With award show season coming to a close, the ESPY’s absolutely SLAYED. They addressed race and gun violence in an unabashed and open conversation that desperately needed to happen. Last night, these athletes were the voice America needs.
1. When Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James solemnly came on stage and you knew everything was about to get so real.
2. When Anthony, one of the most significant basketball players of all time said “The system is broken. The problems are not new. The violence is not new. And the racial divide definitely is not new. But the urgency to create change is at an all-time high.”
WATCH: “The urgency to create change is at an all-time high.” – @carmeloanthony https://t.co/V7KMxkibaV
— Good Morning America (@GMA) July 14, 2016
3. Realizing that this is one of the only entertainment awards shows that is willing to have the conversation about racial discrimination in America, unlike the #OscarsSoWhite.
WATCH: “We stand here accepting our role in uniting communities.” – @CP3 #ESPYS https://t.co/bMS6Vra3Bx
— Good Morning America (@GMA) July 14, 2016
4. That moment when Wade expanded the conversation not only to include police violence but racial profiling as a whole.
5. “Enough is enough.”
WATCH: “Racial profiling has to stop… but also the retaliation has to stop. Enough is enough.” –@DwyaneWade #ESPYS https://t.co/p7twmTjimT
— Good Morning America (@GMA) July 14, 2016
6. Watching these incredible athletes take it upon themselves to be the voice of change and set their goal to unite communities.
7. When King James killed it and said, “Let’s use this moment as a call to action for all professional athletes to educate ourselves, explore these issues, speak up, use our influence, and renounce all violence.”
WATCH: “We all have to do better.” – @KingJames #ESPYS https://t.co/PsqLjsutZg
— Good Morning America (@GMA) July 14, 2016