LeBron James gets it.
MORE: Police investigating racial vandalism at LeBron James' L.A. home
He knows no amount of wealth, fame or achievement can free him of the oftentimes harsh realities of blacks in America.
So, there sat James Thursday (AEDT), Forbes' third-highest paid athlete (He made an estimated $77.2 million in 2016), an international celebrity, three-time NBA champion and four-time league MVP, solemn, with steely resolve, answering questions for the first time since vandals spray-painted the n-word onto his $21-million Los Angeles home.
James was happy his family is physically safe, but was noticeably somber as he tried to make sense of the senseless.
"...hate in America, especially for African Americans, is living every day," said James, whose Cavaliers take on the Warriors in Game 1 of the NBA Finals Friday (AEDT). "And even though that it's concealed most of the time, even though people hide their faces and will say things about you and when they see you they smile in your face, it's a life every single day."
He continued: "And I think back to Emmett Till's mom, actually. It's kind of one of the first things I thought of, and the reason that she had an open casket is because she wanted to show the world what her son went through as far as a hate crime and being black in America. So it's like it doesn't -- 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 -- it's 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. But my family is safe, and that's what's -- that's what's important."
LeBron James responds to the vandalism incident at his home pic.twitter.com/goMoicIIit
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) May 31, 2017
A husband and father of three, LeBron Jr. (12), Bryce (9) and Zhuri (2), James said not being able to be with them during a time like this is "killing him."
"They have great minds, they're very open to life and love life and things of that nature," James said. "So for me to be able just to try to give them the blueprint as much as I can on what life has to offer, but at the end of the day they're going to have to walk their own path, and hopefully I give them enough life skills throughout their journey where when they're ready to fly, they can fly on their own."
James said he'll eventually get back to being engaging and energetic, as he typically is, during interviews but for now he'll find solace in the hope that what he and his family endured won't be in vain.
"Time heals all," he said. "And at the end of the day, like I said, if this incident that happened to me and my family today can keep the conversation going and can shed light on us trying to figure out a way to keep progressing and not regressing, then I'm not against it happening to us again. I mean it's as long as my family is safe."