I say that MJ's story is a black power story, not the black power of
protest and politics, but the black power of economics." -- Roland
Lazenby, author of "Michael Jordan: The Life."
Here's a disturbing fact: Only 15 black executives have ever
made it to the chairman or CEO position of a Fortune 500-listed company. Of
these 15 executives, there are currently six active. There are currently no
black majority-owned companies in the Fortune 500 rankings. Here's something
else disturbing: In 2012-13 of the six CEO/president positions held by African
Americans within NBA teams, three were from the Charlotte franchise, and one
man was both CEO and president for the Dallas Mavericks. That left 27 of the 30 teams without
someone of color in at least one of their top executive positions, according to
the 2013 racial and gender report card released by The Institute for Diversity
and Ethics in Sport. Although in 2014, the league added an African-American
deputy commissioner and COO in Mark Tatum.
Michael Jordan currently serves the role of CEO for
the Hornets while also being its owner. As a result of Michael’s positions it
makes him not only the first ever former player to become a primary owner of an
NBA franchise but also the NBA’s only black majority owner. This past year has
experienced a tremendous increase in celebrity social and political awareness
surrounding everything #BLACKLIVESMATTER and beyond. For example: Lebron James’
Instagram and Twitter posts lending his voice to issues ranging from deaths of
Trayvon Martin to the non-indictment of officer Darren Wilson; Derrick Rose
first stepping on the court wearing an “I can’t breathe” shirt during pregame
warm-ups; NFL players entering a stadium in unison with their hands up. The
doors, similar to before, have opened up for Michael Jordan’s name to be the
subject of apathy in the face of modern civil rights.
The "anti-Jordans" is what ESPN's Howard
Bryant called them. These are athletes who express non-centrist
attitudes by taking public stands and using current events as platforms to
extend their power beyond what they do on the courts, fields, rings, pitches
and in stadiums and arenas. Others have used Jordan's 1990 "Republicans
buy sneakers too" comment as an indictment on everything Jordan hasn't
done when it comes to standing up, lending his voice and brand name to a civil
rights cause.
People miss in the context of Jordan “not being
black enough,” how his position in the Jordan Brand as CEO, the company is the
only one inside of Nike that has had multiple African-American presidents.
Outside of Nike president, Trevor Edwards, the execs at the Jordan Brand have
always been the highest-ranking blacks in the parent company (Nike). This is something
that Jordan’s made sure of; something that is not happenstance or a mistake.
"Michael's willingness to hire, support and
promote minority leaders throughout his business ventures has been
remarkable," Larry Miller, president of the Jordan Brand said in defense
of the perception that the depths of Jordan's contribution to "the
struggle" goes no further than that of a glorified pitchman. "He has
always been focused on creating successful and sustainable businesses and has
empowered minority leaders, including myself, with the opportunity to grow and
advance those businesses."
Jordan just happens to do this “black thing” in a
way that has been different. Quiet. Subtle. And no one gets it. His
contribution to the race has been by providing power but not by voice. Most
African Americans who protest equality are not used to this type of answer for
the issues surrounding race in America. African American’s expect leaders of
all forms to make noise. Instead, Jordan has had more African Americans
employed and upwardly moving through a $2.5 billion shoe brand for years. And
now he’s carrying that same process over to franchise ownership.
"After Jim Crow laws went into
effect [in North Carolina], African-Americans there had no political
rights," Roland Lazenby said recently. "They had to focus on economic
rights. That's the only way they got ahead. Nobody, black or white, made any
money in sharecropping. It was a disastrous economic system. But [Michael
Jordan's] mother's father was a badass as a sharecropper. He kicked ass, came
to own his own land, determined his own fate. His mother, although she didn't
get along well with her father, was just like him, locked in on economic
success."
Contextualize
that with Jordan being the owner of the Charlotte Hornets where he has
African-Americans in positions that no other team in the NBA has people in as
well as an executive staff with more people of color on it than any other team
in sports and you have, again, something more than a T-shirt. Now not acknowledging the
failures of Jordan as both a business person and a political icon would be
disingenuous to the large numbers of people who over the years, and still
today, have criticized Jordan for not doing enough and not lending his fame and
power to causes where he could create change.
When
the headlines read: "LeBron James has already surpassed Michael Jordan in
willingness to address issues off the court," and this new era of
athletes' social pushback is judged as not being a part of the "Michael
Jordan School of Public Ambivalence"
the certainty that Jordan's mind was always more focused on empowerment for
blacks/African-Americans through business than through social and political
activities, should not be looked at as a failure. For blacks in America today,
there has to be more than one way to take a stand and make a point. And while
everyone wants black celebrities to stand up and scream and rally behind
certain causes, there needs to be some who make the same point in a different
way. We need to be more than just loud and visibly present.
I really agree with some points you made here. As a black person in a position of power, Michael Jordan is helping to dissolve the limitations black people face in the business world today. I think that the way he goes about it is in some ways more effective than the way many stars in the NBA do. The stars you mentioned are mainly just raising awareness for past events that have happened. This is obviously important, but just different than what Michael is doing. Michael Jordan is changing the culture of sports. Although discrimination doesn't occur on the field or amongst players, it certainly exists within organizations. I think it's also important to think about how he was able to own an NBA franchise. He is the most famous basketball player of all time. AS the first black owner he has forged what now stands as the only proven avenue possible for black people to own a team.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the things Jordan has done out of the limelight to advance blacks in the business world are remarkable and deserve credit, but I still think that he should do more in the public eye to help race relations. Jordan has never been one to shy from the spotlight, and his image is one that crosses race borders. Both blacks and whites wanted to be "like Mike." Anything he could offer in terms of public outreach in race issues would have a monstrous impact, simply because of his name. His ability to reach the entirety of the American population, men and women, all races, is perhaps greater than that of any other athlete in the American spectrum, and while he certainly isn't obligated to make any profound statement on the temperature of race relation, any impact he can make would be multiplied exponentially by his brand.
ReplyDeleteI have great admiration for Micheal Jordan, especially after reading this post. Knowing that he chooses African Americans for his executive positions can be encouraging to young African Americans as an achievement goal. Going off of the post about "A Better Education", this post seems key on showing a black role model for African American children. While he is not as outspoken about his role in economics, I think he has done a lot of work for the empowerment of African Americans. Many Americans see MJ as the tremendous basketball player, however if you go back and listen to interviews with him, you can clearly see how intelligent he was as well. Finding out that he owns his own team and promotes the employment of African Americans only increases my admiration for the man.
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