The Daily Show: Ears Edition - From the Archives: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - January 11, 2018

Episode Date: November 22, 2018

NBA Hall of Famer and "Becoming Kareem" author Kareem Abdul-Jabbar compares Colin Kaepernick's protest to his own travails as a socially engaged athlete. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You're listening to Comedy Central. Hey everybody, John Stewart here. I am here to tell you about my new podcast. The Weekly Show is going to be coming out every Thursday. So exciting. You'll be saying to yourself, TGID. Thank God it's Thursday we're going to be talking about. All the things that hopefully obsess you in the same way that they obsess me. The election. Economics. Earnings calls. What are they talking about on these earnings calls? We're going to be talking about

ingredient to bread ratio on sandwiches. And I know that I listed that fourth, but in importance, it's probably second. I know you have a lot of options as far as podcasts go, but how many of them come out on Thursday? I mean, talk about innovative. Listen to the weekly show with John Stewart, wherever you get your podcast. Please welcome, Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Welcome. Welcome to the show.

Thank you very much. Now it's a great reception. Thank you. Thank you. Welcome to the show. Thank you very much. Now it's a great reception. I feel like I could stand for the interview and it would be the same height. You are such a Renaissance man.

Author, Hall of Fame, athletes, a presidential medal of freedom winner. It's almost like NBA all-time leading scorer is number six on your resume. You have lived quite an accomplished like, are you just trying to win LinkedIn? Is that what you're doing? No, you know, I'm just, I go through life, but I try to find interesting and meaningful things to do.

You know, you go through your whole life. You know, you go thrown the whole th thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi to to to to to thi to to to to to thi to to thi to to to to thi, I to to to to to thi, to to thi, to to thi. to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to tooic, to to to to to to to to to to to to to tooicicicicicicicicicicicicic, to to to tooic, to tooic, thi, thi, thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. the the thi. thii. the thioioi. thi. thi. thioi. tooi. to have a career that's over when you're 42, I'm about 70 now. You know, what do you do with the rest of your life? So I'm glad I figured out how to write a few books and say a few things that people might want to hear. And something that we could share. You definitely say a few things that people want to hear. This book is a beautiful book because it's you you you you you you you you you you is you you you is you you you you is you is you you is you you is you you you is you you you is you is you is you you is you their thii. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. the. the. the the the the the the the the to to the to the the the to the the the the the the the the the's you telling the story of her life. But what I like about it is you've set it out for younger readers, you know, so anyone from the age of 10 up can read it. And you truly have lived one of the more fascinating lives I have ever read about.

Everyone knows you from the world of sports, but a lot of people don't know what it was like to be a sportsman during your time. You took in the book book the book the book the book the book th, th. th. th. th. th. the book th. the book th. the the the the the the the the the th. the to be th. their tm. tm, tm, tm, tm, their their, thr-up. th th to, to, to, to You talk in the book about having to change, or choosing to change your name to Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Why was that important for you during the time that you did it? It was very important because black Americans had a whole situation imposed upon them. People were brought here from Africa, the names were changed and they were forced into some very terrible, terrible deprived circumstances. Slavery was not a great experience and we came out of it very damaged and in order to repair we have to reassert our identities. So the fact that I believed in Christianity and monotheism of my whole life I decided I wanted to change my name to something that had to do with the fact that I believed in Christianity and monotheism my whole life, I decided I wanted to change my name

to something that had to do with the type of monotheism that they practiced in Africa to some degree. And I became interested in Islam and became Muslim. But that was my thought process. It wasn't me taking a stance against America, but it was a position for myself, for my own identity that I wanted to assume, not something that was imposed on me. It's interesting that you say not something against America, but something for yourself, because it feels like that's a conversation that we're experiencing once again with Colin

Kappenick. It's the same conversation. It's an athlete in the spotlight saying this is something that I'm trying to say for myself and for my people and what we're experiencing and people are hearing it as no this is against America. When you said these things and when you stood up for black Americans was it similar to what people say to the to the ne? It was the same exact thing they they they they they they they they they they they. they. thi. the the the, thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. the the the the thi. thi. the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their. their, their. their. their. their. their. the thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. theea. theat teat teateateateateateateateateateateateateateateateateateateateateateateate. It NFL athletes taking the knee? It was the same exact thing. They wanted to change the subject because they didn't like to talk about the fact that too many black Americans end up dead for no good reason at the hands of police. Right. And they didn't want to talk about that issue because it's troubling.

