Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
'We Shouldn't Have to Carry It Alone': How The Public Mourning Of Kobe Bryant Has Helped LA Heal
()
A few days after Kobe Bryant died, my colleague Elly Yu came over and sat with me.
She had been reporting on the investigation into the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others.
"I just need to talk to another native Angeleno," she said. And we were sad together.
That's how L.A. mourned for weeks, publicly and with each other. There were musicos and mariachis playing at L.A. Live, televised tributes, social media posts, and so many murals painted that I assume an alien civilization will one day think Kobe ruled the kingdom of Los Angeles.
Support for LAist comes from
In many ways he did, and somehow still does. One more time, Kobe Bryant has united L.A. and, even in death, given us something to root for: our collective healing.
The very public mourning of Kobe Bryant culminates Monday with what is essentially a televised wake for him and Gigi at Staples Center, an arena he helped build both in fame and financial status.
There will be criticisms - though few public ones - about it being a "money grab." The tickets for Monday's memorial started at $24.02 and went as high as $224. All proceeds will go to the Bryant family charity. Nipsey Hussle's and Michael Jackson's memorials, on the other hand, were also at Staples but free to attend.
There are levels to this. Nipsey's funeral was out of control as far as scalpers go. People took the free tickets and resold them at very high prices.
The Kobe tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable. So there is some more control this way.
But ultimately, we've seen people who are sad and really good at marketing, and people who are just sad. While some of us are crippled by grief, others can continue to function. In fact, some of us will throw ourselves into work.
It's what we're good at.
Support for LAist comes from
Kobe Bryant with wife Vanessa and daughters Gianna (L) and Natalia during a ceremony honoring Bryant for moving into third place on the all time NBA scoring list. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
()
Kobe Bryant was a genius promoter.
At his last NBA game, his final words in a Lakers jersey were "Mamba out." And "Mamba Out" t-shirts were already available for purchase on his website.
I believe he would be proud of the marketing strategy behind this.
And I honestly don't see how it's different from the special edition Kobe magazines, the "Mamba Forever" t-shirts, or the many pieces of content intended to get clicks, likes and shares. Like this one you're reading.
We can be both sad and really good at marketing.
For me, the public mourning, Monday's memorial included, has been a way of sharing the burden of sorrow many of us have felt. I am thankful and proud that we have been able to cry together, and sing Juan Gabriel together, and pay our respects together.
Support for LAist comes from
We shouldn't have to carry it alone.
More importantly, neither should Vanessa Bryant and her other three daughters, Natalia, Bianka and Capri. Nor should the loved ones of John, Keri and Alyssa Altobelli, Sarah and Payton Chester, Christina Mauser and Ara Zobayan.
They are all Angelenos.
We should sit with them and be sad together.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity. -
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?
Best of LAist