Barack Obama Slams ‘Clown Show’ Politics, Calls Trump Ape Post A Distraction As He Warns Of Eroding Decorum
The former president says respect for public office have faded.
Former President Barack Obama criticized the coarsening tone of American politics during a recent podcast appearance, days after a racially offensive video targeting him and former first lady Michelle Obama circulated on President Donald Trump’s social media account.
Speaking with liberal commentator Brian Tyler Cohen in a 47-minute episode released on Feb. 14, Obama did not reference Trump directly but addressed what he described as a broader decline in public standards. “Discourse has devolved to a level of cruelty that we haven’t seen before,” he said when asked about the state of political conversation in the United States.
As reported by the BBC, the controversy stems from a video shared on Trump’s Truth Social platform that included unfounded allegations about fraud in the 2020 presidential election. At the end of the clip — set to the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” — was an image depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes. The imagery evoked long-standing racist stereotypes and quickly sparked condemnation from both Democratic and Republican leaders.
https://twitter.com/i/status/2019779053104832727
Among the critics was Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, the only Black Republican in the Senate, who called it “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House.”
Initially, the White House dismissed criticism as “fake outrage.” The post was later removed, with officials attributing its publication to a staff member. Trump told reporters he “didn’t see” the portion of the video featuring the Obamas and said, “I didn’t make a mistake,” when asked if he planned to apologize.
During the podcast, Cohen referenced the post while discussing broader political tensions, including rhetoric surrounding immigration enforcement. He noted that the White House had labeled some Immigration and Customs Enforcement targets as “domestic terrorists” and added, “Just days ago, Donald Trump put a picture of you, your face, on an ape’s body.”
Obama responded by shifting focus to public reaction. “It’s important to recognize that the majority of the American people find this behavior deeply troubling,” he said. “It is true that it gets attention. It’s true that it’s a distraction.”
While condemning the tone of certain media and online spaces — calling it “this sort of clown show that’s happening in social media and on television” — Obama said his travels across the country suggest many Americans “still believe in decency, courtesy, kindness.”
He added that what once guided public officials — “some sort of decorum and a sense of propriety and respect for the office” — now appears diminished. “That’s been lost,” he said.
Beyond the controversy, Obama also discussed peaceful protests against immigration enforcement, electoral redistricting, and the progress of his presidential library in Chicago, slated to open next year.
Trump Vows To Make Voter ID A Requirement Before Midterm Elections
Trump suggested he may use an executive order to push new voter ID rules though.
Donald Trump is adamant about making a national voter ID requirement official ahead of the midterm elections.
The U.S. president shared his plans to enforce the voter-ID requirement in new posts on Truth Social, released Feb. 13. In the social media snippets, he revealed that he intends to make the legislation happen through an executive order.
Trump blamed Democrats for allowing the requirement to remain unenforced, leaving him to take on the task himself. The president has also claimed to have researched the issue thoroughly. He noted plans to present his case “in the very near future.
“The Democrats refuse to vote for Voter I.D., or Citizenship. The reason is very simple — They want to continue to cheat in Elections,” wrote Trump. “This was not what our Founders desired. I have searched the depths of Legal Arguments not yet articulated or vetted on this subject, and will be presenting an irrefutable one in the very near future.
However, Trump remains committed to implementing voted-ID before the 2026 midterms this fall. So much so, he is willing to bypass Congress for it.
He added, “There will be Voter I.D. for the Midterm Elections, whether approved by Congress or not!”
In a follow-up post, Trump continued his tirade against the Democratic lawmakers and his alleged suspicions regarding their opposition to voter ID.
“We cannot let the Democrats get away with NO VOTER I.D. any longer. These are horrible, disingenuous CHEATERS,” he wrote in a subsequent post. “They have all sorts of reasons why it shouldn’t be passed, and then boldly laugh in the backrooms after their ridiculous presentations.”
Naysayers fear that the requirement would risk the voting rights of several groups.
