Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Jazz's Clarkson: 'No room' for racist vandalism

Written by 
Published in Basketball
Thursday, 10 June 2021 15:43

SALT LAKE CITY -- Jordan Clarkson saw the hateful racial slur spray-painted all over a well-known Filipino food truck in Utah on social media and was overcome with raw emotion.

"F--- C----s" and an offensive image of a face with slanted eyes was sprayed on the side of the World Famous Yum Yum Food Truck last weekend, and it didn't take long for the images to reach Clarkson's phone. The Utah Jazz Sixth Man of the Year knew he had to do something after seeing the graffiti of the derogatory ethnic slur and hurtful image often used against Asians.

"If you want me to be real honest, my first reaction was, 'This is bulls---!'" Clarkson told ESPN on Thursday. "I was just like, we can't be f---ing doing this. Those were the exact words that came out of my mouth to my boys, my family and everybody that was around me. So they were like, let's do something [about it]."

"There's just no room for that," Clarkson added, "especially right now. It's been tough, tough years on this Earth, this country, this world. There's a lot of stuff going on. I feel like us together, and everybody finding a peace, will make things a lot more comforting in this world. We ain't got no room for the hate no more. That's got to go out of the window real quick."

For Clarkson, who is Filipino American, the vandalism of the Filipino food truck hit home on many levels. It is just the latest example of the hate and violence that many Asians have experienced, especially over the past year during the coronavirus pandemic.

The 29-year-old Clarkson was one of many, including local politicians and businesses, who wanted to help restore the food truck. Clarkson paid for interior cleaning and detailing and joined with vehicle wrap company Identity Graphx, which designed a new exterior for the truck that will be unveiled Saturday at the Philippine Independence Day celebration in Salt Lake City. Clarkson also offered the owners, Ben and Erin Pierce, with significant financial support to get the truck up and running again.

Clarkson said the Jazz invited the truck's owners and employees to Game 2 against the LA Clippers on Thursday (10 p.m. ET, ESPN).

"I didn't even want this to really get out," Clarkson said. "My team was like, do you want to go public with this or not? And I was kind of like no in the sense of I want to do this out of straight love and support. But for them, they came to me and said you got to show the people that you are there for them and let them know that you are supporting them, and that is what I am doing. I am here to support, show love and just try to make a change. That's it."

Clarkson said his father detailed cars for a living and had a trailer in their front yard where he worked. Seeing the food truck vandalized reminded Clarkson of how hard his father worked to provide for his family and how such an act of hate and racism would have done serious damage to his father's business.

"There's just no room for that, especially right now. It's been tough, tough years on this Earth, this country, this world. There's a lot of stuff going on. I feel like us together, and everybody finding a peace, will make things a lot more comforting in this world. We ain't got no room for the hate no more. That's got to go out of the window real quick."
Jordan Clarkson

And the hateful slurs hurt the Jazz point guard deeply. Many Asians are living in fear in the United States amid a surge in hate crimes. From March 2020 to March 2021, there were more than 6,600 anti-Asian hate incidents documented by Stop AAPI Hate. Asian-targeted hate crimes in the biggest U.S. cities spiked 145% in 2020 compared to 2019, according to The Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino. There have been verbal and physical attacks, with some ending fatally, such as the March 16 shootings that killed six Asian women in the Atlanta area.

"It is a big thing that we are trying to really change and really be a part of, especially here in Utah," Clarkson said of trying to create awareness and combat racism and racial inequality. "It is kind of a worldwide thing that is going on that you see is a movement with everything. Black Lives Matter, Stop Asian Hate, all of these things are being put into really the eye of everybody now because everybody has social media, everybody has phones. I feel like a lot of this has been going on for a long time."

Clarkson said he is finding his voice and becoming more active and involved.

"It has been powerful, and for me, it's been a lot," Clarkson said. "But you know, I am learning and doing a lot of things as well to try to catch up on a lot of this stuff. Being young in the league, you are kind of not really paying attention to a lot of this stuff. As you get older, you really kind of embrace this role of who you are. It really hits home in those times."

Clarkson said that new Jazz ownership, led by Ryan Smith and including Dwyane Wade, has tried to use its influence to promote diversity and inclusivity and speak out against hate.

"They have really done a good job already of really trying to change this culture in Utah and really trying to just make a change period," Clarkson said. "Like all the hate and stuff, if you come to our arena, you'll see the message that's put on the board before games [asking fans to curb hateful behavior].

"You saw what our organization did with Ja Morant's family. What we are trying to do is commit to change. Since we are the leaders around here in this community, this state and this city, I feel like it is our duty to do that. I feel like if people see us doing that, they'll follow."

Read 348 times

Soccer

USWNT's Albert apologizes after Rapinoe criticism

USWNT's Albert apologizes after Rapinoe criticism

EmailPrintUnited States women's national team midfielder Korbin Albert apologized on Thursday for pr...

Leicester sack women's boss for breach of conduct

Leicester sack women's boss for breach of conduct

EmailPrintLeicester City manager Willie Kirk has been dismissed from his position after an internal...

Davies' agent blasts Bayern's contract 'ultimatum'

Davies' agent blasts Bayern's contract 'ultimatum'

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe agent of Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies has criticised the...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

Basketball

Hornets shut down LaMelo (ankle) for season

Hornets shut down LaMelo (ankle) for season

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCharlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball will not play again this season...

Lawyer: Ex-G Leaguer won't face death penalty

Lawyer: Ex-G Leaguer won't face death penalty

EmailPrintFormer G League player Chance Comanche, who was charged with the murder of a woman whose b...

Baseball

Heroic debut: Soto's throw saves Yankees in 9th

Heroic debut: Soto's throw saves Yankees in 9th

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsHOUSTON -- That Juan Soto's first signature Yankee moment happened...

Ohtani welcomed, helps Betts, Freeman drive win

Ohtani welcomed, helps Betts, Freeman drive win

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLOS ANGELES -- Shohei Ohtani was pleased with the quality of his at...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated