More from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Shows That Heal (Literally)
I was recently home recovering from a brief illness — not COVID — and had a lot of time to watch TV. But I didn’t want to watch only my familiar shows. The combination of tedium and stress from the illness had left me drained, and I needed a boost. So, like a museum curator, […]
- By
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Why the Host of ‘Jeopardy!’ Matters
The focus on the sudden stepping down of newly selected Jeopardy! host Mike Richards over insensitive and out-of-touch sexist comments misses the deeper reason the show’s search for a new host has become such a dramatic public debacle. The way the show’s producers handled the transition from the Golden Age of Trebek is just as insensitive […]
- By
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: What I Learned Watching the Tokyo Games
The Olympics aren’t just an exciting sporting event featuring the best athletes in the world, they’re a reflection of humanity’s social values — and the battle in Tokyo this year over those values was just as exciting as the actual competitions themselves. Sports is a measure of how far the human body has evolved through […]
- By
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Bravo to Bravo for Keeping the Spirit of Black Lives Matter Alive
Every time there is a highly visible civil rights push in America, reporters ask me for my reaction. I know they’re looking for a feel-good quote that will assure white America that the country has turned the corner and racism is on the run. However, having been in the midst of many highly visible civil […]
- By
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Let Athletes Lead the Way on Mental Health
When four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka dropped out of the French Open and Wimbledon because of anxiety and depression associated with compulsory press interviews, many fans were shocked at her bold confession. While most professional athletes rallied to support her “bravery,” some critics dismissed the player, who will represent Japan at the Tokyo Olympics, […]
- By
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: When Writers Cave to Social Media Scolds
America’s storytelling took a massive kick to the head this June — and hardly anyone knows about it or about the DIY censorship tsunami it may have started that could seriously damage creative work in the future. When bestselling romance author Elin Hilderbrand (The Golden Girl) was attacked for what some online readers considered a […]
- By
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on ‘In the Heights’ Colorism: “We Shouldn’t Be Surprised”
It’s well known among people of color that Hollywood prefers its coffee with lots of cream, not black. That casting bias has again been exposed with the recent backlash regarding In the Heights’ exclusion of dark-skinned Afro-Latino characters, who largely populate the real Washington Heights. Unfortunately, when it comes to casting characters who are Black […]
- By
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Just What Are Awards Shows Awarding?
The Golden Globes and Grammys have taken devastating public hits recently about their relevance as avatars of cultural appreciation. Are these coveted awards truly champions of new and innovative voices in their respective arts — or do they Build That Wall to protect only conventional notions of what art is and to silence the alternate […]
- By
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Reflects on the Legacy of the Athlete-Activist (and His Own)
I have often said that I will truly have achieved my full legacy when I have helped or inspired people who never knew I was an athlete. That will mean that I was able to use my fame from sports to improve the lives of people who never heard of me, never saw me slamdunk. […]
- By
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the Academy Awards and Representation: “This Year, the Oscars Got It Right”
For marginalized groups — in the industry and at home — recognition by the Academy is more than an ego boost or a glamorous diversion but signals to the world that "the lives they live, the struggles they face, are worthy of depicting."
- By
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Hollywood Must Do More to Combat Asian Stereotypes
Columnist Kareem Abdul-Jabbar notes that while progress in the portrayal of Asians is real, it is maddeningly slow: "Hollywood likes to sit back and congratulate itself. But prejudice doesn't relax."
- By
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: How ‘The Bachelor’ Went Off the Rails Dealing With Racism
A season meant to be historic with the first-ever Black Bachelor instead highlighted the need to "remain vigilant to the clueless enablers who allow racism to thrive," writes The Hollywood Reporter's columnist.
- By