MY OPINION ONLY: I’m sure some will disagree and that’s perfectly fine, but I thought I would say something anyway. I have not always been a LeBron James fan, but over the years I’ve come to really admire the young man. His work off the court is what made me really respect him coupled with his decision to go back home.
Over the last couple of days I’ve seen one picture of LeBron in a short suit get more criticism and attention than any great thing he’s ever done. Folks have caused that photo to go viral. The dude has earned the right to wear what he wants. Clothes do not make a man soft. If you are soft, it does not matter what you wear. Besides, love him or hate him, you have to respect him. If you can’t respect a person’s true gifts and dedication, because of the way you feel about a person, it speaks volumes.
First, most of us will never know how it feels to be worth over $400 million dollars in our 30’s. Second, I can assure you that the clothing many of us wore in our 20’s and 30’s or even today was viewed or would be viewed as distasteful to those in their 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. In fact, we have to be careful how we judge others, because it opens the door to judging you. Third, why can’t we focus on the positives of this young man? He grew up in a broken home, never meeting his father and having to see his mother on drugs. He was moved around from home to home and his only guaranteed meals were at school. Society said he should have not been successful.
Despite the adversity, he would not get into any trouble; he created a plan and was focused. When he got drafted, he hired his best friends, despite opposition from the experts, and today they are all multi-millionaires. He married his high school sweetheart who he is still with today and they are proud parents of three children who he openly loves. How many have done that? He is very vocal about issues impacting the black communities and straight up called Trump a loser.
Those are the things no one ever focuses on. No one talks about the underprivileged kids he’s sending to college or how he constantly gives back. It seems like we live in a world where those who contribute to society are constantly attacked and/or criticized and those who only care about self and their immediate families are worshipped. I don’t say it very often but it is truly disheartening how I see individuals being attacked because of personal feelings. I don’t know any parent who would not be proud to call LeBron their son, not because of what he does on the court but what he’s doing off the court.
A couple of weeks ago the world was celebrating the big fairytale wedding, but in my opinion to see a black family come up from nothing and make it to this point, is a dream come true and a fairytale. What Harry has was given to him. What this guy has was worked for and earned. Those are the traits I want my daughter to look for in a man. Stop the negative and give respect to hard work and dedication. We are quick to tear each other down. We need to see more beautiful, successful black families. I will celebrate him, because somehow the media and many others never focus on his family and his contributions to the game and society the way they do with others.
Opinion piece submitted by Attn. Daryl Kevin Washington.
