Jackson Free Press

I'm back from a couple of weeks in the media capital of the world—New York City. Bright lights, big dreams and bad weather. Unfortunately while I was there, the Northeastern seaboard experienced some of its worst weather in years. Here I am running from the remnants of Katrina and Rita and, POW!, seven straight days of blinding rain and flooding in New Hampshire. Methinks this is yet another sign that the Apocalypse is nigh.

Although not quite as serious, I did find myself thinking the same thing upon returning home and watching my favorite network ESPN. Another sign that the Apocalypse is near, the National Basketball Association is instituting a new dress code.

The new rule requires players not suited up for the game to wear collared shirts and suit coats while on the bench. Some players are outraged, calling the dress code an attack on individuality. Pundits have said it's part of the league's new efforts to dismiss the hip-hop generation tag.

Indiana Pacers guard Steven Jackson even called the new rule racist, saying that it targeted African-American players and their affinity for the bling bling. Whatever the reason, however insignificant, the world we live in is slowly moving toward the society described by George Orwell in "1984." Big Brother is rising to power, and he wants us all in a suit and tie.

You guys already know how I feel about "dress codes." You've read my tirades against clubs and their ridiculous policies. I won't go so far as to call them racists, but they darn sure seem discriminatory towards a certain lifestyle. The hip-hop culture is one that champions individuality and attitude. It's one that says the way you dress or the type of music one listens to is not an indicator of that person's character.

Sure, dress codes are fantastic for young students. As a parent, I applaud JPS' uniform policy. Children—and I stress, children—need our guidance. They also need an environment free of materialistic thoughts, an environment that stresses substance over style. But I will always be an advocate for grown folks being grown folks. Dress is not now nor has it ever been a way to determine a person's intelligence, ability or efficiency.

The hip-hop world is full of entrepreneurs who make million-dollar deals in baggy jeans, tall tees and sneakers. The athletes of the NBA make millions of dollars entertaining fans. How dare someone tell grown men—successful men—what they can wear. Suits and ties belong in uptight offices, not at an NBA game.

Regardless of how you look at it, the new rule appears to be designed as a thinly veiled attack on the hip-hop generation. If it starts in sports, it could seep into other facets of society.

God forbid. As Philadelphia 76ers star Allen Iverson said last Tuesday, "If you take a murderer and dress him up in a nice suit, he's still a murderer."

And that's the truth ... sho-nuff.

Previous Comments

ID

70936

Comment

Ií am a basketball fanatic. With that said, I see this as nothing more than employees being asked to comply with a new rule. These guys should stop whining and play the game most said they would play for free prior to making it into the league! Mediocre players like Stephen Jackson and Marcus Camby (Camby stated that players would need a stipend to buy new clothing) should be willing to show in diapers if asked! Jackson is stereotyping black players by calling the rule racist. For the rule to be an issue about race, all black players would have to wear the attire being banned. Latrell Sprewell is a prime example of what happens when muti-million dollar athletes whine a bit too much. Sprewell stated last season that he could not feed his family on 14 million a year playing for the T-WolvesÖ. as this season opens, Sprewel is still unemployed. Employees across this country each day are expect to show for work in attire specified by their employers and for a hell of a lot less than an NBA salary.

