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Quote by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

“Culture and politics were inseparable [in the Sixties], which gave a soundtrack to political awareness and activism.”

Quote by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Author

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, born on April 16, 1947, was an American professional basketball player who is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He spent his entire NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning six NBA championships, and was named the NBA MVP six times and a First Team All-Star 19 times. Known for his iconic skyhook shot and exceptional statistical achievements, Abdul-Jabbar left an indelible mark on the sport. more

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“For me, the bold jazz of John Coltrane and Miles Davis reflected the bold attitude in African-Americans finding their political identity and voice.”

Political Voice Attitude Identity Findings Jazz Miles African American Coltrane

Author:Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

“UCLA acknowledged this shift by bringing in Alex Haley (the co-author of The Autobiography of Malcolm X) and Eldridge Cleaver (Soul on Ice) as speakers.”

Soul Ice Speakers Autobiography Alex Ucla Haley Cleaver Malcolm X Autobiography

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“But all was not sunshine and Marvin Gaye songs. [UCLA] also recruited black students as part of a High Potential Program that was meant to bring diversity to the campus. Two of the students that were part of that program were Alprentice "Bunchy" Carter and John Huggins, Jr., both members of the Black Panther Party's Southern California Chapter.”

“In January of 1969, after a meeting to discuss the leadership of UCLA's new Afro-American Program, [Alprentice "Bunchy" Carter and John Huggins, Jr.] were murdered on campus by a rival black nationalist group, the United Slaves Organization. This shook up all the students, black and white, and made us all realize that what we were doing wasn't just an academic exercise, but had repercussions in the real world.”

“The only reason is that I hadn't seen The Modern Jazz Quartet perform live and a live performance is often where the real experience of jazz takes place. I'm not familiar with the Boswell Sisters.”

Real Reason Modern Performances Jazz Familiar Quartets Live Performance

Author:Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

“We all had a lot of fun making the film ["Airplane" ], but there weren't a lot of outtakes or cracking up because we all were focused on doing our jobs in a professional manner.”

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“I was just starting out acting [doing "Airplane"] and wanted to be taken as a professional, not as an athlete doing a cameo.”

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Author:Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

“When I was at UCLA, the Harlem Globetrotters offered me a million dollars to come play for them. I turned it down because my education was just as important as playing ball.”

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Author:Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

“The lifespan of most professional athletes is relatively short, and most have no preparation for doing anything after their career ends, which it could in an instant.”

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Author:Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

“Common decency demands that [NCAA athletes] should be paid, but the only way it will happen is the same way workers got paid throughout American history, through a strong union.”

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Author:Kareem Abdul-Jabbar