Remember when @JimBrownNFL32 took heat for blasting @kobebryant? Jim knew what he was talking about. Kobe is clueless about #TrayvonMartin.
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) March 27, 2014
Kobe Bryant was interviewed by the New Yorker for their April 4 issue. He was critical of a 2012 photo showing Lebron James and the Miami Heat wearing hoodies in support of Trayvon Martin.
#WeAreTrayvonMartin #Hoodies #Stereotyped #WeWantJustice http://t.co/tH6baAVo
— LeBron James (@KingJames) March 23, 2012
"I won’t react to something just because I’m supposed to, because I’m an African-American,” he said. “That argument doesn’t make any sense to me. So we want to advance as a society and a culture, but, say, if something happens to an African-American we immediately come to his defense? Yet you want to talk about how far we’ve progressed as a society? Well, we’ve progressed as a society, then don’t jump to somebody’s defense just because they’re African-American. You sit and you listen to the facts just like you would in any other situation, right? So I won’t assert myself."
Kobe's comments were immediately criticized by news correspondent Roland Martin.
Roland Martin
"The @MiamiHEAT didn't defend #trayvonmartin because he was Black. It was the ASSUMPTION of guilty due to wearing a hoodie," Martin wrote. "So when has @kobebryant EVER asserted himself on any social justice issue? Please shoot me the evidence. It's seriously lacking. Let's just call it what it is: @kobebryant went to the Michael Jordan School of Don't Say Jack, Don't Do Jack. Just Cash Checks. Man, please. So @kobebryant says, "Let the facts come out." How many folks jumped to his defense when he was accused of rape? Yea, I went there. Do I need to remind @kobebryant about his defenders when he was facing a long prison sentence for rape? Did the @NewYorker ask that? And @kobebryant, the ONLY reason we even got all the facts in a court case was because of the protests. Does this dude have a brain?"
JUST NOW on @tvonetv: Ben @attorneycrump says Trayvon Martin’s parents, Tracy Martin & @SybrinaFulton were hurt by @kobebryant’s comments.
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) March 28, 2014
The L.A. Lakers star reached out to Martin by phone and the reporter softened his stance.
"My nearly 20-minute chat with @kobebryant was not an interview. It was a chat between two folks who saw this issue differently," Martin explained to his Twitter followers. "@kobebryant said it would be good for folks to know that we talked & that we found common ground even in disagreement. @kobebryant said we need lightning rods in our society & he's more than willing to do that, & isn't ruled by corporate interests."
Kobe also responded today via Twitter.
Travon Martin was wronged THATS my opinion and thats what I believe the FACTS showed. The system did not work #myopinion #tweetURthoughts
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) March 27, 2014
What's your take on this controversy?
Follow Me
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
}
Comments