Less than a week ago Michael Jordan created quite a buzz for reasons non-related to basketball. He released a statement to The Undefeated where he detailed his displeasure with the way African Americans in the US have been subjected to police brutality as well as the backlash police departments have been faced with regarding random acts of violence.
Michael discussed the pain his family felt after losing his father to gun violence during his career and that recent news had moved him to no longer stay silent. Even in retirement from the game he loved Michael has remained incredibly relevant in a way no athlete or former athlete ever has. The reasons for that relevancy have always caused controversy for an athlete who never really caused any controversy on the court.
Many people in the media and public opinion in general had contrasting thoughts on Jordan’s statements. I heard many people say “why now” after all these years of glaring silence. I heard people say including Jordan brand athlete Carmelo Anthony “it’s about time” welcoming Jordan’s seemingly long overdue social political stance.
I also heard those making the argument that by donating money (2 million dollars, 1 million a piece) to the Internal Association of Chiefs of Police (Community-Police Relations and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund Jordan again did not make a political stance. By donating money to police and the NAACP equally, he would remain exempt from judgment or ridicule either way therefore again not making a stance.
Personally, I feel it’s a lot of unfair pressure to put on today’s athletes expecting them to live up to the social/political platforms that Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown and many others did furthermore because an athlete as great at a sport does not mean they are obligated to speak on tough societal matters.
However I do feel the issues that Jordan may have remained silent on throughout the years were more social/cultural and I feel those with a status and voice should speak on said issues especially when they open platforms for discussion as this one has.
I could care less about who the man wants to vote for but asking him to have an opinion on Chicago’s inner city isn’t asking much.
