Legendary NBA star Kobe Bryant has been reported dead in a Southern California helicopter crash. He perished at the young age of forty-one. According to news sources, his thirteen-year-old daughter also perished in the crash.
For what it is worth, I offer my condolences to his family and hope that the man and others that died in the crash rests in peace.
I have never been a huge fan of basketball, and I discourage celebrity worship, but this death hits home to me. Like it or not, Kobe Bryant’s image helped me during my escapades when I lived in China. He was also one of few Black male celebrities with world renown that was generally well-spoken and inspirational to fans all over the world.
This should be a wake-up call to us all, Black men in particular.
Death Smiles at All of Us
Whether you are a lowly incel or a top-tier celebrity with all of the looks, money, and status needed to succeed in this world, you are going to die some day. Life is not fair; many of us were not born with silver spoons (or golden genetics). We still have to make the most of the lives that we are living.
Exercise and eat healthy. Learn new skills and self-improve constantly. Sulking and failing to take responsibility (to the degree that we an, at least) is a waste of our greatest resource – time. You never know when that time will run out, so make sure to tell those in your life how much you appreciate them.
Live Your Own Life
In the days ahead, there will be a media firestorm regarding the death of Kobe Bryant. The majority of you reading this may have watched his games, but you likely never met him. Kobe made it in life. We must do what we can to ensure that we can accomplish our goals.
For Black men especially, we must learn to build for ourselves on a grassroots level. A great celebrity and wealthy Black man has been lost. Will you waste time looking into (possibly legitimate) conspiracy theories, or will you strive to become great within your abilities? It is undeniable that celebrities have a major influence on how we are perceived as a people, but we must not fall into the trap of living vicariously through them.
You’re Only the G.O.A.T. when You’re Gone
In the words of the famous Cinderella song, “You don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone.” When Kobe Bryant retired, all of my Chinese students posted WeChat moments about how he was the greatest player of all time. The flood of moments are already beginning now that he has passed.
Kobe Bryant was a famous athlete, so of course his death has caused ripples in society. He had fans that believed he was the greatest NBA player while he was alive and even while he was in the League. We must acknowledge, however, the commentators that will be riding the wave of “RIP Kobe, the G.O.A.T.” who hated him when he was alive. This is one of the harsh realities of human nature. Many of us will only be honored (for about fifteen minutes) after we are cold in the ground.
Sadly, many of us will not receive appreciation in our lives while we are here. Worst yet, many of us will fail to appreciate people in our lives while they are here. At least for today, take time to show your family, friends, loved ones, and mentors your appreciation. Take time to appreciate yourself and become something worthy of appreciation as well.
May Kobe Bryant rest in peace. May those of us still living continue to pursue our own greatness.