New York Brooklyn Nets' basketball player Jeremy Lin weighed in on social media this week regarding the U.S. presidential election results with measured and hopeful thoughts.
On Nov. 9, Lin tweeted: "This election is about wayyy more than race, but it further revealed how big a topic race is and how big of an issue racism still is, sadly. But long-term, real change requires unification, reconciliation and compassion...one small step at a time. Spread love today! "
He also shared a Biblical verse, John 16:33b -- "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
As an Asian-American athlete, Lin has faced a few challenges regarding perceived or misplaced racism. One public incident involved former Knicks' teammate, J.R. Smith.
Last month, shortly after Lin appeared on CBS Radio's "Boomer & Carton" show and addressed a rumor about Smith not "accepting him as a ballplayer" because of his race, the now Cavaliers' guard on social media dispelled any allegations he discriminated against Lin. Smith stated: "I never want to entertain this topic but whoever said i am or was racist to @JLin7 because he was Asian is wrong on so many levels!"
Smith said he went to the #ESPYS to support Lin when all of Lin-sanity was going on, and stood up for him when other players knocked him down. "Don't ever in your life try an play me as racist," he stated.
Carton suggested Lin's identity as a "Chinese-American player" gave people, like Smith, the idea he didn't deserve the three-year, $25 million deal he signed, reports the New York Post.
"The one thing I will say is that race has been a huge part of my journey ever since I was a child trying to play basketball. So I do think there was always that type of component involved, but again, as I've always said, it's a double-edged sword," Lin said.
"It comes with the good, it comes with the bad. Yeah, sometimes I'm different ... I look different and I'm treated different and that's a negative thing, and in some ways, that's a really positive thing. Like, Linsanity wouldn't have happened if I was white or black or whatever. Part of the reason why it was so crazy is because I'm Asian. I think race plays a part into it, always has, and to what degree or how much to who felt what, I can't specifically answer."
