“They were coming after us” Bill Russell shared a horrifying story about facing racism when he supported Medgar Evers’ Family
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NBA Icon Bill Russell
Bill Russell the greatest winner in the world of sports has unfortunately died at the age of 88 on Sunday. It really is a big loss for the world as he was the man who stood for everything and anything he felt a voice should be raised for. The basketball world has lost a legend but so did the globe. As the Celtics legend never limited himself to the basketball court and was always out there doing something for the betterment of society trying to make the world a better place to live. He was an important part of the African-American society as he really was much more than an athlete. Bill Russell was also known as a powerful and great civil leader, who actually brought in changes and paved the way for others. He really has ticked a list of unthinkable greats one couldn’t even imagine back in his era.
Bill Russell was competitive and there’s no doubt about it. As he has got more rings than fingers but that mentality of his wasn’t limited to the court. As he also fought against racism till the very end and got the greatest achievements of his life off the court while bringing equality in. Bill Russell was also one of the most influential guys out there whose suggestions and advices were always accepted and respected. As he really knew it all. But the road he was riding on as a Black Athlete wasn’t easy at all but again it’s Mr. 11 Rings so winning was a habit and that’s what he did.
Bill Russell had many stories to tell as he survived a very different America than what it’s known for today. Back in the 1960s things weren’t easy especially when you were black. As racism was at its peak and people really feared for their life. But thanks to every prominent member of the black community who didn’t give up, kept fighting and brought in relief. Russell was fearless but still got a moment where he was stuck in a scary situation for supporting Medgar Evers’ family.
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Bill Russell’s time in Mississippi to support Medgar Evers’ family
Medgar Evers a US Army veteran and civil rights activist who stood up for equality and social justice was shot dead near his house by a white supremacist. This has the country burning and shooked up. So many important and great members of the Black Community decided to visit Mississippi to show out their support for Medgar Evers’ family. Bill Russell was one of them even though his wife, family and friends didn’t want him to go due to fear of life. But he did what he felt was right.
As in his book, “Go Up for Glory” Bill Russell detailing about the event wrote: “I didn’t want to go to Mississippi. I was like anyone else. I was afraid to get killed. My wife asked me not to go. Some friends said the same thing. A man must do what he thinks is right. I called Eastern Airlines and ordered my ticket. Men like Medgar Evers were dead and other men had taken up his flag. Charlie Evers was a man marked for death, who slept with a pistol in his hand. The first night in Jackson I had no pistol, but I stayed with a friend with the door bolted. It would be rattled once in a while. There were noises in the alley. My friend couldn’t sleep. ‘They’re coming for us, they’re after us,’ he said. The kind of men who come after you in the darkness do not frighten me. I went to sleep.”
Further Bill Russell has also mentioned how life for guys like him at that moment was rough as they got followed around. As revealing an incident he had on the dinner table at Jackson, he wrote: “Cars followed us down the road. Full of drunken red necks. Later, they would shoot a soldier, a lady, a kid. They would shoot the unarmed ones. They would lose their taste for it when they came abreast of our car… I was having dinner in Jackson with two priests. Four red necks came in. Paunchy, sick, loudmouth men who were drinking. They showed their guns as they took the table next to us. They began talking about the priests. I am not overly religious, but they were good men. I said: ‘I know how you are at praying, but can you fight?’ I laughed. They laughed back. The red necks kept on our backs.”
Bill Russell further adding to it wrote: “I stood up and went over to their table. My knees were shaking. Was it anger? Was it fear? I stood beside the big one. ‘Baby,’ I said, ‘I am a peaceful man. But to me, life is a jungle. When people threaten me or mine, then I go back to the law of the jungle. Now I tell you–which law are we living by here? Because if this is the jungle then I am going to start killing.’ They jumped up and left. The priests and I went back to our supper. Was it hatred? Was it bitter anger? Who am I? Why should I go through this?”
It’s really sad to know that a legend like Bill Russell who lived for the people had to go through all of this. He was a man who made the world a better place to live. Now when he isn’t with us things don’t really feel the same but we know he’ll live forever just like his hard-to-match legacy does. Where he has multiple awards and honors listed under his name from being the league’s MVP, holding NBA Finals records to receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
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Ritik Malik
(1743 Articles Published)