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."
It also disappoints Abdul-Jabbar that some of his fellow famous personalities are not all in favor of eliminating these stereotypes. If anything, they even unapologetically exemplify it with their actions.
One example of what Kareem was talking about was the infamous incident involving Hollywood star Will Smith and popular comedian Chris Rock at the Oscars in 2022. For "Cap," what Smith did may be acceptable to others but it was the complete opposite of what a responsible and influential black person should do.
"When Will Smith stormed onto the Oscar stage to strike Chris Rock for making a joke about his wife's short hair, he did a lot more damage than just to Rock's face," Kareem once remarked. "With a single petulant blow, he advocated violence, diminished women, insulted the entertainment industry, and perpetuated stereotypes about the black community."
Abdul-Jabbar's remarks and opinions may be profound, but he is in no way taking a shot at black celebrities. Instead, he was just trying to make a point and let people know that he isn't in favor of black people being stereotyped.
Kareem has a long history of activism. He actively participates in fighting social injustice and racism. Through experience, "Cap" concluded that it's difficult to change how black people are viewed in society.
He learned that it takes more than famous and influential figures to make people realize that a black man is not synonymous with either athletes or entertainers. For Kareem, it's not enough to just create awareness these days.
Instead, Abdul-Jabbar reckoned that every African-American should be well aware of how they behave in public and the impact of their actions. By doing so, Kareem believes that little by little, hopefully, the stereotypes of a black man will eventually fade.