A current bill on the House floor, the SAVE America Act, would require proof of citizenship and a photo ID to cast a ballot. According toCNBC, most Democrats condemned the Trump-backed bill for its potential voter disenfranchisement.
While Trump has pushed the bill as helping the GOP, others say the opposite–that many people in red states don’t have the proper ID to vote, while many more Blue state residents hold passports. CNN‘s Abby Phillip tweeted in response to conservative pundit Scott Jennings’ support of the act, “Here are the facts: the 7 states where 2/3 of Americans don’t have a passport. All of them are red states: West Virginia, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. Yes, that’s your home state, Scott.”
Here are the facts: the 7 states where 2/3 of Americans don't have a passport. All of them are red states: West Virginia, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. Yes, that's your home state, Scott.
The President intends to push the matter through an executive order, although the validity of such action remains unclear.
“This is an issue that must be fought, and must be fought, NOW! If we can’t get it through Congress, there are Legal reasons why this SCAM is not permitted. I will be presenting them shortly, in the form of an Executive Order.”
Black Visual Artist Nick Cave’s ‘Mammoth’ Exhibition Challenges Historical Erasure At The Smithsonian
By Robert Hill
Artist Nick Cave is presenting his new body of artwork titled “Mammoth” at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C.
The exhibition opened Feb. 13 and features mammoths displayed as large-scale sculptures and in video installations. His artwork explores history, identity, and social reflection. The show marks Cave’s first solo exhibition in Washington, D.C., bringing his work to the nation’s capital and highlighting art and cultural conversation.
The artist Nick Cave takes up issues of race and climate change in beads, sequins and Lite-Brite colors at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Couched in dazzle is “a pervasive fear,” according to one curator, “without ever surfacing directly.” https://t.co/pq99C8ElHp
Cave is known for creating large-scale artworks that prompt viewers to reflect on history and identity.
Cave, a Black artist raised in Missouri and now based in Chicago, is known for his celebrated “Soundsuits,” sculptural garments that merge fashion, performance, and visual art. Originally created in response to the 1991 Rodney King beating, the works conceal the wearer’s identity, challenging assumptions about race, gender, and class while symbolizing protection and empowerment. Cave, who has been exhibited at major museums nationwide, activates his pieces through dance and collaborative performances, often staging large community events in unconventional spaces. Some of his artwork also explores themes surrounding slavery and racist imagery.
In the Smithsonian show, he uses a prehistoric animal as a visual centerpiece, prompting his audience to reflect on the past and its connection to present-day conversations. He also included family heirlooms and other items to assemble the show.
To make this happen, Cave gathered all the elements in his studio, strategically plotted how everything would appear, and worked on site for two weeks. The piece is built from open metal frames, wispy hair, and other materials. He incorporated a collection of his grandfather’s tools, his brother’s wooden cane, and his grandmother’s ceramic florals into his sculptures.
He connects his artwork to today’s broader concerns about the erasure of history, referencing how the Trump administration’s order urged Smithsonian museums to remove what it described as “Improper Ideology.” However, the show is continuing, especially given the current state of the world.
As reported by CNN, “I’m witnessing a time where history is being erased, but yet history is being revealed at the same time,” Cave explained. “And so, when I think about mammoths, I think that at one point, they existed on the Earth, and then were extinct and buried, and then rediscovered. What is erased becomes revealed. What is removed, reappears.”
The goal of the “Mammoth” exhibition is to allow viewers to spend time with each object and form their own observations and meanings, just as Cave did.
Minding Our Business: From The Nile To Now—How Dr. Ben Built The Foundation Of Modern Afrocentric Thought
In the landscape of 20th-century intellectualism, few figures ignited as much fervor or faced as much scrutiny as Dr. Yosef Ben-Jochannan.
In the landscape of 20th-century intellectualism, few figures ignited as much fervor or faced as much scrutiny as Dr. Yosef Ben-Jochannan.
