But first: black fans don't hate LeBron James.
The King Stays the King
I still don't know exactly what role race has played in the recent life and times of one LeBron James; I'm not surprised at all, though, that his Q Score held steady among African Americans.
Vincent Thomas suspects "black protectionism", which he sums up succinctly: "The more America shuns LeBron, the more Black America retreats to his corner." Henry Abbott, on the other hand, wants to figure out what exactly everyone else's problem was with LeBron's actions. The implication being, then, that race, racism, or racialized power dynamics are somehow involved in the backlash against James. Yet however singular LeBron -- and, let's face it, The Decision and the year or two that lead up to it -- may be in the annals of the National Basketball Association, these numbers reveal something far more mundane.
LeBron James didn't have to fight the power, hold the league hostage, and defy all manner of convention, for his skin color to affect the way he was seen by fans. He didn't even have to be LeBron James. When it comes to the NBA, as with other sports leagues, and many other important societal pursuits, being black was enough. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
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