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December 8, 2005
Challenging the NBA Dress Code
On November 10, 2005 the New York Times published an article entitled “Gangsta in French.” It discusses the globalization of hip hop and it has been described as the universal culture of the “wretched of the earth”. The article goes on to blame hip hop culture, made popular by African Americans in the United States for the recent surge of violence in Europe. Apparently radical Muslims and Arabs refer to themselves as “niggers” and have adopted the same “dress, exaggerated gestures and loud music playing in their cars as their African American counterparts. The article concludes by saying that at least “gangsta-rap” in America is a “game”-with most of its players escaping to attend college, law school, or interesting enough, end up playing for the NBA.
Who Makes The Rules?
Challenging the NBA Dress Code
By Renee Barrett
Recently the NBA implemented a new dress code designed to discourage hip hop dress, and the attitudes and behavior associated with hip hop culture.
Personally, I think it’s about time these guys grow up and behave like professionals, and that means dressing like professionals. After all, they are going to work, not a “bling” convention. I’m grateful for the long sleeves and dress shirts too; I’m tired of missing important stats and facts because I’m trying to figure out what a player’s tattoo says. As for sunglasses indoors-good riddance! That’s just plain ridiculous-whether you play for the NBA or not.
The current hip hop inspired wardrobe favored by young Black basketball players is a controversial issue among many who feel that the new dress code is racist. This debate is a double-edged sword because everyone knows hip hop and the NBA go together like butter on toast, but the corporate heads at the NBA feel that the hip hop image, which they claim promotes a lifestyle of “thuggery” hurts the image of the NBA.
Talk about biting the hand that feeds you! Hip hop has promoted the careers of many NBA stars, helped to sell sneakers, jerseys and other NBA paraphernalia. The deep bass and braggadocio of rap lyrics also intensifies the energy of the crowd before a game. A few NBA players even have record deals. Hip hop is a part of NBA life. Many of the players are a product of hip hop culture and have been heavily influenced by it-hence the hip hop inspired dress, doo-rags, big chains and baggy jeans worn by the players. I used to be a fan of hip-hop myself. I spoke the language, and dressed the part. I was celebrating my culture. But this was when hip hop was a social and political movement to advance the cause of Black people, when it did not denigrate or disrespect its creators. Unfortunately, hip-hop has a bad rap of late; to many it inspires violence, bad behavior and a prison-inspired wardrobe. According to Phil Jackson, “[t]he players, have been dressing in prison garb for the last five or six years. All that stuff that goes on, it’s like gangster thuggery stuff. It’s time…” [For a makeover.]
As a Black woman, I couldn’t agree more, yet I couldn’t be more disturbed by this. It is disheartening to see the way that Black people allow ourselves to be devalued and degraded first by ourselves, and then by others and justifying it because it’s “hip hop.” One hears the “n” word more often than he hears the word “hello.” This is the ultimate form of denigration and disrespect but it’s tolerated because it’s supposedly Black culture.
It would be foolish to deny that the NBA has profited handsomely from hip hop-the unfortunate thing about it is that this is reminiscent of slavery-the Black experience in America. Whatever wealth Black people create, be it in terms of music, art, culture, and in this case sports, we are alienated from the profits, and then made to sit on the sidelines and watch as other people take credit for the work that Black people originated, as though our contributions were unimportant. We continue to sit and watch from the sidelines as our identity is stripped form us. This is the case with the NBA. Blacks own nothing in the NBA franchise, and therefore must acquiesce with NBA rules. If they don’t they pay a fine, or they don’t’ play. Portland coach Nate McMillan was quoted as saying “[that] the players…have to respect the game, they have to respect the league. And they have to respect the fans…” In other words, basketball players are peons who like slaves, are indebted to the people that own them.
The NBA is predominantly young, Black and from urban areas; undoubtedly their culture, and life experiences make them the great players that they are, and they bring that fire, aggression and passion, also found in rap lyrics and hip hop culture with them to the court- it’s the reason we enjoy watching them play, and perhaps it’s what makes them good players.
The image that the NBA seeks to eradicate didn’t start with the players. It was sold to them by the dominant culture and they bought into it. Hip hop, just like the NBA is a multibillion dollar business. It is a product of capitalism, consumerism and mass-marketing of “Blackness.”
Blacks make up the largest consumers in America, and we have bought into the NBA, the play-stations, the sneakers, the throwbacks, and all of the other expensive paraphernalia that has made the NBA quite rich, which is why it is a slap in the face, and the ultimate betrayal that the NBA would turn around and all of a sudden force the players to reject the culture that has been advantageous to them.
Unfortunately there is no escape from racism or social injustice-it is as American as basket-ball, and will not be discarded as easily as a gargantuan gold chains, baggy jeans or work boots no longer allowed as part of the new dress code.
Phoenix Suns guard Raja Bell was said, “…We sell to kids and people who are into the NBA hip-hop world. They may be marketing to the wrong people with this.”
What Mr. Bell and too many African Americans fail to realize is that the NBA, like many other multi-million dollar corporations are in business to exploit Black culture; and make a profit-and it is usually on the backs of Blacks. The problem is not that they are marketing to the wrong people-the problem is who’s buying.
In spite of its controversy, the NBA dress code may be the wake up call that Black America needs.
Posted by renee at December 8, 2005 3:34 PM
Comments
just found your site,good work baby!
Posted by: corey anderson at March 15, 2006 3:58 AM
So it is somehow the leagues fault that blacks do not own anything in the NBA? Perhaps if young black players would invest their money instead of spending a good chunk of it on bling, cars, mansions, and sneakers....one day they might be able to buy into the NBA and have a say in policy. And yes basketball players are performers, they entertain paying customers, and because of this they have to respect the customer. Just because the performer happens to be black does not in any way lessen his responsibility to me the paying customer. If they don't like it they can turn in their million dollar paycheck and find another job that pays them as much for whatever level of education they may have. If I work for the corporation that makes harleys..could I walk in wearing biker clothes simply because the company gets revenues from people who dress like this? Get over it, not everything is an attack on black people, a suit and tie are not something trust upon you by "the man"...its professional attire..wether youre a stock broker or a basketball player.
Posted by: Alex at November 17, 2006 1:59 PM