Known affectionately to his students and followers as “Dr. Ben,” he was more than a historian; he was a psychological cartographer. His mission was to redraw the maps of human achievement, placing the “heart of Africa” at the center of the world’s most foundational advancements.
By the time of his passing in 2015 at the age of 96, Ben-Jochannan had fundamentally altered how millions of Black Americans perceived their lineage, shifting the narrative from the trauma of the Middle Passage to the majesty of the Pharaohs.
Born to an Ethiopian father and an Afro-Puerto Rican Jewish mother, Ben-Jochannan’s very existence was a testament to the global African diaspora. His academic journey was exhaustive, spanning institutions in Brazil, Cuba, and Spain. Holding doctoral degrees in cultural anthropology and Moorish history, he brought a polyglot sensibility to his research. When he immigrated to the United States in the 1940s, he didn’t just join the academic fray; he sought to dismantle the Eurocentric monopoly on the study of Egyptian history. He argued that mainstream Egyptian history had been sanitized to suit a Western bias, a narrative he spent the next seven decades deconstructing.
The core of Ben-Jochannan’s thesis was as simple as it was revolutionary: The foundations of Western civilization—mathematics, medicine, and philosophy—were not born in Greece, but in the ancient Nile Valley civilizations.
His focus on these ancient Nile Valley civilizations reminded the world that Africa was a donor to global culture, not the recipient.
Dr. Ben famously argued that the African origins of religion were the true bedrock of modern faith. He asserted that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam were “carbon copies” of indigenous African spiritual systems. By exposing the African origins of religion, he challenged the notion that spiritual enlightenment was an import to the continent rather than an export from it.
“Truth is a continuous examination, and Fact… always supersedes belief.” — Yosef A.A. Ben-Jochannan
For Ben-Jochannan, history was a tool for liberation. In his 1972 recording, “Wake Up Black Man,” he urged a radical shift in Black African identity, calling for an end to the “slave mindset.” He believed that centuries of oppression had fostered an internalized fear that could only be cured by the “truth” of one’s ancestry. This reclamation of Black African identity was, for him, the first step toward genuine freedom.
He believed that centuries of oppression had fostered an internalized fear that could only be cured by the “truth” of one’s ancestry. He argued that the inherited trauma of the plantation had morphed into a psychological barrier, preventing the recognition of inherent power.
To bridge the gap between theory and reality, Dr. Ben led annual “educational pilgrimages” to Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan. These weren’t mere sightseeing tours; they were tactile history lessons.
He would physically point to the African features—the broad noses and full lips—on ancient statues, forcing a confrontation with a history that had been “Europeanized” by mainstream academia. By doing so, he provided a visual and spiritual tether between the streets of Harlem and the temples of Luxor.
“Without you, African mother, there would have been no us—African fathers, sons, and daughters. Do we need to say any more African mothers, our own true goddesses!” — Yosef A.A. Ben-Jochannan
It would be a disservice to his legacy to ignore the friction his work generated. Mainstream historians often dismissed his findings, citing chronological inconsistencies regarding the Library of Alexandria and questioning the formal recognition of his credentials.
Yet, Ben-Jochannan viewed his detractors as gatekeepers of a colonial narrative that sought to keep Africa in the shadows of “pre-history.”
His work wasn’t about dates and dynasties–but restoration for the soul. He spent decades as an adjunct professor at Cornell and a lecturer at City College, tirelessly pouring into students the necessity of self-validation. His presence was a constant challenge to the status quo, reminding the academic world that history is often written by the victors, but preserved by the resilient.
“Let us praise you to the highest, telling the world about your righteousness. Let us tell the entire universe about your sacredness African woman.” — Yosef A.A. Ben-Jochannan
Dr. Ben’s influence extended into the classroom, where he co-wrote texts aimed at decolonizing education for elementary and secondary students during the 1960s. His donation of 35,000 volumes to the Nation of Islam in 2002 ensured that his research would remain accessible to the community he spent a lifetime uplifting. He understood that decolonizing education required a complete structural overhaul of how history is taught to young Black children.
