Former Los Angeles Laker star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in a July 14 op-ed for The Hollywood Reporter that he was disturbed by recent anti-Semitic remarks from pro athletes and celebrities as well as the lack of outrage over such remarks.
Abdul-Jabbar pointed to the recent statements and tweets from rapper-actor Ice Cube, Philadelphia Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson and ESPN analyst Stephen Jackson (no relation) as examples, as well as comedian-actor Chelsea Handler posting on Instagram that she found a video from Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan to be 鈥減owerful.鈥�
鈥淭hese famous, outspoken people share the same scapegoat logic as all oppressive groups from Nazis to the KKK [Ku Klux Klan]: all our troubles are because of bad-apple groups that worship wrong, have the wrong complexion, come from the wrong country, are the wrong gender or love the wrong gender,鈥� Abdul-Jabbar wrote. 鈥淚t鈥檚 so disheartening to see people from groups that have been violently marginalized do the same thing to others without realizing that perpetuating this kind of bad logic is what perpetuates racism.鈥�
He acknowledged that Handler, DeSean Jackson and Stephen Jackson all apologized, although Abdul-Jabbar pointed out that Stephen Jackson was 鈥渁ngry and belligerent鈥� when CNN journalist and anchor Don Lemon called him out during a July 8 interview.
鈥淐elebrities have a responsibility to get the words right,鈥� Abdul-Jabbar wrote. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not enough to have good intentions, because it鈥檚 the actual deeds 鈥� and words 鈥� which have the real impact.鈥�
The Lakers legend concluded with the call for all forms of injustice to be condemned.
鈥淚f we鈥檙e going to be outraged by injustice, let鈥檚 be outraged by injustice against anyone,鈥� he wrote.
91传媒 groups praised Abdul-Jabbar鈥檚 piece.
鈥淭hank you @kaj33 for standing up for what is right,鈥� Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt tweeted. 鈥淎s we continue to fight for racial justice, we cannot allow #antisemitism or any form of hate to go unchecked.鈥�
鈥淚f we鈥檙e going to be outraged by injustice, let鈥檚 be outraged by injustice against anyone.鈥� Thank you for standing up for what is right. As we continue to fight for racial justice, we cannot allow or any form of hate to go unchecked.
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL)
The American 91传媒 Committee (AJC) similarly tweeted, 鈥淭hank you @kaj33
for your powerful piece against anti-Semitism!鈥�
"If we鈥檙e going to be outraged by injustice, let鈥檚 be outraged by injustice against anyone."
Thank you for your powerful piece against antisemitism!
— American 91传媒 Committee (@AJCGlobal)
StandWithUs also tweeted, 鈥淲hen one of the greatest-ever basketball players speaks out on antisemitic hate in sports and culture, it matters. Thank you Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for raising your voice loudly and leading on this issue.鈥�
When one of the greatest-ever basketball players speaks out on antisemitic hate in sports and culture, it matters.
Thank you Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for raising your voice loudly and leading on this issue.
— StandWithUs (@StandWithUs)
On the other hand, Ice Cube, born O鈥橲hea Jackson, was not happy with Abdul-Jabbar鈥檚 piece.
鈥淪hame on the Hollywood Reporter who obviously gave my brother Kareem 30 pieces of silver to cut us down without even a phone call,鈥� he tweeted.
Shame on the Hollywood Reporter who obviously gave my brother Kareem 30 pieces of silver to cut us down without even a phone call.
— Ice Cube (@icecube)
The AJC condemned Ice Cube鈥檚 tweet on Abdul-Jabbar as anti-Semitic.
鈥淓mploying an anti-Semitic reference 鈥� the age-old canard that Jews are treacherous and money-grubbing 鈥� to denounce @KAJ33 for denouncing antisemitism is a new low,鈥� the 91传媒 group tweeted. 鈥淍IceCube, we see your hate.鈥�
Employing an antisemitic reference鈥攖he age-old canard that Jews are treacherous and money-grubbing鈥攖o denounce for denouncing antisemitism is a new low. , we see your hate.
— American 91传媒 Committee (@AJCGlobal)
