New York Knicks franchise player Carmelo Anthony will not be deterred in his fight for social progress and reform.
New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony is risking a great fortune by taking a stand against social injustice. From endorsement deals to jersey sales, becoming a vocal leader in the community puts both forms of income in jeopardy.
In a moment that wholeheartedly displayed the leader that he’s become, Anthony made it clear that he will not be deterred in his quest for social and political change.
Earlier this year, Anthony was ranked as the 29th most popular athlete in the world by ESPN. Thus, it’s truly undeniable that the Knicks’ franchise player has both significant influence and much to lose.
According to Ian Begley and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN, Anthony won’t let anyone tell him to stop fighting for equality.
"“What I’m doing now is trying to lay the foundation down and just trying to take advantage of this platform that we have,” he said. “Hopefully everybody in their own individual rights branch out and start doing things on their own.”“I don’t think nobody can tell me that at this point,” he said when asked if anyone has told him not to organize the meeting. “I won’t listen to anybody that tells me I shouldn’t do this or shouldn’t do that.”"
That’s the sign of a true and authentic leader.
Anthony sparked conversation in the sports community by taking to Instagram to implore his fellow athletes and celebrities to make their voices heard. It was a surprising post from a player who hadn’t often been regarded as a social activist.
Anthony took his status as a leader on the social and political front to an entirely new level at the 2016 ESPY Awards.
WATCH: "The urgency to create change is at an all-time high." - @carmeloanthony https://t.co/V7KMxkibaV
— Good Morning America (@GMA) July 14, 2016
Though that speech sent a powerful message, Anthony hasn’t relented with his pursuit of justice and reform.
Anthony recently announced that he and his Team USA teammates will be scheduling a town hall meeting in Los Angeles. During Thursday’s Team USA workout in Las Vegas, he clarified the details of the meeting.
Anthony plans to keep the forum closed off from the media in order to present those in attendance with an opportunity to comfortably speaking their mind.
"“You have to keep the conversation going and dialogue going,” Anthony said Thursday at a Team USA workout in Las Vegas. “If you don’t, then you just become another tragedy that happens that everybody forgot about.”"
As for who will be welcome at the meetings, it’s going to be a community effort to facilitate change.
"“We want to get youth. We want to get kids. We want to get adults. We want to get officers. We want to get teachers,” Anthony said. “We want to get community leaders, athletes, everybody, having this conversation and talking on both sides, hearing each other out. It’s part of continuing what I started off.“The problem is, people don’t have answers. I think everybody is searching for answers. People are searching for what to do and how to do it. We’re not going to find answers overnight. It’s not going to happen.”"
This is yet another example of Anthony becoming one of the most prominent social activists in sports today.
In the face of adversity, Anthony is utilizing his platform as one that can facilitate growth and change in this country. He’s one of the most recognizable faces in the sports world, and plays in a major market.
The fact that the star of the globally recognized New York Knicks is speaking up against social injustices carries significant weight.
While Anthony has improved his reputation amongst many Americans, it must be reiterated that he’s putting his money on the line for the greater good. Knowing that to be true, he still hasn’t hesitated when he’s needed to be the voice of the voiceless.
No scoring title, All-NBA team selection, or All-Star Game appearance can compare to the glory of being a leader in the community.
must read: How Carmelo Anthony became a leader both on and off the court
Future Hall of Famer, six-time All-NBA honoree, nine-time All-Star—all of that pales in comparison to his being an activist and philanthropist.