“I didn’t struggle as much with direct racism, there were definitely moments of that, that was a smaller percentage. The majority of it was more indirect, subtle. Things like not being able to get the same chances, not being able to get the same recognition, it just took a long time for me to get credit. If I would outplay somebody, it wouldn’t be like ‘I played very well’, it would be like ‘Oh that other person might not be as good as we thought he was.’ Or if you just go down the list, countless times I just felt like my game spoke for itself but for whatever reason people wouldn’t give me the credit. I think that was probably the biggest form, and what I was used to experiencing the most. As I got into college, or even when I was younger there would be direct verbal racism.
I think the one story that helped me really capsulate the whole racism thing, we were playing a huge game, my junior year and the other team kept calling me ‘chink’ and basically I lost composure, I played terrible. We ended up losing the game, we didn’t win the Ivy league. My coach went to the side and he talked about his racism experience when he was growing up and he was black, and he was playing for Duke and how some of the stuff he had to deal with in a race aspect. He basically told me the strength in taking the negative attacks and turning into something that fuels me, motivates me, and helps me play better. There’s strength in that. Versus them getting under my skin and letting me become somebody that plays worst. I think it’s learning take what someone else means for harm and be able to channel it the right way. That’s kind of how I approach it now.” – Jeremy Lin, @nba Point Guard with @brooklynnets (3/4)
I think the one story that helped me really capsulate the whole racism thing, we were playing a huge game, my junior year and the other team kept calling me ‘chink’ and basically I lost composure, I played terrible. We ended up losing the game, we didn’t win the Ivy league. My coach went to the side and he talked about his racism experience when he was growing up and he was black, and he was playing for Duke and how some of the stuff he had to deal with in a race aspect. He basically told me the strength in taking the negative attacks and turning into something that fuels me, motivates me, and helps me play better. There’s strength in that. Versus them getting under my skin and letting me become somebody that plays worst. I think it’s learning take what someone else means for harm and be able to channel it the right way. That’s kind of how I approach it now.” – Jeremy Lin, @nba Point Guard with @brooklynnets (3/4)