LeBron: 'Racism will always be a part of the world, a part of America'

LeBron James gave a poised, thoughtful, and eloquent response after he and his family were victimized by a hate crime on Wednesday.

A police investigation has been launched after James' California estate was vandalized with the N-word. James was asked about the incident at media day on the eve of the NBA Finals.

"It just goes to show that racism will always be a part of the world, a part of America. Hate in America, especially for African-Americans, is living every day," James said.

"Even if it's concealed most of the time, we know people hide their faces, will say things about you and when they see you they'll smile in your face, it's alive every single day."

James related the incident back to the kidnapping, brutal lynching, and murder of black teenager Emmett Till in America during the '50s, a tragedy that shed light on the heinous nature of racism and the unfair treatment of blacks in America.

"I think back to Emmett Till's mom. It's one of the first things I thought of," James said. "The reason she had an open casket is because she wanted to show the world what her son went through as far as a hate crime and being black in America.

"No matter how much money you have, no matter how famous you are, no matter how many people admire you, being black in America is tough. We have a long way to go for us as a society and for us as African-Americans until we feel equal in America."