Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is one of the most prominent public figures who resents the stereotypes of black people. As a social activist, Abdul-Jabbar believes it’s one of the concerning issues that society is facing nowadays, and the media isn’t really much of a help.
From Kareem’s point of view, the fascination with famous black celebrities and athletes strengthens the narrative that black people’s capabilities are limited. For the NBA Hall of Famer, patronizing black people only for what they are known for is stereotyping at its best, which has been exactly the case for decades now.
Abdul-Jabbar firmly believes that black stereotypes could only dissipate once black people begin to realize that they are more valuable than how they are being showcased to the world. Then again, Kareem implied that it would only be the start.
“I think it has a lot to do with accepting stereotypes both by people in minority communities and by society at large,” Abdul-Jabbar told Slam in 2012. “They accept stereotypes and what their potential is. And there’s a lot more than just picking up a guitar or being out there on the football field. Denzel Washington should not be the role model for everybody.”
Credit: yahoonews