Author

K RHODES

Date

2005-10-28T00:45:39-06:00

ID

70937

Comment

Whatever the reason, however insignificant, the world we live in is slowly moving toward the society described by George Orwell in ì1984.î Big Brother is rising to power, and he wants us all in a suit and tie. Any NBA player who finds the dress code requirement all that offensive is free to end his employment with the NBA. Hence there is no Orwell-esque problem here. Perhaps more relevant here are the recent comments on this subject made by noted ex-NBA player and African-American Sir Charles Barkley: "'Young black kids dress like NBA players,' [Barkley]said. 'Unfortunately, they don't get paid like NBA players. So when they go out in the real world, what they wear is held against them. See, these players make $10 to $15 million a year, so nobody cares how they dress. But regular black kids go out into the real world, and how they dress is held against them. If a well-dressed white kid and a black kid wearing a do-rag and throwback jersey came to me in a job interview, I'd hire the white kid,' [Barkley] said. 'That's reality. That's the No. 1 reason I support the dress code. From the NBA perspective, they've got a product to sell. They've got to make it as attractive as possible to fans, viewers and corporate sponsors. Dr. J (Julius Erving) told me years ago that we, the players, are the caretakers of the game. I think too many players today have lost sight of that.'" Barkley also weighed in on Marcus Camby's comments, mentioned above: "[Barkley] hears that Denver's Marcus Camby wants a stipend to buy clothes to adhere to the dress code, and Barkley cringes. 'Guys like that have lost perspective,' he said. 'What's he make, $8 million a year? It's like when Latrell Sprewell said he needed more than $14 million a year so that he could feed his family. Give me a break.'" All hail the outspoken Sir Charles!

Author

allred

Date

2005-10-29T11:57:32-06:00

ID

70938

Comment

I have mixed feelings about this, but I lean towards the dress code primarily because of Barkley's argument: If celebrities uniformly dress in a way that won't get young people respect, then it goes beyond being a race issue. These are not folks, by and large, who have vested interests in their communities, who are concerned about being role models for young people, who care about what effects their actions will have on the community at large. Some are, but I think most are just there to play the game and have fun. That's fine for them, but lousy for the working poor. And there are ways to dress in a distinguished way that still conveys one's image as a black man. There are suits that look "black." There are head coverings that look "black." Wearing a fashionable do-rag, a fashionable Nike shirt, the fashionable pants, the fashionable $200 shoes--that's not living into black culture. That's living into corporate exploitation of black youth. The problem with ghetto fabulous is that nobody in the ghetto can comfortably afford it. And let me say another thing: I dress business casual to go to the grocery store. Untucked button-up shirt, dockers, passable shoes. Why? Because everyone else has to. I don't, really; I could easily go to the grocery store in my pajamas, and it would work just fine. But it would highlight, it would show off, the fact that I don't have to dress up. I don't like to do that. And I'm just a white boy going to the grocery store. If I were a basketball player on national television, idolized by millions of young black men, I'd like to think I'd damn well wear a suit, earn a college degree part-time, and do other things to set a good example. If it were just a few basketball players dressing always like they're hanging out with friends on a Saturday afternoon, it'd be one thing; but it's almost every basketball player, almost all the time. Something has to change. So this doesn't really bother me much. I can understand this dress code. They're enforcing it on pro wrestlers now; they should probably enforce it on basketball players, too. Now, I would be very much against it if it were a government code. But it's a professional organization's code, and it is entirely within the purview of a professional sports organization to have a dress code. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2005-10-29T12:40:50-06:00

ID

70939

Comment

Tom Head ñ î And there are ways to dress in a distinguished way that still conveys one's image as a black man. There are suits that look "black." There are head coverings that look "black." Wearing a fashionable do-rag, a fashionable Nike shirt, the fashionable pants, the fashionable $200 shoes--that's not living into black culture. That's living into corporate exploitation of black youth. The problem with ghetto fabulous is that nobody in the ghetto can comfortably afford it.î Tom will you enlighten me as to what are ìblackî suits and what exactly is a black manís image? ìBitterî Barkley must have forgotten how he infamously proclaimed that he wasnít a role model. This is not an issue about race or the poor. What Iverson said has merit, because regardless to what an individual wears, if theyíre scum, in a suit theyíre still scum!

