LeBron James’ Social Activism Overshadowed By Basketball Greatness

When something tragic or controversial happens in society, LeBron James always takes a stance. His social activism supersedes his superior basketball talent.

LeBron James is one of the most socially active human beings in the world. He is an incredible basketball talent that has allowed him to build a platform to speak on, and he has taken full advantage of it.

Whether you are a LeBron fanatic or hater, his social activism is something to admire. He takes a stance on every controversial topic or tragic event and brings light to it.

More from King James Gospel

• 3 possible starting lineups for Cleveland Cavaliers in 2023-24
• The Cavaliers may have snagged a hidden gem in Craig Porter Jr.
• 4 players the Cavaliers should pursue in 2024 free agency
• 6 players Cavaliers might replace Jarrett Allen with by the trade deadline
• This stat is one to keep an eye on for Cavaliers’ Max Strus in years ahead

James has a reach greater than today’s most popular singers, like Drake or Luke Bryan, most popular actors and actresses, like Brad Pitt and Jennifer Lawrence, and political figures, even to the extent of the President.

Over the course of his 13-year NBA career, James has been outspoken on topics and has used this platform for the greater good.

James has 31.5 million followers on Twitter, so when he sends a tweet about the tragic events that happened in Dallas on Thursday evening, that many people will see them, at a minimum. Then 36,000 people retweet his tweet, which leads to millions more reading his thoughts.

Never mind the use of social media to bring light to these situations. How about the thousands of cameras that are constantly focused on the man dubbed “King James?” A simple tweet is just text, adding video and audio only adds to his voice and can reach those who aren’t on Twitter.

After Eric Garner was choked by a NYPD officer and eventually killed, rioters chanted “I Can’t Breathe”, which Garner said while being choked. James responds on a trip to visit the Brooklyn Nets by wearing an “I Can’t Breathe” shirt during pre-game.

When news broke about former Los Angeles Clippers’ owner Donald Sterling’s racist comments, outrage ensued around the NBA. It went as far as the Clippers being close to not playing in a playoff game in boycott of Sterling, their owner. James responded after Game 3 of a playoff game in an interview with ESPN’s Chris Broussard.

When Trayvon Martin was shot by George Zimmerman, he was wearing a hooded sweatshirt. James and then-Heat teammate Dwyane Wade organized a photo with the entire Heat team wearing hooded sweatshirts and used the hashtag #wearetrayvonmartin, according to ESPN.

The Michael Brown shooting in Ferguson, MO caused outrage across the entire country. Another popular term in riots is “Hands up don’t shoot”, which was a result of this shooting. Similarly to everything else, James had a response with an Instagram post that featured a cartoon drawing of Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin with their arms around one another.

LeBron James gets it. He’s using his spotlight to shine a light on social issues. He’s culturally aware and socially active.

Many want to talk about James and his basketball talent. People want to compare him to Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant. That comes with the territory of being a generational talent, but his cultural awareness is too often overlooked.

Next: Bargain Bin Shopping: Realistic FA Targets For The Cavs

When the next major event happens with cultural implications, expect LeBron to chime in on it, whether it’s by way of social media, in an interview or through a new platform.