LeBron James issues powerful response to his house being vandalized with racist graffiti: ‘Racism will always be a part of the world, a part of America’

David Zalubowski/AP

LeBron James on Wednesday issued a powerful response to the vandalization of his home in Los Angeles. A racial slur was spray-painted on the front, and police are investigating the incident as a hate crime, according to reports.

Speaking to reporters for the NBA Finals media day, James said the incident “goes to show that racism will always be a part of the world, a part of America.”

“If this is to shed the light and continue to keep the conversation going on my behalf, then I’m OK with it,” James said about the incident, referring to national conversations about race relations. “My family is safe. At the end of the day, they’re safe, and that’s the most important.”

James continued:

“But it just goes to show that racism will always be a part of the world, a part of America. Hate in America, especially for African-Americans, is living every day. And even though that it’s concealed most of the time, we know people hide their faces and will say things about you — when they see you, they smile at your face. It’s alive every single day. …

“No matter how much money you have, no matter how famous you are, no matter how many people admire you, being black in America is tough. And we got a long way to go for us as a society and for us as African-Americans until we feel equal in America.”

James also mentioned Emmett Till, a 14-year-old African-American who was murdered in Mississippi in 1955, in his comments. James said the decision of Till’s mother, Mamie Mobley, to have an open coffin at Till’s funeral to show the brutality of racism was the first thing he thought of upon hearing of the incident at his house.

Watch James’ comments: