Jordan Clarkson saw a disgusting racial slur spray-painted on a famous Filipino food truck in Utah on social media and was overcome with raw emotion.
An offensive image of a face with anti-Asian slurs & slanted eyes was sprayed onto the side of the world-famous Yum Yum food truck last weekend, & it did not take long for the images to reach Clarkson's phone. The Utah Jazz guard and NBA Sixth Man of the Year this season knew he had to do something.
"If you want me to be really honest, my first reaction was, 'This is bull---!'" Clarkson told ESPN on Thursday. "I was like, we can't do this--- doing this. Those were the exact words that came out of my mouth for my boys, my family, & everyone around me. So they were like, Let's do something [about it].
"There's no room for that," Clarkson said, "especially right now." There have been tough, tough years on this earth, this country, this world. Lots of things going on. I think we are together, & that everyone is looking for a peace, will make things more comfortable in this world. We have no place for hate anymore. It has to go out the window quickly."
For Clarkson, who is Filipino American, the vandalism of the Filipino food truck affected the household on multiple levels. This is the latest example of the hatred and violence that many Asians have experienced, especially during the coronavirus pandemic in the past year.
Clarkson, 29, was one of many people, including local politicians & businesses, who wanted to help restore the food truck. Clarkson paid for the interior cleaning & detailing and joined with vehicle wrap company Identity Graphx, which created a new exterior design for the truck that will be unveiled at the Philippine Independence Day celebrations in Salt Lake City on Saturday. Clarkson also offered food truck owners significant financial support to get the truck up and running again.
The Jazz invited co-owner Ben Pierce & his family to Game 2 of the team's second-round playoff series against the Clippers on Thursday night. The team presented the Pierce family with a signed Clarkson jersey on the big screen during a timeout in the third quarter. The sold-out Vivint Arena fans applauded when they explained what happened to the food truck & what Clarkson did to help.
"I also did not want it to really pan out," Clarkson said. "My team was like, do you want to go public with this or not? And I was like no, I just want to do this out of direct love & support. But for them, they came up to me & said That you have to show people that you are there for them & let them know that you are supporting them, & that is what I'm doing. I'm here to support, show love & just try to make a difference. That's it. "
Clarkson said his father had detailed cars for a living & had a trailer in the front yard where he worked. Watching the food truck ransacked, Clarkson remembered how hard his father had worked for his family & that such an act of hatred & racism would have caused serious damage to his father's business.
And the disgusting abuses deeply hurt the Jazz point guard. Many Asians in the United States are living in fear amid a rise in hate crimes. From March 2020 to March 2021, there were over 6,600 anti-Asian hate incidents documented by Stop AAPI Hate. According to the Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism at Cal State San Bernardino, Asian-targeted hate crimes in the largest US cities increased by 145% compared to 2019. There have been verbal & physical attacks, some of which have ended fatal, such as the March 16 shootings that killed six Asian women in the Atlanta area.
"It's a great thing that we are really trying to change and really be a part of in Utah," Clarkson said of trying to create awareness & combat racism & racial inequality. "It's kind of a worldwide thing that you see there's a movement with everything. Black Lives Matter, Stop Asian Hate, all these things are now really being put in everybody's eye because every Somebody has social media, everybody has phones. I feel like this has been going on for too long."
Clarkson said he is finding his voice & is becoming more active & involved.
"It's been powerful, & for me, it's been a lot," Clarkson said. "But you know, I am learning a lot of things and doing a lot. Being young in the league, you are not really paying attention to this stuff. As you get older, you really Accept the role of who you are. It really hits home at that point."
Clarkson said that new masters of jazz, led by Ryan Smith & including Dwayne Wade, have tried to use their influence to promote diversity & inclusivity and to speak out against hate.
"They are really trying to change this culture in Utah & really just trying to create a period of change," Clarkson said. "Like all hate & stuff, if you come to our area, you will see the message [to curb hateful behavior from fans] put on the board before the game.
"You saw what our organization did to Ja Morant's family," he said, referring to the team's reaction after Morant's parents were targeted by racist & obscene comments during Game 2 of a playoff series last month. Happened. "What we're trying to do is commit to change. Since we are leaders all around in this community, in this state, & in this city, I feel like it's our duty to do so. I feel like if people Watch us do it, they will follow."