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The image, which the Washington Post published in a report last
month, shows a then-teenage Jones standing in the crowd near the
group of Black students, who were attempting to integrate North
Little Rock High School.
Speaking to reporters after the Lakers beat the Portland Trail
Blazers 128-109 on Wednesday night, James said he saw a double
standard in how the media covered controversies involving white
versus Black public figures.
"I was wondering why I haven't gotten a question from you guys
abut the Jerry Jones photo," James, an 18-time National
Basketball Association All-Star said. "But when the Kyrie
(Irving) thing was going on, you guys were quick to ask us
questions about that."
Irving, a seven-times All-Star guard for the Brooklyn Nets,
recently returned to the court after a team-imposed, eight-game
suspension for sharing anti-Semitic content on social media.
The incident prompted widespread media coverage and Irving
apologized, saying he is not anti-Semitic.
"I feel like as a Black man, as a Black athlete, as someone with
power and a platform, when we do something wrong or something
that people don't agree with it's on every single tabloid, every
single news coverage," said James.
"The whole Jerry Jones situation, the photo - and I know it was
years and years ago and we all make mistakes, I get it - but it
seems like it's just been buried."
Jones addressed the photo controversy after his team defeated
the New York Giants on Thanksgiving Day last Thursday.
"That was 65 years ago," he told reporters. "I had no idea when
I walked up there what I was doing, just a reminder to me how to
improve and do things the right way."
The Dallas Cowboys did not immediately respond to a request for
a response to James' comments.
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
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