DeSean Jackson said he is educating himself after anti-Semitic posts

During his first talk with reporters, Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson says he has been educating himself. His declaration came after facing backlash for sharing anti-Semitic posts on social media in July.

“The aftermath of everything has been a long process.” Jackson said Wednesday. “I’ve been just using the time to educate myself and really just man up to the actions I took and just educate and learn from it.”

DeSean Jackson initially posted a screenshot of a quote widely attributed to Adolf Hitler. The quote said in part: “Jews will blackmail America.” In another post, Jackson showed support for Louis Farrakhan, the Nation of Islam leader who holds anti-Semitic rhetoric.

You can read: DeSean Jackson accepted invitation to the Holocaust Memorial Plaza

He apologized in a video on Instagram.“Over the past few months I kind of had to reflect on just life,” Jackson said four days before the Eagles visit the Washington Football Team. “People make mistakes in life, and it was a mistake I made. I had to own up to it as a man, which I did. But I think I’m taking the proper steps to educate and I’m learning from something I didn’t really know too much about.”

DeSean Jackson education tour

Jackson has agreed to join New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman on a trip to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. Edelman promised he would go with Jackson to the nearby National Museum of African American History and Culture. DeSean Jackson also accepted an offer from a Holocaust survivor to visit the site of a concentration camp in Poland.

“I thought the social media posts were disgusting and appalling,” Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said last week. “I’ve known DeSean for a long time. He has, I think, really understood the ramifications of that appalling post. So far, everything that we’ve asked him to do to both educate himself. And to learn and take action, he’s done completely. So, I would hope that would continue.”

DeSean Jackson, a three-time Pro Bowl pick, is in his second stint in Philadelphia. He is returning last season to the team that drafted him in the second round of the 2008 draft.