As we reflect on his contributions, we see a man who believed that the African woman was the “true goddess” and the African man the “father of civilization.” Through the lens of Afrocentric history, Dr. Ben didn’t just give Black Americans a past; he gave them a future rooted in the sovereignty of their own story. He taught that to “wake up” was to recognize that the chains were not merely on the wrists—they were in the mind.
As we reflect on his contributions, we see a man who believed that the African woman was the “true goddess” and the African man the “father of civilization.” Through the lens of Afrocentric history, Dr. Ben didn’t just give Black Americans a past; he gave them a future rooted in the sovereignty of their own story.
By championing Afrocentric history, he ensured that the contributions of the African continent would never again be relegated to the margins.
North Carolina Mother Sues Novant Health, Seeks Truth About Baby’s Burial
LaChunda Hunter alleges there were mix-ups and conflicting medical records after the death of her premature daughter.
A North Carolina mother, LaChunda Hunter, has filed a lawsuit against Novant Health and several local physicians, alleging a series of hospital errors following the death of her premature daughter left her uncertain whether the child she buried was actually her own.
LaChunda Hunter says her pregnancy in September 2021 came as a surprise after she believed she could not conceive, according to WCNC. However, complications soon followed. She developed high blood pressure and was admitted to Novant Presbyterian Medical Center, where she delivered her daughter, Legacy, by cesarean section at 23 weeks on Feb. 13, 2022.
“She was thriving, they thought the worst, but she did well,” Hunter recalled.
The NC mother was discharged three days later, while Legacy remained in the neonatal intensive care unit. On Feb. 19, 2022, Hunter said she visited her daughter and received a reassuring message from a nurse that the baby was progressing.
That night, however, Hunter says she was told Legacy had died. When she returned to the hospital the following day, Hunter said she was taken into what she described as a storage-like room and shown a baby wrapped in blankets. “They brought me a baby wrapped in a whole bunch of blankets,” she said. “I don’t know what the baby looked like because it was so dark.”
Funeral arrangements were made. But days later, Hunter said she received a startling phone call from a doctor expressing optimism about her daughter’s recovery.
“He told me who he was and then told me how well Legacy was doing… that he was optimistic,” she said. Her assistant informed the physician that Hunter had been told her baby died, at which point, she said, the call ended abruptly.
Hunter later says another doctor contacted her to explain there had been a charting error — the earlier update referred to another infant, and her phone number had been mistakenly attached.
According to the lawsuit, Hunter sought answers and requested medical records, but claims hospital officials declined to meet with her. She also points to inconsistencies in Legacy’s chart, including notes indicating medical tubes were removed days after the baby’s reported death.
Before the funeral, Hunter requested a private DNA test after noticing differences in the child’s appearance. “This baby doesn’t even look the same as my daughter,” she said, noting the absence of marks she remembered.
The first test was inconclusive. A second test, requested by Novant, concluded the child was hers, though Hunter says she never authorized another sample.
“Every milestone that mothers get to experience, I have missed,” Hunter said. “She is the only child I would have physically had and I just want my daughter. I just want to know what happened.”
In a statement, Novant Health said it could not discuss specific cases due to privacy laws but emphasized its commitment to compassionate care and taking concerns seriously.
Netflix Acquires Sundance-Winning Short On Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Speechwriter
'The Baddest Speechwriter of All,' co-directed by Ben Proudfoot and Stephen Curry, spotlights civil rights figure Dr. Clarence B. Jones.
A short documentary highlighting the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s longtime adviser and speechwriter has been picked up by Netflix following its award-winning debut at Sundance, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
“The Baddest Speechwriter of All,” a 29-minute film centered on Dr. Clarence B. Jones, will premiere on the streaming platform later this year, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The documentary recently earned the Short Film Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival and is already being viewed as a potential contender in the documentary short category at next year’s Academy Awards.
