David Zalubowski/AP
LeBron James on Wednesday issued a powerful response to his home in Los Angeles being vandalized, with the N-word reportedly being spray painted on the front.
According to reports, police are investigating the incident as a hate crime.
Speaking to reporters for the NBA Finals media day, James said the incident "goes to show that racism will always be a part of the world, a part of America."
"If this is to shed the light and continue to keep the conversation [about race relations] going on my behalf, then I'm okay with it," James said of the incident. "My family is safe. At the end of the day, they're safe and that's the most important."
James continued:
"But it just goes to show that racism will always be a part of the world, a part of America. Hate in America, especially for African-Americans is living every day. And even though that it's concealed most of the time, we know people hide their faces and will say thing about you, when they see you they smile at your face, it's alive every single day ... No matter how much money you have, no matter how famous you are, no matter how many people admire you, being black in America is tough. And we got a long way to go for us as a society and for us as African-Americans until we feel equal in America."
Watch James' comments below:
LeBron James responds to the vandalism incident at his home pic.twitter.com/goMoicIIit
- Sports Illustrated (@SInow) May 31, 2017