Jaylen Brown meets Kyrie Irving

Following comments from Kyrie Irving before Game 3 about racism in Boston, Jaylen Brown wanted to provide an answer to his former teammate and his point of view. Here is his press release:

“I actually have a perspective to share. I saw things going around concerning Boston and the subject of racism. People around me insisted that I share my point of view. I haven’t spoken to anyone – Kyrie, Marcus, or Danny Ainge – about my thoughts or my perspective, but I think it’s a useful discussion. I think we have to act against racism, and systemic racism in the city of Boston, and also in the United States. However, I don’t like the way it was put on the mat, centered on a playoff game. It is used as a crutch or an opportunity for personal gain. I’m not saying it does. But I think racism is more important than basketball, more important than the third game of the playoffs. I want to urge the media to talk about this in the right way. Because when this debate is presented in this way, it is a lack of sensitivity towards the people who have to face it on a daily basis. The structures and constraints of systemic racism in our school system, inequality in education, lack of opportunity, lack of housing, lack of affordable housing, lack of affordable health care, symbolism, lack of list goes on. I am aware of my privilege as an athlete. When you get to a point, the financial side takes precedence over the experiences people have on a daily basis, and I want to stress that as well. I understand the frustration right now. I’ve seen what’s going on in sports and in the gyms, including the two incidents involving Russell Westbrook and Trae Young, and I’m pissed off, to be honest. I don’t think we should have to put up with this, and I don’t think it’s acceptable in any way. But when I look at the media and see that they are brought up in terms of racism – yes I think it’s important to address these situations – but if you want to talk about racism, I think these incidents or these belligerent comments are not comparable to what systemic racism is causing in our community now and has done in the past. It is therefore important to mention this in this context. I know not all Celtics fans in our room are racists. We have people of all walks of life, of all ethnicities, of all colors, who are die-hard Celtics fans. So I think portraying every Celtics fan as a racist would be unfair. However, in Boston we have a lot of work to do, without a doubt. The incarceration rate is ridiculous, the wealth disparity is embarrassing, the inequality in education, especially in Boston public schools, must be reduced. There is a lack of resources, a lack of opportunities. Tokenism must also be denounced in Boston. But if we have to talk about it and that’s what the media is going to put forward, and I think it can be in a gym, but in the real world things are much more serious. So I absolutely wanted to share my point of view. This is my opinion, of course, and people can dispute it. I really think in Boston we have a lot of work to do.