Over the past 15+ years, NBA star Kyle Korver has played for the Philadelphia 76ers, the Chicago Bulls, the Atlanta Hawks, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and, most recently, the Utah Jazz. So he clearly knows a thing or two about the world of basketball.
Well, in the wake of a racist incident involving Oklahoma City Thunder's Russell Westbrook and a white Utah Jazz fan, Kyle opened up about his own white privilege both on and off the court in a recent essay titled "Privilege."
I've been trying to write this for a while. https://t.co/Qkt8aoVtdE
"What I’m realizing is, no matter how passionately I commit to being an ally, and no matter how unwavering my support is for NBA and WNBA players of color…..I’m still in this conversation from the privileged perspective of opting in to it," he wrote.
The 38-year-old acknowledged that simply having a greater awareness of one's white privilege wasn't enough, and advocated for direct action, starting with himself: "How can I — as a white man, part of this systemic problem — become part of the solution when it comes to racism in my workplace? In my community? In this country?"
Kyle went on to propose additional actions for fellow white people — including educating oneself, de-centering and listening to others, and supporting leaders and policies who prioritize racial justice — and to ruminate on things like white guilt vs. white responsibility and loud racism vs. quiet, subtle racism.
As for his closing point? "Time for me to shut up and listen."
His essay has since gone viral on Twitter, garnering 180K+ likes and 76K+ retweets, not to mention sparking a lively thread of thoughts, counterpoints, and thanks in the comment section.
@KyleKorver Kyle Korver thank you for saying something many black people innately know and have screamed, marched, and died for but cannot translate to the untrained white ear who refuse to hear. May others follow your example to listen. 🙏🏽
@KyleKorver I’m a Jazz fan, and I support this. We can all do better, starting with me.
@KyleKorver Your “guilt” vs. “responsibility” brought me literally to my feet. It’s the answer, or the beginning of the answer. Thank you. Thank you. I know where I’m headed now. 2/2
@KyleKorver This was extremely well written and what really got me is I can tell the emotional turmoil you were having trying to write it. Empathy is the one word that America needs right now. We all have to put ourselves in the other person's shoes and really listen. It will save US!
And finally, Kyle's essay compelled Sports Illustrated's Khadrice Rollins to pen a response piece that suggests some thoughtful next steps for both the Utah Jazz player and anyone else coming to terms with their white privilege.
I wrote about Kyle Korver, how important his realization of privilege was, and how our conversation around that topic can be more impactful going forward https://t.co/dhiHBrwyzA
"What can people such as myself say and do to help make people like you recognize these realities sooner?" Khadrice wrote. "How many of the marginalized must speak and repeat themselves before the privileged determine listening to be helpful? When can we expect your view to become the standard?"