As part of UCLA Alumni and the UCLA Student Alumni Association’s annual I ♥ UCLA Week, this fireside chat — moderated by Deborah Morales, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s business partner/manager of 31 years — offers a powerful conversation on the evolution of protest, the impact of public action and Abdul-Jabbar’s personal journey as a catalyst for social change.
A UCLA legend 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. Beyond the court, he has spent decades using his platform to advocate for justice, education and equality.
In the book, Abdul-Jabbar reflects on a pivotal moment in 1964, when a chance meeting with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. sparked his awakening to the power of protest. What began as a personal reckoning led to a lifelong commitment to fighting injustice in many forms — from civil rights and women’s liberation to environmental activism and opposition to the Vietnam War.
Co-authored with Raymond Obstfeld, the book also explores Abdul-Jabbar’s personal growth — how his early assumptions were challenged, how he learned the importance of empathy and how he came to believe that “no one is free unless everyone is free.” While acknowledging that real change is often slow and hard-won, Abdul-Jabbar’s message is grounded in hope and a belief in the transformative power of each generation.
Come be part of a powerful conversation that bridges history, activism and the courage to create change.
"We All Want To Change the World" Book Launch and UCLA Fireside Chat With Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
