Socially conscious Lin all about solidarity
Jeremy Lin is among the NBA’s most socially-conscious players. And while he is noncommittal about whether the Nets will emulate 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s protest, he is happy the latter’s decision to kneel during the national anthem — and the movement it sparked — has shed light on and sparked discussion over a problem he believes has been swept under the rug for years.
“I’m very thankful there’s an increase in exposure and awareness about it. Because that’s something that even though it’s such a big topic and even though it’s been going on for such a long time — hundreds of years — in some ways it was swept under the rug until recently, where you see all these videos,’’ Lin said at Nets media day.
“I’m not even sure if things have necessarily changed as much as if they’ve just been recorded and exposed recently. One of the things that’s also going to reflect heavy on my heart — and this is not anybody’s fault — but the way things are being portrayed right now has created a lot of hostility and tension, which sometimes makes me feel like we’re going two steps forward and two steps back.”
With cases of police brutality being recorded and disseminated now, Kaepernick took a stand by not standing for the anthem, and more NFL players have followed suit. The Harvard-educated Lin has posted on Twitter about the issue and now is speaking up about it.
“I’m thankful it’s being brought to the forefront with a lot of conversation, and a lot of people that weren’t interested in it before are now engaged in it,’’ Lin said. “That’s always going to be the first step towards any change, which if we’re realistic and looking at big-time change to be long-term, there are systemic issues, social issues that aren’t going to be solved overnight.”
Lin said he would only make a gameday gesture if it was in unison with his teammates. He doesn’t want to be a distraction to his team, or worse, divisive to his country.
“I don’t want to do anything alone. I want something to be united, I want there to be solidarity, because I don’t want it to be X versus Y, or Group A versus Group B versus Group C,’’ Lin said. “It has to be — if I do anything — I’d want to be behind a stand of unity because that’s what we need. That’s what our nation needs right now.”
But this nation being what it is, race is hard to ignore, Lin even admitting, “Linsanity wouldn’t have been Linsanity if I was a different skin color most likely, it wouldn’t have been as big of a deal.”
And after the NBA and the Players Association sent out emails last week to get ahead of the topic, Brook Lopez and Chase Budinger both said the Nets will discuss any protest plans.
Backup PG Greivis Vasquez (ankle) insists he will be ready for the season opener at Boston Oct. 26, while rookie Caris LeVert (foot) said the medical staff still hasn’t given him a firm date when he’ll be ready to practice fully.