Boston Celtics shooting guard Jaylen Brown has some thoughts on the coronavirus pandemic, and he wants you to read them.
In a recent opinion piece penned for The Guardian, the fourth-year wing wrote on the many ways the COVID-19 crisis has laid bare a number of systemic inequalities and other issues related to the pandemic.
Critical of the conflicting information we are getting from the government, and deeply concerned about the lack of sufficient medical supplies and capacity in our healthcare infrastructure, Brown asks us to work together where we are able to support each other while unemployment soars.
“Donate to your local food banks, homeless shelters and to those less fortunate in general,” suggested the Cal-Berkeley product.
“Allocate resources to healthcare workers, and other extraordinary workers and unsung heroes during this time. Lend a hand to the families and family members of healthcare workers and those who have lost someone, and are in need of economic support.”
Noting 30,000 souls have already been lost to the viral scourge, the Georgia native notes, “[o]f those heart-wrenching numbers, the percentage of African Americans and people of color is both alarming and disproportionate.”
Jaylen Brown urges America to fix all of its epidemics of societal inequity as it tries to come out of the pandemic, in a new op ed https://t.co/eNC6om7hWd pic.twitter.com/hRmdqXq3xc
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) April 19, 2020
Brown is pleased with how the league has led the way in taking a safe approach towards its fans, staff and players.
“I am proud to be a member of the Boston Celtics and of the NBA for ceasing to continue the season at this time,” he wrote. “Sports have an influential position in our society, and I’m grateful the NBA uses its platform considerately.”
Sharing condolences for Jackie Towns — Karl-Anthony of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ mother, who recently passed away from COVID-19 complications — Brown closed with a call for unity, and to use this crisis as a catalyst for solving structural problems made more evident by the pandemic.
“It’s Game 7 and how we perform down the stretch is going to determine our outcome,” he offered. “Let’s lean in and get this done together as a team.”
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