As part of Turtle Beach’s celebration of Black History Month, Turtle Beach is proud to spotlight the achievements of Black leaders within our own community through a series of conversations.
Today we are honored to feature Josh Hart, guard/forward for the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans, on his inspirations and what kind of impact he wants to leave.
Turtle Beach: What do you think about when you hear “Black History Month”?
Josh Hart: I think about all of the incredible African Americans who have come before me and fought for the freedoms that we’re able to enjoy today.
TB: When you were growing up, who inspired you? Who inspires you today?
JH: Growing up, I was inspired by Kobe Bryant and D Wade. Today, I’m inspired by incredible leaders like Stacey Abrams, Kamala Harris, and more.
TB: What would you say to your teenage self?
JH: I’d say keep going, no matter how difficult it is. You have the chance to inspire millions of people – just keep going.
TB: What advice do you have for the younger generation?
JH: The younger generation has the power to continue changing the world. They grew up with technology and know how to use it for good. Use it to unite us and shed light on new perspectives.
TB: What is one thing you think people can do to keep the conversation about Black history going not just in the month of February but all year long?
JH: I think it’s important to highlight the everyday black and brown heroes among us. It’s incredible to study the Civil Rights pioneers, but there are amazing people in our communities making huge impacts. It’s important to tell those stories all year round.
TB: What is one thing you think people can do to better the efforts around diversity and inclusion?
JH: I think we have an immense amount of work to do in terms of providing equal resources and access to underserved communities. Even something like gaming has a high barrier to entry. Having more decision makers in the boardroom starts with early exposure to knowledge, technology, and things that people of color have traditionally been blocked from.
TB: What do you want your impact on the world to be?
JH: I want to be known as a kind person who inspires those around him. I want to be known for having a wide range of interests and challenging myself to learn new things and understand new perspectives.
Josh Hart is a professional NBA basketball player with the New Orleans Pelicans, and a huge fan of gaming. Find Josh on Twitter, Instagram, and streaming live on Twitch.
