South Sudan Basketball Federation president Luol Deng has responded to the offensive feedback that have been made in regards to the South Sudan Olympic workforce.
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 upset to see them coming from two people I’ve at all times revered,” Deng mentioned 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 a few of the issues that motivated me to vary the narrative. Africans now present solidarity and help for one another greater than ever. Moments like this are usually not for us to get upset and lash out. Many Africans and Black individuals who embrace their African heritage are working exhausting to deliver all Black individuals nearer by educating and sharing tales and historic moments, educating that we’ve got way more in frequent than variations.
“As for Gilbert’s feedback, they have been definitely extra disrespectful and merciless. Personally, I don’t care a lot. I might by no means commerce locations with anybody; being African is particular. Nonetheless, for younger African and African American youngsters who admire and hearken to Gilbert, these feedback could make you assume much less of your self and make the remainder of the world assume much less of Africans. Those that are simply misled might make feedback that replicate self-hate greater than satisfaction. There may be nothing about our historical past that we must always run away from.
“I really wish to thank each of them for giving us this platform to reply and inform others. We’ve labored very exhausting 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 recognize the second and use these feedback as a possibility to teach. Being beloved is at all times higher than being tolerated.
“If we as a individuals realized the greatness from which we got here we might be much less prone to disrespect ourselves.”
Throughout an episode of Undisputed earlier than South Sudan v USA’s exhibition sport, Pierce mocked the African workforce and mentioned, “… they in all probability 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 workforce, in addition to Joel Embiid.
