Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was presented with this National Rainbow Coalition Award in 1988. The NRC, born of an idea from revolutionary activist Fred Hampton, was founded in an effort to increase the enfranchisement and wellbeing of neglected classes of Americans during the 1980’s. With their humanitarian mission in mind, the National Rainbow Coalition and its president, Jesse L. Jackson, presented Abdul-Jabbar with this prestigious award. Constructed of a gold basketball mounted on a wooden pedestal, this award measures approximately 18 inches tall with a base of 9 x 9 inches. A removable plaque is slotted onto the pedestal. It reads “Kareem Abdul-Jabbar / You have used your supreme Physical Attributes as an athlete and your Unusual Mental Gifts As a person, to transcend the / Sport Of Basketball. / As a Great American and World Citizen, a Consumate [sic] Gentleman, and a Deeply Religious Person, You have used your Height to soar from Power Memorial High School to the World Championship as a Role Model you have helped to keep Hope alive for many Young People. / Jesse L. Jackson / President, National Rainbow Coalition / Chicago, Illinois / December 20, 1988.” This award comes with a LOA signed by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.  

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