Author

K RHODES

Date

2005-10-29T13:36:47-06:00

ID

70940

Comment

Tom Head ñ îIf I were a basketball player on national television, idolized by millions of young black men, I'd like to think I'd damn well wear a suit, earn a college degree part-time, and do other things to set a good example. If it were just a few basketball players dressing always like they're hanging out with friends on a Saturday afternoon, it'd be one thing; but it's almost every basketball player, almost all the time. Something has to change. So this doesn't really bother me much. I can understand this dress code.î I donít think we can contribute David Stern (NBA commissioner) with issuing this rule for the sake of young black men! However Tom, if you choose to take that from the rule sobeit. If we are going to judge NBA players on anything let it be their actions, and not their attire or level of education! Ultimately, parents must set good examples for their kids!

Author

K RHODES

Date

2005-10-29T14:05:41-06:00

ID

70941

Comment

Let it all out, K. I hate it when you sugarcoat everything for me like this. There is no "exact" black man's image, just as there is no "exact" white man's image. But there are some clothes that are more socially acceptable in black and whites circles, on the whole, than others. You put me, a successful 27-year-old white man, in a do-rag, jersey, low-rise pants and high-top Nikes and you know what I'll look like? A friggin' mallrat. You put a successful 27-year-old black man in a do-rag, jersey, low-rise pants and high-top Nikes and you know what he'll look like? Maybe a guy who makes $18M/year. Probably not. So that's part of the problem. Celebrities are teaching young black men to dress in a way that isolates them, and not in a way that affirms blackness. I mean, I love tribal patterns, head coverings, even ALF colors--all of that's good. That affirms blackness. What most of these basketball players wear to work does not. It affirms the corporate ethic. It's passive fashion. And contrary to what folks say, it does not express individuality. Neither does a suit, but at least a suit will get you hired. A suit will get you taken seriously. And it's not even a sign of material wealth, because suits are cheap if you know where to look. Certainly cheaper than a really fashionable pair of sneakers. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2005-10-29T14:15:52-06:00

ID

70942

Comment

K, it isn't just young black men. But certainly basketball is a sport that has an exceptionally high number of successful black men in it, and an audience that has an exceptionally high number of young black men in it. I get disgusted when I see white men go around saying what black men should do. I really do. I think it's a sign of unacknowledged privilege, of entitlement, usually of at least comfortable participation in institutional racism. But we're talking about professional dress codes for multi-millionaire basketball players. I like this. I also like the mandatory charity. Mandatory charity is probably below the lowest rung on the tzedakah scale, but that's not important; it sets a good example for the kids. That's important. What else? I'd like to see basketball players given incentives to continue their education, if they haven't finished high school, if they haven't finished college. If extraterrestrials visited our planet and based the actions of black Americans on black American celebrities, they would conclude that black culture revolves around music and professional sports--that black folks, in other words, exist by and large to provide entertainment for those of other races. That's unhealthy on several very deep levels, and I think it speaks to the pervasive spirit of institutional racism. We need more Oprah Winfreys, more Cornell Wests, more Montel Williamses, and yes, more Jesse Jacksons. I meet lots of white teenagers who think they're brilliant. Not as many black teenagers who feel that way. And that makes me sad. Will putting basketball players in suits help that? Hell, K, I don't know. I'm just tired of the way this society operates, and I'd be willing to try anything within reason to make things more fair. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2005-10-29T14:26:05-06:00

ID

70943

Comment

Tom Head ñ îThere is no "exact" black man's image, just as there is no "exact" white man's image. But there are some clothes that are more socially acceptable in black and whites circles, on the whole, than others. You put me, a successful 27-year-old white man, in a do-rag, jersey, low-rise pants and high-top Nikes and you know what I'll look like? A friggin' mallrat. You put a successful 27-year-old black man in a do-rag, jersey, low-rise pants and high-top Nikes and you know what he'll look like? Maybe a guy who makes $18M/year. Probably notî I get your point and I agree

