LeBron James Responds to L.A. Home Vandalism: 'Being Black in America Is Tough'

In light of the news earlier today that his Los Angeles home was vandalized with a racial slur, LeBron James used the incident to speak on the ongoing issue of racism in America. During his media availability prior to Game 1 of this year's NBA Finals, James admitted that the well-being of his family was his most important concern. Aside from that, LeBron wanted to let this situation be another reminder that racism still exists.

"Hate, in America, especially for an African-American, is living every day," James said, per CBS Sports. "Even though it's concealed most of the time—people will hide their faces and will say things about you and then when they see you they smile in your face—it's alive every single day."

The incident led LeBron to immediately think about Mamie Till's famous response to the murder of her son Emmett, who was brutally killed in 1955 at the age of 14 after speaking with a white woman. "I think back to Emmett Till's mom, actually. It's kind of one of the first things I thought of," he said. "And the reason that she had an open casket is because she wanted to show the world what her son went through as far as a hate crime, and being black in America."

James' most poignant observation on the matter came when he confessed that "being black in America is tough," regardless of one's financial status and/or popularity. "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," LeBron said. "And we've got a long way to go for us as a society, and for us as African-Americans, until we feel equal in America."

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