Q&A With Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ʼ69

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n May 12 at 6:30 p.m. in UCLA’s Ackerman Grand Ballroom and on Zoom, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ’69 — Bruin legend, NBA icon, bestselling author and lifelong advocate for equality — will launch his powerful new memoir, “We All Want to Change the World: My Journey Through Social Justice Movements from the 1960s to Today” in a special fireside chat.

A UCLA standout who led the Bruins to three consecutive NCAA championships (1967–69), Abdul-Jabbar went on to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and a six-time champion. Off the court, he has spent decades championing justice, education and equality.

Co-authored with Raymond Obstfeld, the memoir recounts a pivotal 1964 meeting with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that sparked Abdul-Jabbar’s lifelong commitment to activism. From Civil Rights and women’s liberation to environmentalism and anti-war movements, the book traces both his advocacy and personal growth — highlighting the evolution of his beliefs, his deepening empathy and his enduring conviction that “no one is free unless everyone is free.” Despite the obstacles to change, his message is rooted in hope and the transformative potential of each generation.

You’ve transitioned from athlete to activist to cultural ambassador over the course of your life. How have these different roles shaped your perspective on social change — and how did your time at UCLA help lay the foundation for your activism?

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: I was at UCLA during the height of many of the protest movements that shaped our country over the coming decades. As a student, I participated in some peaceful protests. When I was asked to join the Olympic basketball team in 1968 I refused because I couldn’t be a spokesperson for a country that was openly and actively repressing the rights of Black people. I also wouldn’t support the head of the Olympic committee, who was a known racist and anti-Semite. While at UCLA, I also participated in the Cleveland Summit in which a group of famous Black athletes offered their support to Muhammad Ali, who was being persecuted for his antiwar stance.

My activism since then was to be a symbol of a Black athlete who cared as much about his country and the people in it as he did about championships and selling sneakers. Sometimes that involved active participation in a protest, sometimes it involved writing books to promote Black achievements. Sometimes it involved traveling the world to represent America’s true values.

What inspired you to write “We All Want to Change the World” at this particular moment in history?

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: The election of President Trump in 2016 was a shocking revelation that the country was on a path of abandoning its core principles. They were openly embracing a racist, a misogynist and a liar. That was a symptom of a bad infection spreading through America that with his re-election in 2024 has now worsened into a disease bringing us to our knees. It’s terrible that it’s gotten this far, but part of the cure is to wake up to the reality that we’ve let an irrational, incompetent, torch-carrying mob take over and we need to do something about it.

The book is a history of Americans “doing something about it” that I hope will inspire people today to reclaim the values expressed in our Constitution. America’s legacy is of a nation that protests against injustice and this book celebrates that legacy.

In the book, you describe public protest as a vital tool for change. How has your view of activism evolved since you first became involved in social movements?

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: I started my activism as a teenager in the sixties focusing my efforts on civil rights because that’s what affected me directly. But as the Civil Rights Movement grew, so did the Free Speech Movement, the antiwar movement, the women’s rights movement and the gay rights movement. I began to understand that they were all the same movement, like different rooms in the same burning house. In order to save one room, you had to save all the rooms. I came to realize that unless everyone is free, no one was free. And that has been my goal ever since.

You cover a wide range of movements. What common threads did you find across these different causes?

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: The members of each marginalized group were made to feel like they were outsiders who didn’t love their country because they found fault with it. They were told by those in power that all they had to do was wait and eventually they would get their rights. But history tells us that rights are only conveyed when the marginalized rise up and protest the injustice. The only rights gained are those demanded.

Those in power always create a public relations campaign characterizing anyone criticizing those in power as traitors, communists, Marxists, socialists and other buzz words that have no real meaning anymore. A wise leader would listen to the people and try to address their concerns. But our leaders too often are businesspeople more interested in enriching themselves at the expense of the people. Henry David Thoreau said, “The rich man…is always sold to the institution which makes him rich.” So, they will protect their income as long as possible, no matter the cost to others. That is the common thread of the oppressors. The common thread of the protestors across all movements is to reject the oppressor’s immorality disguised as patriotism and focus on bettering the country rather than their bank accounts.

What advice would you give to younger generations who may feel overwhelmed or disillusioned about their ability to create change?

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: It always felt overwhelming — and it always will. People who think their rights are safe are often unmotivated to help others be free, even though it is in their best interest. The job of the activist is to show them why it is in their best interest.

The most important thing to remember is that the fight is never won. There is no championship ring at the end — just another fight. The victories are incremental and once won, have to be maintained. Too many people don’t know enough history to learn from it and so must repeat the same mistakes over and over. We’re there to keep pushing that boulder up the hill, no matter how many times it rolls back down. Because if it rolls all the way down, it crushes everyone’s hopes.

You have a deep history with UCLA; what’s the significance of you launching this book in Westwood?

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: UCLA was where the adult version of me was born. Coach Wooden taught us basketball, sure, but mostly he was interested in teaching us how to be good, moral men. He taught us discipline and drive, but also compassion and courage. My classes honed my mind, making me more educated in history, a better critical thinker, and taught me how to be a better writer. My interaction with other students developed my sense of community and commitment to larger causes that affected everyone, not just me personally.

Finally, at your upcoming UCLA event, you’ll be discussing the evolution of protest. Without giving too much away, can you share a preview of a key insight you plan to highlight?

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: I want to remind everyone that protest is in America’s DNA. The country was founded on protests like the Boston Tea Party. Every right that we take for granted right now was the result of Americans directly protesting, including the abolition of slavery, women’s right to vote, LGBTQ rights, anti-child labor laws, the 40-hour week, and so much more. Almost always, protesters are ridiculed by the general public until more and more people see the wisdom of their protest and choose to join in. That is the real American Way.

For information and to register for the book launch and fireside chat, please visit the website or e-mail events@alumni.ucla.edu.

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