About this episode

Cari reflects on Reverend Jesse Jackson’s legacy and discusses the NBA All-Star Weekend's cultural significance.

Cari reflects on Reverend Jesse Jackson’s death (Tuesday, February 17) and what he represented to her growing up; watching family gather around the TV during his 1984 and 1988 presidential runs, hearing “Keep Hope Alive” and “I am somebody,” and learning how much those messages of dignity and possibility mattered to Black communities. Cari speaks on Jackson’s legacy and contribution to the Civil Rights movement, his presence at key moments like Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, and argues that even with flaws, his impact can’t be erased, especially in a time of DEI rollbacks, political turmoil, and threats to marginalized communities’ rights. From there, the episode shifts to NBA All-Star Weekend: why fans keep complaining the game is boring, and how today’s stars feel more focused on social currency and being friends than on real competition, something earlier eras embodied through players like Kobe Bryant (and even stories about Michael Jordan’s mindset). Cari also recaps a major highlight from the all-star weekend: a “Love & Basketball” 25th anniversary panel sponsored by HBCU First Look…

People in this episode

Host: Cari Champion

Topics covered

• Jesse Jackson's legacy
• Civil Rights movement
• NBA All-Star Weekend
• social currency in sports
• women's sports storytelling
• intergenerational influence

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Love & Basketball

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