Blazers on Friday night. “I preach for my people and I preach for equality. Social injustice. Racism. Systematic voter suppression. Things that happen in our community.
“Because I was part of my community at one point and saw the things that were going on, and I know what is still going on because I have a group of over 300 children in my school who are going through the same thing, and they need a voice. And I am their voice. I am their voice, and I use my platform to continue to shed light on everything that is happening, not only in my community, but in this country and the world.
“So there’s no way I’m sticking to the sport, because I understand how great this platform is and how powerful my voice is.”
James went on to praise former WNBA player Renee Montgomery, who became part-owner of the Atlanta Dream on Friday after the league pressured former Sen. Kelly Loeffler, a Republican who opposed justice initiatives. racialism of WNBA players last summer, to sell his share of the team.
“You can just ask Renee Montgomery, if I would have shut up and just dribbled [what would have happened]James said, later referring to the two-time WNBA champion as a “beautiful black woman”.
James also thanked Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics, Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs and Alvin Kamara of the New Orleans Saints for their commitment to social justice issues.
“It makes me proud to be part of a generation where our voices are heard and guys speak with an educated mindset,” James said. “But more importantly, when you speak with your heart, it sounds even louder.
“And we have a lot of heart-talking guys who didn’t believe they had a voice at one point, or now they come in and they see that they can have a voice and that their voice really matters. It makes me proud. . “
The James’ I Promise School in Akron, Ohio not only educates hundreds of at-risk children in its hometown, but also provides affordable housing, a meal program, and job training for the families of the students.
His organization, More Than a Vote, also helped mobilize more than 40,000 volunteers to work in polling stations during the November general election in an effort to thwart voter suppression.
“As athletes, we’ve been hearing this for a long time,” said James. “You should [feel] privileged. You should be thankful that you can dribble a ball or run a soccer ball or be able to do the 100 yard dash or be able to swing a baseball bat and things of that nature, you shouldn’t be able to talk about anything else. , no matter if it’s true or false, you should just do it. But this is not the case. This is no longer the case. As long as I’m here, it won’t be for a long time. “
[ad_2]
Source link