Author

K RHODES

Date

2005-10-29T14:47:30-06:00

ID

70944

Comment

Tom Head ñ îIf extraterrestrials visited our planet and based the actions of black Americans on black American celebrities, they would conclude that black culture revolves around music and professional sports--that black folks, in other words, exist by and large to provide entertainment for those of other races. That's unhealthy on several very deep levels, and I think it speaks to the pervasive spirit of institutional racism. We need more Oprah Winfreys, more Cornell Wests, more Montel Williamsons, and yes, more Jesse Jacksons. I meet lots of white teenagers who think they're brilliant. Not as many black teenagers who feel that way. And that makes me sad.î Tom your analogy sounds familiar, and now just as before am slightly offended! Tom, being that your analogy is void of the percentage of blacks that arenít entertainers, wouldnít the same hold true of any culture represented within entertainment? I agree that we need more Oprahs and West. As for black youths, I must also agree, and yes, it is sad.

Author

K RHODES

Date

2005-10-29T15:16:26-06:00

ID

70945

Comment

Also: let's remember that the kids (all colors) who idolize NBA athletes need to understand that only a fraction of one percent of college basketball players make it to the NBA at all, and far less than that become one of the multi-million-dollar-contract all-star players in that or any other sport. The level of celebrity and wealth achieved by these extremely rare and athletically talented individuals is the vast, vast exception to the rule. Which is only one reason that kids should concentrate on education rather than becoming starry-eyed over the glitz and glam of professional athletes or other celebrities. To be sure, the "get rich or die tryin'" attitude promoted by some hip-hop artists is not the sort of attitude that most parents want their kids to be influenced by. And, of course, as mentioned above: top-notch pro athletes in some cases make much more money hawking various products via endorsements (i.e. shoes, clothing) than they do from their salaries as athletes. So, kids are influenced to buy these products as a result of these celebrities' endorsement deals. And thus those NBA players who are decrying this dress code as limiting their "individualism" need to be regarded with a bit of a jaundiced eye, in my opinion.

Author

allred

Date

2005-10-29T15:39:12-06:00

ID

70946

Comment

K, you're probably right, but it just seems like an almost prohibitively high percentage of black celebrities are musicians and athletes. But I suppose an almost prohibitively high percentage of all celebrities are entertainers of one stripe or another. I was in a gloomy mood when I wrote that. To be honest, I find this whole thread kind of depressing. Full of impossible dreams and a culture that shakes with inertial racism. I actually find myself completely agreeing with both you and Buck in this thread, which makes me wonder which of us has gone completely nuts. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2005-10-30T01:04:07-06:00

ID

70947

Comment

One irony is that I'm not totally sure I agree with Kamikaze on public school uniforms. My personal jury's still out on that. I don't think corporate regulations should have to meet much of a burden; if the NBA mandated that all players must show up in a thong and pasties, then that would technically be their right. So a moral argument can be made about which corporate regulations are helpful and which are harmful, and I think this one stands good odds of being helpful in the long run. But public schools are administered by the government, attendance is compulsory, and I'm less comfortable with the idea of the government telling every minor in the country that, unless they're enrolled in private schools or homeschooled, this is what they will wear for the better part of their lives. I can definitely see benefits to uniforms--it is a helpful requirement--but there is a civil rights question that is relevant here and not relevant in the case of the NBA players. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2005-10-30T01:43:58-06:00

ID

70948

Comment

(The NBA dress code is also, I should add, much more lax than the school uniforms policy.)

Author

Tom Head

Date

2005-10-30T01:44:23-06:00

ID

70949

Comment

But public schools are administered by the government, attendance is compulsory, and I'm less comfortable with the idea of the government telling every minor in the country that, unless they're enrolled in private schools or homeschooled, this is what they will wear for the better part of their lives. Just an observation- I think that all or nearly all private schools require dress codes (at least) and/or uniforms. I had uniform/dress code requirements for 1st - 12th grades. I never thought much of it, really, having never known anything else. It looks nice and it simplifies things, i.e. there's never much question about what you're going to wear day-to-day. And I imagine it reduces (at least) kids teasing each other about their clothing.

Author

allred

Date

2005-10-30T13:55:49-06:00