Just Like Shaquille O’Neal’s Mother, a lesson on Race and White People Changed Michael Jordan’s Perspective on Life: “It Would Be Very Easy to Hate People for the Rest of Your Life”

Published 08/14/2022, 12:00 AM EDT

Michael Jordan revealed in an interview in 1992 that he once possessed a lot of repressed anger against the white community for putting the African-American community through centuries of pain and suffering. As it turns out, Michael Jordan had to go through serious introspection and education to let go of his anger.

In 1977, the miniseries Roots permanently altered the racial landscape in America. In other words, the series educated a lot of people about the centuries of suffering. Moreover, it also made people aware of the tacit forms of racism experienced by many people of color on a daily basis.

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As it turns out, the miniseries left a deep impression on Michael Jordan as well. It made him aware of the realities that he had little knowledge of thus far.

Michael Jordan, on letting go of his anger

Jordan developed a deep sense of hatred after witnessing the centuries of oppression that his people faced. Moreover, instances of racism in daily life further reinforced his anger.

For example, he remembers throwing a soda can at a girl after she had addressed him with a racial slur. However, the Chicago Bulls legend decided to educate himself instead of bearing hatred in his heart.

“You have to be able to say, OK, that happened back then. Now let’s take it from here and see what happens,” said the six-time NBA champion.

“It would be very easy to hate people for the rest of your life, and some people have done that. You’ve got to deal with what’s happening now and try to make things better,” he added.

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As it turns out, it took a whole year for the five-time MVP to let go of his hate. Education from his parents helped him in the process.

Mother Lucille’s lesson

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Incidentally, another NBA legend faced a similar predicament to Michael Jordan. Four-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal.

However, Shaq’s mother Lucille O’Neal’s advice would help him to let go of his hate. In other words, she would tell Shaq to judge people as individuals and not through the actions of the past.

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Later on, mother Lucille’s advice would allow Shaq to develop a close relationship with his friend Mitch Riles in Germany.

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Written by:

Satagni Sikder is an NBA writer for EssentiallySports. He has a Master's degree in English from Jadavpur University, Kolkata, and has been following the NBA since 2017. Moreover, he supports the Dallas Mavericks, and unsurprisingly, Luka Doncic is his favorite player.

Edited by:

Tony Thomas

Just Like Shaquille O’Neal’s Mother, a lesson on Race and White People Changed Michael Jordan’s Perspective on Life: “It Would Be Very Easy to Hate People for the Rest of Your Life”

Michael Jordan, on letting go of his anger

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Mother Lucille’s lesson