It means that there's something wrong with our, with some forces, the way they're trained, etc. So most people don't want to talk about that. That's a very intense and difficult problem to solve, but it's something we have to solve. As a black American, we want it solved now because it's our kids that are being shot down in the street. And that's very troublesome, and we want to change that. And we've got to keep fighting until people understand that and help us change it in a positive way.

And you truly are trying to do it in a positive way. You inspire people, you speak to them, you write columns about this. There are still people who are vehemently opposed to some of the things that you say. Have you found that there's been a change? Have you found a way to break through to people in the time that, I mean, because you've been doing this for a very long time, as you said, your career ended and then you go, where do you go from there?

Have you found any breakthrough in any way? I found atype of breakthrough, without people being able to see him for his character and his positive attributes and not being upset about the color of his skin, or that his interestry goes back to Africa. Right. That should not be an issue. It should be the content of his character and what he wants to do for America. So, you know, we get that mentality and we get that idea out to

people. Maybe they can see that black Americans are actually their fellow citizens. And we want the same thing that they want. You've lived through many of the most painful periods in American history for black Americans. And for Americans, I would argue. I didn't know this about you, but when you were 10 years old, Emmettil was 10 years old. He was 13. He was 13. When you were a young boy, Emmettil was basically around the same age.

Right. You were experiencing America in a similar way that he was. You get older, and you got an opportunity, you had an opportunity to interview Martin Luther King, I believe it was a journalist experience, and then you were around with Martin Luther King was assassinated. Yes, I want. How do you prevent yourself from only being angry, from only seeing the world as a African-American? Well, we also have to look at the good side of things.

And a whole lot of good things have happened. The Voting Rights Act, the Civil Rights Act, the fact that people are starting to understand how corrosive and horrible white supremacy can be on people who are not white. They don't get it all the time. They think everything is fine for everybody. When we can point out in very valid and explicit ways how that's not working and we have to make this democracy that works for everyone, people get that because everybody wants to be treated fairly. Right. And you know black Americans are no different and if white Americans can see a way to understand that,

we're going to make a lot of progress in a short period of time. There is one white American who may struggle with some of these concepts. And it's interesting because you wrote an op-ed in and around, Donald Trump comparing him to Bernie Sanders, explaining the differences and trying to show how to thrown, thrown, thin and thrown, the difference the difference the difference the difference the difference thiiiiiiii thi thi thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. We thi. thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi. thi, thi. thi, thi, thi, thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. We, thi. And, thi. And, thi. And, to to toe, toe, toe, toe. And, toe. And, toe. And, toe. And, toe. And, toe. And, toe. And, toe. And, toe. And,, Donald Trump comparing him to Bernie Sanders, explaining the differences and trying to show how different their world's views were. And the president then wrote you a personal letter on your own column. I think we have the picture here what he wrote. Yeah, there is.

It reads there. Dear Kareem, now I know why the press always treated you so badly. They couldn't stand you. The fact is that you don't have a clue about life and what has to be done to make America great again. Best wishes, Donald Trump. What do you do with a personal note like that from the present? Do you frame it or do you frame thrame it the the the the the th or the the th or the to frame it the to frame it or to frame it to frame it or to frame it or to frame it or to frame it or the to frame it to frame it or to frame it or to frame it or to frame it or to frame it or to frame it or do to frame it or to frame it or to frame it or frame it or frame it or frame it or frame it or frame it or frame it or to frame it or to frame it or to frame it or to frame it or to frame it or to frame it or to frame it or to frame it or to frame it or to frame it or to frame it or to frame it or to frame it or to frame it or to frame it or burn it or burn it or burn it or burn it or burn it or burn it or burn it or burn it or burn it or burn it or burn it or burn it or burn it or burn it or burn it or burn it or burn it, to burn it, to burn it, to burn it, to burn it, to burn it, to frame up in a ball and I sky hooked it into a wasteback.

It's very difficult dealing with somebody that you shouldn't have to take seriously, but unfortunately, right? We're stuck, you know, so here we are. It's very difficult dealing with somebody that you shouldn't have to take seriously, but, um, unfortunately, right. Right. So here we are. that you shouldn't have to take seriously, but unfortunately, we're stuck. So here we are. Sportsman, celebrities, people in positions of power and politics. When you look at your world as a sportsman, many people said to you at the time and

