Vanessa Bryant accused of racism by not offering Kobe's $600m estate to the black community (2024)
Vanessa Bryant, the wife of the Los Angeles Lakers' legend Kobe, has been accused of favoring white people over black people by a prominent internet personality.
Kobe, who was black, died in 2020 after a helicopter crashed whilst attempting to fly in poor conditions leading to the deaths of nine including his daughter, Gianna. As a result, his wealth, including a $600m USD estate, passed to his wife.
Shortly after she announced a scheme to help young people in their academic and athletic careers, she has come under fire by Dr. Umar Johnson, who often speaks on issues facing black people in the United States, during which he said she's favoring white people.
"Vanessa inherited his wealth," Johnson, a psychologist, said to The Joe Budden Podcast. "Is she using any of those money to do good to the black community? Absolutely not.
"Vanessa Bryant just started an initiative with three predominantly white colleges. Some kind of a sports initiative with Kobe's money and Kobe's name."
Part of Kobe's massive fortune was earned outside of the actual sport of basketball as he became a brand ambassador for Nike and one of the first megastars to sign a shoe deal with the firm.
So, on almost the fourth anniversary of his death, the company and his wife have announced they will re-launch some of the signature lines made famous by the sports legend who won five NBA rings.
"A legacy not left up to fate," Bryant said on Instagram. "But meticulously crafted through dedication and hard work? That's Mamba."
During a promotional video, Nike choose several words to describe the shooting guard's personality, ethos and approach to his NBA career.
"'Fearless', Relentless', 'Passion', 'Obsession', and 'Resilience'", said the apparel company as they explained how he formulated and developed his "Mamba Mentality" image.
Bryant volunteers his time to Make-A-Wish Foundation, NBA Cares and The Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and serves as an ambassador for After-School All-Stars. In 2007, he launched the Kobe Basketball Academy, at which he mentors and trains athletes ages 8-18.
He was incredibly involved in campaigns, like 'Why We Rise,' a Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health campaign to stamp out the stigma around depression and anxiety. He also encouraged young people to be active while promoting the need for access to sports facility for youth.
Other philanthropic projects Kobe contributed to included soccer to encourage youth to lead an active lifestyle; he was a national ambassador for After-School All-Stars—an organization that helps youth achieve academic success; he donated money and volunteered with organizations focused on inner-city youth where he ...
In 2007, Bryant and her husband founded the VIVO Foundation which was later renamed the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Foundation. It is a charity that supports increasing a global perspective among young people. It provides scholarships for minority college students and other youth worldwide.
Kobe Bryant's wife Vanessa Bryant received nearly $29 million as part of her late husband's estate after his death in January 2020. The money was part of a trust set up by Kobe Bryant to provide for Vanessa and their children in the event of his death.
Aside from being the wife of an NBA Hall of Famer, Vanessa Bryant has done well for herself in her own career. Right now, she is a businesswoman, model, and philanthropist. According to reports, her net worth is estimated to be around $600 million.
The death of Kobe Bryant reminded us of who the NBA legend was both as a professional athlete and as a man. He meant many things to many people during his 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers and his three years as a storyteller and businessman. But not to be forgotten: Bryant was a black man.
The alter-ego helped Bryant cultivate his own philosophy. Simply stated, Mamba mentality means “just trying to get better every day.” It's the “simplest form of just trying to get better at whatever you're doing.”
In response to his parents' previous attempt to sell memorabilia without his consent, Kobe took to Twitter, expressing his hurt and disappointment. The incident further strained his relationship with his parents, as evidenced by their absence from his final NBA game in 2016.
They wanted him to focus on his career and live his life before settling down with a girl. Another theory as to why Kobe's parents disapproved of Vanessa is because she wasn't African-American — she was of Hispanic heritage. However, Kobe decided to go against his parents' wishes and get hitched to Vanessa anyway.
This is the third time Bryant's ring has been sold since it was auctioned in 2013 by his parents, Joe and Pam. It was most recently sold a year ago by SPC Auctions.
Kobe Bryant's parents — Joe and Pamela Cox Bryant — attended the Kobe Bryant memorial service on Monday at the Staples Center, but they didn't speak during the memorial.
Kobe inspired millions of people around the world through his remarkable achievements, work ethic, and leadership. Kobe coined the term Mamba Mentality to describe his approach to the game and life. It represents a mindset of constant improvement, resilience, and determination.
Bryant's legacy lives on with the Los Angeles Lakers, with the NBA and WNBA (both leagues have awards in honor of him), with Nike and with the Mamba and Mambacita Foundation.
He previously worked for Complex Magazine in New York City. Kobe Bryant was just as prolific at granting Make-A-Wish requests as he was on the court. The late NBA legend is credited with granting more than 200 requests for the Make-A-Wish Foundation in his two decades with the Los Angeles Lakers.
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