Michael Jordan finally speaks up about police shootings. Here's why it's important.
"I know this country is better than that, and I can no longer stay silent."
It's been 13 years since sports legend Michael Jordan retired, and we've heard very little from him ... until now.
He's not the type of celebrity who likes to be out and about, seen rubbing elbows with the rich and famous.
The NBA great, widely known for remaining silent on racial matters, finally felt the need to speak up.
The basketball icon didn't grant an interview. But he did issue a heartfelt statement published exclusively on The Undefeated, an ESPN site, that everybody is talking about.
Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images.
The greatest basketball player of our time spoke up about the recent shooting deaths of African-Americans that have sparked protests and marches, as well as the targeting of police officers. He wrote:
"As a proud American, a father who lost his own dad in a senseless act of violence, and a black man, I have been deeply troubled by the deaths of African-Americans at the hands of law enforcement and angered by the cowardly and hateful targeting and killing of police officers. I grieve with the families who have lost loved ones, as I know their pain all too well."
Jordan's statement speaks volumes given he's been criticized for not speaking out on issues that deeply affect the African-American community in the past.
"I was raised by parents who taught me to love and respect people regardless of their race or background, so I am saddened and frustrated by the divisive rhetoric and racial tensions that seem to be getting worse as of late. I know this country is better than that, and I can no longer stay silent. We need to find solutions that ensure people of color receive fair and equal treatment AND that police officers – who put their lives on the line every day to protect us all – are respected and supported."
He also recognizes the fact that he is Michael Jordan, so his experiences with law enforcement may be different from those of other African-Americans who are not one of the most recognizable sport figures in history.
"Over the past three decades I have seen up close the dedication of the law enforcement officers who protect me and my family. I have the greatest respect for their sacrifice and service. I also recognize that for many people of color their experiences with law enforcement have been different than mine. I have decided to speak out in the hope that we can come together as Americans, and through peaceful dialogue and education, achieve constructive change."
Jordan is putting his money where his mouth is, too. The NBA great is donating $2 million to organizations working to improve relations between the public and the police. His generous donation is going to the Institute for Community-Police Relations and NAACP Legal Defense Fund. He hopes his contribution helps move things in a more positive direction.
Yes, he's Michael Jordan. He's worth $1.14 billion. But he's still a father, a son, a husband, and a black man.
“We are privileged to live in the world’s greatest country – a country that has provided my family and me the greatest of opportunities. The problems we face didn’t happen overnight and they won’t be solved tomorrow, but if we all work together, we can foster greater understanding, positive change and create a more peaceful world for ourselves, our children, our families and our communities.”
Jordan's heartfelt message to work toward positive change was a long time coming.
Jordan's message has received a very warm welcome from people like the New York Knicks' Carmelo Anthony. "I thought it was brilliant and about time that he stepped up and said what he said," Anthony said at a recent event.
On July 14, Anthony, along with Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade, and LeBron James opened the ESPYs with a powerful statement about violence.
Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade, and LeBron James at the ESPYs. Image by Kevin Winter/Getty Images.
The issue of gun violence is very personal for Jordan. His father, James Jordan, was killed after being shot in the chest during a car robbery in 1993.
Two men were convicted of his murder and are serving life sentences.
Although Jordan understands that his statement on police shootings won't immediately solve the systematic and societal problems we face, his powerful pledge for change proves that he's seeking a solution and remains hopeful, as should we.
A Generation Jones teenager poses in her room.Image via Wikmedia Commons
Person says they're more productive and excited when pretending their life is a TV show
"This is the one time that being delusional actually helped me."
Be the main character in your life.
A lot of the time, life can be boring. There's lots of waiting and wondering, and the mundane every-day chores can demotivate you, making you really feel the drudgery of it all. If only life were as interesting as a TV show. Wouldn't that make a big difference? For one person, doing just that changed their attitude and outlook on life for the better.
On Reddit, a poster shared that once they started treating life as if they were on a television show, they started feeling more excited to participate in the everyday and even began accomplishing more. They start each day with an episode title and end the "episode" by going to sleep. They claimed to be more excited each day to "unfold the cliffhanger I had of yesterday's episode," and would look back on their "season" (week) feeling prouder and "cooler" about their life. "This is the one time that being delusional actually helped me."
Many commenters brought up how this reframing of life and other similar tricks worked out for them, too:
“Honestly, same! Sometimes when I’m stuck, I imagine I’m in a movie and the audience is screaming at the screen and I think, what are they yelling at me to do that’s so obvious to them? Helps with indecision or hard decisions.”
“I did this a lot as a kid. It made life feel exciting for sure.”
"Framing your day as an episode is genius because it turns the boring parts into plot development instead of just stuff you have to get through…My show would be a lot of filler episodes where the main character is on the couch with his dog but honestly those are the best episodes of any series anyway.”
“Sometimes, when I need to really lock in at work. I'll put earbuds in, put on some music, and imagine watching myself work like it's a dramatic montage in a movie. I don’t know why but it helps.”
“I started treating cooking like I was hosting a show.”
“I actually love this. It is a clean trick to beat boredom and procrastination. Giving the day a title and a clean ending makes you act like the main character instead of a background extra. I might steal it.”
“I kinda do this, I try to romanticize my life by saying oh I’m just the main character of my movie. I go through the struggles I’m going through only because it's the climax of the movie, and it’ll resolve eventually.”
This isn't the first time someone stumbled upon this type of mind hack. Licensed therapists who spoke to Upworthy weighed in on the mental reframing and discussed its effectiveness.
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"In many ways, viewing your life as a T.V. show is just a cognitive reframe, which can be helpful when overcoming hurdles," said therapist Jerred England. "On T.V., we expect the main character to face challenges and then overcome them as they reach their goal. In many ways, that's life, too. We don't watch programs where the main character has a victim mentality, is defeated, and then lies around at home for a week. Having a mindset that expects and overcomes challenges can be truly helpful—after all, life hands us plenty of them!"
"Thinking this way can give someone a nudge out of passivity," said narrative therapist Claudia Johnson. "Rather than waiting to feel motivated, they start living 'as if' their choices matter to a bigger arc. That can foster curiosity, openness to new experiences, and tolerance of short-term discomfort."
"It can also provide some psychic distance," Johnson added. "By thinking of your life as a movie during anxious times, rejection or failure feels like part of a plot rather than evidence against your self-worth."
While both therapists said that this reframing can be helpful, it can become harmful if taken too literally.
"Believing you are the main character can lead to performing life instead of being present in it. You start going through life instead of living it by curating experiences that look meaningful on the surface," said Johnson.
"One of the dangers is that you'll start basing your worth on whether you're excited or productive. Real life isn't a movie—it's full of mundane stretches where you're just maintaining the pace," she explained. "These 'everyday' chapters are vital but never make it into the highlight reel."
"I would caution that in T.V., we like to have drama, enemies, and constant challenges. If you find too much of that in your life, you might stay in a bad situation too long," concluded England. "If your friends tell you that your life is a T.V. show, you might consider changing your work or relationships. After all, most of us wouldn't actually like to live in The Truman Show."