Members of the Boston Celtics are utilizing their platform to promote meaningful change as protests over racial injustice continue across the United States.
Several players — including Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, Enes Kanter and Vincent Poirier — joined peaceful protests this past weekend to help convey that message.
And one ex-Celtic, Cedric Maxwell, is pleased with how current players have promoted justice during such trying times. But there’s one thing he wishes he was able to do as a member of the Celtics that players can do now — utilize social media to enhance their message.
“For me to have gone someplace and been a popular athlete and said, ‘There is a beach in South Carolina which is segregated, and they put a chain-link fence in the water and you have to swim all the way out to go around?’ I was thinking as a little boy like, ‘Damn, was the water different? If you went past this area, what would happen?'” Maxwell told The Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach on Monday.
More Celtics: NBPA Salutes Celtics’ Jaylen Brown For Leading Peaceful Protest
“But I’d love to go back, and I’d love to be like these guys. Now they have a bigger platform and I think it’s great. I’m so happy our younger players were able to step out on that ledge and show that they’re part of society and contributing to society,” Maxwell added. “This is everybody’s problem, and I think that’s what Jaylen, Kanter, and Marcus were saying.”
Though Maxwell is proud of all the Celtics that participated in this weekend’s protests, he is especially proud of Brown’s efforts. Brown, as you likely know, drove 15 hours to Atlanta to participate in Saturday’s peaceful protests.
“One thing with Jaylen Brown is you really see that person, that guy where you go, ‘Man, I really admire what he does from a personal standpoint.’ He gets it and understands who is he is and appreciates his community. For him to do that was special,” Maxwell said.
Special indeed.