The project is co-directed by two-time Oscar winner Ben Proudfoot — recognized for “The Queen of Basketball” and “The Last Repair Shop” — and NBA star Stephen Curry, who makes his directorial debut with the film. Through a blend of contemporary interviews, historical footage, and watercolor animation created by Brazilian artist Daniel Bruson, the documentary traces Jones’ role during the Civil Rights Movement and reflects on the personal sacrifices that accompanied that work.
Now 95, Jones recounts his experiences working closely with King and contributing to some of the movement’s most pivotal moments.
Proudfoot, who produced the film through his company Breakwater Studios and is represented by UTA, emphasized Jones’ unique historical perspective. “This is a man who not only witnessed but personally shaped the Civil Rights Movement from the inside,” Proudfoot said. He added that he and Curry remain energized by the reception at Sundance and are grateful that “millions of people will experience Dr. Jones’ electrifying testimony because of this extraordinary partnership with Netflix.”
Curry and producer Erick Peyton, who worked on the project under their Unanimous Media banner, also welcomed the acquisition. “We couldn’t be more excited that ‘The Baddest Speechwriter of All’ has found a home with Netflix,” they said in a joint statement. They added that Jones’ life story “has long deserved this level of reach and recognition” and expressed appreciation for the creative team behind the film.
The documentary’s executive producers include Elizabeth Goodstein and Gigi Pritzker for Madison Wells, along with Peter Rotter and Jane Solomon. Brandon Somerhalder served as cinematographer, with editing by Nick Wright and Tim Johnson and an original score composed by Cameron Moody. UTA Independent Film Group and WME Independent represented the sale.
With Netflix’s global platform, the filmmakers say Jones’ voice — and his reflections on a defining chapter in American history — will reach audiences worldwide.
Survey Finds Americans Are Scaling Back Valentine’s Day Spending, Favoring Simple Gestures
Romantic dinners top the gift list as average planned spending drops sharply from last year.
Americans are leaning toward traditional, lower-cost gestures this Valentine’s Day, with most preferring a romantic dinner over expensive gifts, according to a new national survey.
A recent CouponFollow poll of 1,005 adults in relationships found that 61% consider a dinner date the ideal way to celebrate the holiday. Experiences such as travel or concert tickets ranked closely behind at 57%, while 46% said a handwritten card or letter would be their top choice.
Despite continued enthusiasm for the occasion, couples appear to be tightening their budgets according to the survey. On average, respondents said they plan to spend $87 on their partner this year — a notable decrease from 2025, when Americans reported budgeting $155 for Valentine’s gifts overall.
As reported by CNBC, Clay Cary, senior trends analyst at CouponFollow, said the shift reflects a broader recalibration rather than a loss of interest in the holiday. “There has been a significant change in how Americans are approaching this holiday,” Cary said. “They are not pulling away from Valentine’s Day, but they are being more selective on how much they are willing to, or can, spend on this holiday.”
Rising costs may be playing a role. Since early 2020, cumulative inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index, has increased roughly 26%, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The CPI tracks price changes across a wide range of goods and services, including essentials such as groceries and fuel.
The financial strain is prompting some couples to skip the celebration entirely. One in five respondents said they plan to forgo Valentine’s Day this year.
Douglas Boneparth, president of wealth management firm Bone Fide Wealth, said perceptions about whether $87 is a lot or a little depend largely on individual financial circumstances. For some households, that amount may feel substantial; for others, modest. Ultimately, he noted, spending should align with income and available resources.
Boneparth suggests that couples take time to reflect on their financial values before deciding how to celebrate. Individuals should consider what money represents to them and how those beliefs shape their priorities. Discussing expectations together can also clarify what each partner values most.
“I think by answering those questions about yourself and each other, you probably come to a much more meaningful Valentine’s Day,” Boneparth said.
