Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Decries Anti-Semitism as Nick Cannon & DWade Engage In It

NBA legend yesterday Kareem Abdul-Jabbar decried the anti-Semitism which has become more prevalent in the sports world and in Hollywood:

Ice Cube’s June 10 daylong series of tweets, which involved some creepy symbols and images, in general implied that Jews were responsible for the oppression of blacks. NFL player DeSean Jackson tweeted out several anti-Semitic messages, including a quote he incorrectly thought was from Hitler (not your go-to guy for why-can’t-we-all-get-along quotes) stating that Jews had a plan to “extort America” and achieve “world domination.” Isn’t that SPECTRE’s job in James Bond movies?

These statements would be laughed at by anyone with a middle-school grasp of reason, but then former NBA player Stephen Jackson, a self-proclaimed activist, undid whatever progress his previous advocacy may have achieved by agreeing with DeSean Jackson on social media. Then he went on to talk about the Rothschilds owning all the banks and his support for the notorious homophobe and anti-Semite Louis Farrakhan. That is the kind of dehumanizing characterization of a people that causes the police abuses that killed his friend, George Floyd.

Unfortunately, had Abdul-Jabbar waited a few hours he could have replaced DeSean Jackson with Nick Cannon and Stephen Jackson with Dwyane Wade. Ditto for Diddy.

While I applaud Abdul-Jabbar for coming to the defense of Jews I fear that his voice will be consigned to the wilderness in the African-American community or simply dismissed as an old man out of touch. 

Which is all the more reason to augment Abdul-Jabbar's words of wisdom:

Yes, some of the above have apologized — DeSean Jackson, Stephen Jackson, Chelsea Handler — while others continue to defiantly marinate in their own prejudice. Their arrogant and irrational response to accusations of anti-Semitism, rather than dissuade us, actually confirmed people’s worst opinions. Ice Cube’s response was remorseless: “What if I was just pro-Black? This is the truth brother. I didn’t lie on anyone. I didn’t say I was anti anybody. DONT BELIEVE THE HYPE. I’ve been telling my truth.” His “truth” was clearly anti-Semitic but, like Trump, he believes his truth exists outside facts.

When people speak of Jewish conspiracies and other forms of defamation they do not speak the truth and we must be prepared to challenge their lies whether the speakers are white or black. Because hate is hate and we will not overcome hate it if we tolerate it in whatever color it comes. 

Whatever may come I am glad Kareem Abdul-Jabbar saw fit to cry foul.