South Sudan Basketball Federation president Luol Deng has responded to the offensive feedback that had been made in regards to the South Sudan Olympic crew.
He particularly names Paul Pierce and Gilbert Arenas.
“I’m not upset or indignant at these ignorant remarks made by my former colleagues; I used to be extra dissatisfied to see them coming from two people I’ve all the time revered,” Deng stated on Instagram. “The feedback made by Paul Pierce confirmed misinformation and a scarcity of analysis. Nonetheless, he used it as a teachable second to shed positivity as soon as he was knowledgeable. Thanks to Paul Pierce for apologising, that i can respect.
“Rising up, I heard many related feedback, and people very remarks are among the issues that motivated me to alter the narrative. Africans now present solidarity and help for one another greater than ever. Moments like this aren’t for us to get upset and lash out. Many Africans and Black individuals who embrace their African heritage are working onerous to deliver all Black folks nearer by educating and sharing tales and historic moments, educating that we have now way more in frequent than variations.
“As for Gilbert’s feedback, they had been actually extra disrespectful and merciless. Personally, I don’t care a lot. I’d by no means commerce locations with anybody; being African is particular. Nonetheless, for younger African and African American youngsters who admire and take heed to Gilbert, these feedback could make you suppose much less of your self and make the remainder of the world suppose much less of Africans. Those that are simply misled might make feedback that mirror self-hate greater than delight. There’s nothing about our historical past that we must always run away from.
“I really need to thank each of them for giving us this platform to reply and inform others. We’ve labored very onerous within the final 4 years to be right here, and we will’t permit mere seconds to take that away. As a substitute, let’s admire the second and use these feedback as a possibility to teach. Being liked is all the time higher than being tolerated.
“If we as a folks realized the greatness from which we got here we’d be much less prone to disrespect ourselves.”
Throughout an episode of Undisputed earlier than South Sudan v USA’s exhibition recreation, Pierce mocked the African crew and stated, “… they most likely don’t have anyone over 6’3.”
Arenas took issues a step too far although and made some extraordinarily offensive feedback in regards to the South Sudan crew, in addition to Joel Embiid.