As inflation continues to influence consumer behavior, this year’s data suggests many Americans are opting for heartfelt gestures over high price tags — keeping romance intact while keeping spending in check.
Fatal Shooting At South Carolina State Halts HBCU Basketball Games
Gunfire erupted at the Hugine Suites complex, a student residential area, and the campus was placed on lockdown.
By Robert Hill
Shots were fired on South Carolina State University’s campus, putting a hold on campus activity from Feb. 13 through Feb. 16.
On the night of Feb.12, two men were shot and killed, and an individual was injured on the South Carolina State campus. The tragedy halted campus events, including the MEAC basketball doubleheader against Morgan State University scheduled for Feb. 14.
At approximately 9:15 p.m., gunfire erupted at the Hugine Suites complex, a student residential area. The campus was placed on lockdown, and the university instructed students to shelter in place as the incident unfolded.
As reported by HBCU Gameday, “The University issued an immediate alert instructing students to take shelter in place while the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and local authorities secured the perimeter.”
On Feb.13, authorities identified the deceased as 19-year-old Henry L. Crittington and 18-year-old Terrell Thomas. Neither man was an active student at South Carolina State University. The injured student is receiving medical care at a hospital.
In response to the tragedy, the university canceled classes and activities to allow the campus community time to mourn and grieve. President Alexander Conyers stated that students’ safety remains the university’s top priority. The university is also offering counseling services to students and staff who need them.
This incident marks the second fatal shooting on campus this school year. In October 2025, another shooting occurred during Homecoming festivities, where gunfire near the same residential area claimed the life of 19-year-old Jaliyah Butler and left another individual injured.
The women’s basketball game against Morgan State has been rescheduled for Feb. 16 at 2:00 p.m. EST. The men’s team will play Coppin State at 4:30 p.m. EST that same day, creating a new doubleheader. The men’s game against Morgan State has been moved to Feb. 25. A specific tip-off time will be announced at a later date.
Stephen A. Smith Says He Has ‘No Desire’ To Run For President — But Won’t Rule It Out
The ESPN commentator said he would consider a Democratic bid to challenge career politicians.
Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith says he has no interest in becoming a politician, but he is leaving open the possibility of entering the 2028 presidential race.
In an interview with CBS News correspondent Robert Costa on CBS Sunday Morning, as reported by Deadline, the ESPN host addressed growing speculation about his political ambitions. “So when somebody talks about me being a president or whatever, I have no desire to be a politician, zero. … I have no desire to run for office,” Smith said.
Despite that firm denial, Smith acknowledged he has not entirely dismissed the idea of a campaign. He told Costa he is “not ruling it out because I’d love to be on the debate stages against some of these individuals that think they’re better suited to run the country. Because I think that the American people deserve to listen to and hear from somebody who genuinely cares about making life better for them instead of yourself.”
Smith confirmed that if he were to mount a campaign, it would be as a Democrat. He explained that while he considers himself financially conservative, his views on social issues place him elsewhere on the political spectrum.
“I couldn’t see myself running as a member of the GOP. I’m a fiscal conservative. I can’t stand high taxes, but I’m a social liberal in the same breath because I believe in living and let live,” Smith said. “I pay attention to the desolate and disenfranchised … Yes, I like strong borders. That’s absolutely true. We never needed open borders, but we don’t need it to be completely closed either. We are a gorgeous mosaic.”
Smith has for months floated the idea of challenging establishment politicians as an outsider candidate. Still, there remains a significant difference between entertaining the possibility and formally launching a campaign. Other high-profile figures — including actor Dwayne Johnson and former Disney CEO Bob Iger — have publicly weighed political bids without ultimately running.
After the interview aired, Costa reflected on social media about Smith’s evolving stance. “Stephen A. Smith is moving closer to a 2028 campaign … spending a few days with him in recent months reminded me of spending a few days with Trump back in 2013-2014. Many laughed at the prospect of a bid. But in an age of celebrity and social media…” Costa wrote on X.
