Press Releases
January 19, 2012
U.S. DEPARTMENT
OF STATE
Office of the
Spokesperson
For
Immediate
Release
January 18, 2012
2012/xxx
MEDIA NOTE
Secretary
Clinton Announces Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as
Cultural Ambassador
On Wednesday, January 18, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton met with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) All-Time Leading Scorer and a New York Times’ best-selling author of seven books, to discuss his new role as a global Cultural Ambassador. During the meeting, Secretary Clinton reiterated the United States’ strong commitment to engaging young people worldwide and to using people-to-people diplomacy as a means to create opportunities for greater understanding.
Secretary Clinton and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar discussed his
upcoming trip to Brazil as a Cultural Ambassador and the strong relationship
between the people of the United States and Brazil.
“I am excited and honored to serve my country as a Cultural Ambassador for the
U.S. Department of State,” said Kareem Abdul-Jabbar who has focused his efforts
after his NBA career on engaging youth through socially-minded projects and
education. “I look forward to meeting with young people all over the world
and discussing ways in which we can strengthen our understanding of one another
through education, through sports, and through greater cultural
tolerance.”
From January 22-28, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will travel to Brazil to meet with
underserved youth in Salvador and Rio de Janeiro. As a Cultural
Ambassador, Abdul-Jabbar will lead conversations with young people on the
importance of education, social and racial tolerance, cultural understanding,
and using sports as a means of empowerment. In addition, he will
participate in basketball clinics with young people in both cities.
Since his retirement in 1989, Abdul-Jabbar has devoted himself to projects focused on African American history and socio-economic justice. His 2011 documentary “On the Shoulders of Giants” sought to highlight these issues. He has also launched the Skyhook Foundation, which works to improve children’s lives through education and sports. In June 2011, Abdul-Jabbar was honored at the White House by President Barack Obama and received the Lincoln Medal from U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder. The medal honors Abdul-Jabbar’s commitment to education and equality which reflects the legacy of President Abraham Lincoln.
More information regarding Abdul-Jabbar’s travel to Brazil will be forthcoming. He will continue his public service as a Cultural Ambassador throughout 2012. Information on upcoming trips will be released at a later date. Stay tuned for updates via Twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/ConnectStateGov.
Media contact:
Talley Sergent, U.S. Department of State, SergentRT@state.gov
Video: Secretary Clinton Meets With Cultural Ambassador Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, click here.
Rio de Janeiro:
Sara Mercado, Press and Cultural Attaché, mercadosm@state.gov
Laura Gelbert, Press Assistant, gelbertld@state.gov