said, you are an athlete, I support you because of how you play. Don't say these things because it alienates me from you. Why don't you just play the game? How did you ever respond to people who had that as their rhetoric? Well, you know, I think that's great. You know, I've run into lots of people that have been on the Lakers and won a lot of money and they're very happy to see me for that reason. But they sometimes they don't want want want want want want want want want want want they don't want want they don't want they don't want they don't want want they don't want want they don't want they don't want they don't want they don't want they don't want they don't want they don't want they don't want to want me to want me to want me to want me to want me to to to to to to to to to to to to to the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the th the the the the the the the the the the the the the the to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to that that that that that that that the street for no good reason. Right. That's that's two difficult things to balance but that's what we are dealing with here in America and we have to find some way to talk about one while we enjoy the other because you know if things don't change it's going to be just more misery for people of color and we've we've got to stop that. I've noticed a few times thiiiiiiiiii. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. thi. th. thi. thi. tho. thi. thi. thi. tho. tho. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. I's th. th. I's th. th. I'm th. I'm th. I'm the. I'm the. to to to to to to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. I'm thin. the. I'm th. I'm th. I'm th. I going to be just more misery for people of color, and we've got to stop that.

I've noticed a few times, even in this conversation, and I feel it in the book as well. You have a very nuanced view of the world. You see the truths, but at the same time, you appreciate the progress. You feel the pain, but there a conscious decision you've made? Yeah it is because I can't give in to pessimism. You know, I have to think that this is America and we do things differently here and we can get things done here. And the fact that my

fellow Americans will listen to me and maybe be guided by some of the things that I say that I find I that I that I that I thi I thi I thi I thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi. thi thi thi thi thi thi. It might thi. It might thi thi. thi. thi. thi. that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. It is thi. It is thi. It is thi. It is thi. It is not thi. It's thi. It's not thi. thi thi thi thi thi thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii thi. I thi. I thi maybe be guided by some of the things that I say that I find that very reassuring. It might not happen right away but they'll listen and once the dialogue starts that's how change begins. You are going to be engaging in the dialogue. I believe that you're going to be going on a tour which is a live show race basically speaking about what's in the book and engaging with everyday Americans. Why was that important to you? You could write the book and just have people read it.

Why do you want to go around America talking to the people who you'd like to read the book? Well, I'd like to explain exactly what happened. In the book, I talked about my mentors and what I learned from them. th th th th th th th th and what I th th th th th th th the the their the their the their to their to to to to to to to to the. the. to to to to to to tolde. to to to to have to have to have to have to have to have to have to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to their their their their their their their their their their. their. their. their. their the book. the book. their the book. toe. the book. the book.e. the book. te.e. their toe.e. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe positive things. Sometimes people that I admired did things that made me step back a little bit. But I learned how to make choices, and I learned how to listen, and sift through different information that was given to me by people who were trying to mentor me,

and decide what I should deal with and what I shouldn't. So it's a cautionary tale. You know, it's very easy to take bad advice and go off track and end up with your life as a mess. And I don't want that to happen to kids. So that's why I wrote this book. And any kids that are out there that want to check it out? Becoming Kareem. You can see it and find out, we'll that we will thattouring the United States. I'm going to do a number of cities and talk about some of the issues and things that

happened in the book. And if you have any advice for sportsmen that are out there today, sports people who are saying, Kareem, I have views. I want to share these views, but I'm afraid. I'm afraid of being blackballed out of the sports field that I want to be in. What would your advice be to them? I would have to tell me that they have to have the courage to stand up for something that is important to them. Yeah, you can avoid having to make that tough choice, but at a certain point there's

no place to hide. You either have to stand up for it's right or go along with the program that diminishes you. And as a black American, I can't go along with a program that diminishes me. I have to stand up for what's right. So I'm encouraging kids and all young people that read this to stand up for what they believe in and what they see that they can do to make America a better place. I'm going to go on a limb and say, I think the president's wrong. I think you're going to make a good man of yourself.

Well, thank you. I think you have a bright future. Thank you so much for being on the show. Becoming Kareem Abduja B. Everybody. The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Ears Edition. Watch the Daily Show Weeknights at 11, 10 Central on Comedy Central and the Comedy Central app. Watch full episodes and videos at the Daily Show. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and subscribe to the Daily Show on YouTube

for exclusive content and more. This has been a Comedy Central podcast. Hey everybody, John Stewart here. I am here to tell you about my new podcast, the weekly show coming out every Thursday. We're going to be talking about the election, earnings calls. What are they talking about on these earnings calls? We're going to be talking about on these earnings calls? We're going to be talking about ingredient to bread ratio on sandwiches. I know you have a lot of options as far as podcasts go, but how many of them come out on Thursday? Listen to the weekly show with John Stewart, wherever you get your podcast.