Stephen A. Smith is moving closer to a 2028 campaign… spending a few days with him in recent months reminded me of spending a few days with Trump back in 2013-2014. Many laughed at the prospect of a bid. But in an age of celebrity and social media… https://t.co/VrTmJUWtsB
Julius Erving Helps Bring ABA Legacy To Prime Video In ‘Soul Power’ Docuseries
The four-part documentary revisits the innovation, star power, and cultural impact of the American Basketball Association ahead of its 50th merger anniversary.
Julius Erving’s NBA résumé already includes championships in two leagues, multiple MVP awards, and a permanent place among the sport’s all-time greats. Now, the Hall of Famer known worldwide as Dr. J is adding a new title: executive producer. Erving is one of the driving forces behind “Soul Power: The Legend of the American Basketball Association,” a four-part documentary series premiering Feb. 12 on Prime Video.
The project, narrated by rapper Common and co-produced by former NBA coach George Karl, revisits the rise and influence of the ABA, the upstart league that merged with the NBA 50 years ago.
The trailer, released this week, features appearances by Erving, George Gervin, Charles Barkley, Larry Brown, Rick Barry, Spencer Haywood, Walt Frazier, Chris Mullin, and broadcaster Bob Costas. The series explores the ABA’s star players, its rivalry with the NBA, and the social and business forces that shaped its legacy.
“Dr. J gave the league credibility,” Costas says in the preview. Gervin adds, “We’re getting ready to show you all, man, what y’all was missing.”
While Erving’s high-flying style remains central to the story, director Kenan Kamwana Holley said the film aims to expand the narrative beyond highlight reels. Holley, who traveled across the country filming at iconic courts such as Rucker Park in Harlem and the Los Angeles site featured in “White Men Can’t Jump,” said younger players consistently traced the ABA’s meaning back to one figure.
“We had young N.B.A. players like Tyrese Haliburton and RJ Barrett send us videos talking about what the A.B.A. means to them, and they all started with Dr. J,” Holley said. “When we asked players about the A.B.A., they all said, ‘Dr. J, Dr. J, Dr. J.’”
Founded in 1967, the ABA introduced innovations that now define modern basketball, including the three-point line and the slam-dunk contest. Erving’s soaring free-throw-line dunk in the league’s final All-Star Game remains one of the sport’s most enduring images. The league also featured a red, white, and blue ball and a faster, more open style of play that foreshadowed today’s space-and-pace era.
Holley said earlier portrayals often reduced the ABA to quirky anecdotes about financial instability and colorful personalities. But as he researched, he discovered a competitive league whose teams frequently defeated NBA squads in exhibition play.
“That was pretty incredible,” Holley said. “I’d never heard that before.”
The documentary also examines racial dynamics within professional basketball. At a time when the NBA operated under an informal quota system limiting Black players, the ABA offered broader opportunities and embraced a freer brand of expression.
Erving, who began his professional career with the Virginia Squires, said the league’s players believed they matched up with anyone.
“We knew in our hearts we were as good as the N.B.A. teams,” he said. “Also the A.B.A. lives in the N.B.A. today, no question about it. There’s the 3-point shot … But there’s also the spirit of the A.B.A. game, spreading the court, running the ball, the faster pace of play.”
Reflecting on his early career, Erving recalled signing with the ABA after being offered $500,000 over four years — a life-changing figure for a young player whose parents earned far less combined. “It was a no-brainer,” he said. “What’s a brother to do?”
Though he later won an NBA championship in Philadelphia, Erving remains deeply connected to the league that launched his career. “I’m all A.B.A.,” he said. “Anything associated with the league, I’m there for it.”
With the 50th anniversary of the ABA-NBA merger approaching in 2026, “Soul Power” aims to ensure the league’s imprint on the game — and on basketball culture — is no longer overlooked.
