The contrasting paths of Michael Jordan and LeBron James

Jumpman: The Making and Meaning of Michael Jordan. Author: Johnny Smith. Basic book; 336 pages; $30.

The Book of James: The Power, Politics, and Passion of LeBron. Author: Valerie Barb. Public Affairs; 304 pages; $30.

anyonenew road To understand the traditions and troubles of a country, one has to read a history book. A more interesting way is to watch it in motion. On Christmas Day, millions of Americans will be watching basketball on television: The National Basketball Association, North America’s top basketball league, will host five games. In addition to providing the excitement that only top sports can provide, NBA It also gives viewers an insight into a serious side of America: race relations.

this NBA African-American players have long dominated. However, they not only shaped basketball, basketball also shaped African-American identity. The movement figures prominently in rap lyrics and the oeuvre of Spike Lee, perhaps the most influential black filmmaker.Since black players first joined NBA In the 1950s, the basketball court also became a battleground for civil rights. Champions like Bill Russell and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar were Black Power icons whose dunks reverberated across American society.

But no other player can jump as high as Michael Jordan and LeBron James.Mr Jordan (pictured right) won six NBA He won championships with the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s and helped launch the highly successful sportswear brand Jordan, which had revenue of $5.1 billion last year. Mr. James (left), now playing for the Los Angeles Lakers, has won four championships (three of them with previous teams). He is the only player to become a billionaire during his playing career. Fans debate which of the two is the real “goat” (The greatest of all time).

Two new books chart their impact off the field — particularly on race.they show goatWe had the opposite plan. “Jumpman,” by Georgia Tech professor Johnny Smith, argued that Mr. Jordan was trying to transcend race. He is black, but he does not want to be defined by the color of his skin. The Book of James, written by Emory University professor Valerie Babb, also points out that “(Mr. James) did not use his fame to transcend black people, but used it to bring black people into prominence. status.”

Mr. Jordan never wanted to be the tribune of his community. “I never considered myself an activist,” he explains. “I consider myself a basketball player.” In 1990, he refused to endorse Harvey Gantt, a black Democrat running for a House seat. us. Senate in Mr. Jordan’s home state of North Carolina. Mr. Gant faced Jesse Helms, a white Republican who opposed civil rights legislation. Mr Jordan’s mother implored her son to support Mr Gant. But despite making financial contributions to Mr. Gant’s campaign, he has not backed down. His reasoning: “Republicans buy sneakers, too.”

Mr. James has no such qualifications. He denounced Donald Trump, endorsed Democratic candidates and supported the Black Lives Matter movement. Over the past decade, he has become a passionate voice for racial justice. After the murder of George Floyd in 2020, he co-founded a voting rights organization to fight the suppression of Black votes. When conservatives criticized his activism, he retorted: “I’m definitely not going to ‘shut up and dribble.'”

Every player is a product of his time.mr jordan landed in NBAIn 1984, the courtroom creaked as President Reagan extolled the virtues of a “color-blind society.”Black players succeed in America despite almost non-existent racial inequality NBA Considered proof that the American Dream is for black people too. Mr. James reached his peak in a very different context, as race once again forced itself to the forefront of public discussion. Mainstream institutions, from the Democratic Party to major corporations, have supported anti-racist movements like Black Lives Matter.

If Jordan takes the same stance as James, he could run into trouble with sponsors and the media. He sat on the sidelines not out of apathy but out of self-preservation. Mr. James is not a pure progressive either.He refuses to condemn human rights abuses in China – a huge market NBA. In 2019, he called a basketball executive “misled” for supporting pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong. (China also buys sneakers.)

Both books reflect their themes. Mr. Smith’s rhetoric was restrained and sober, and he did an excellent job of placing Mr. Jordan in historical context. By contrast, Ms. Barb’s book is passionate and bombastic. At times, it reads like an activist manifesto, filled with too many slogans and too little insight. It pales in comparison to “LeBron,” a lively biography published earlier this year by sportswriter Jeff Benedict, which benefited from unparalleled access to Mr. James’ inner circle.

So, who will win in the off-field battle? goatYes? Mr. James must be commended for using his wealth and fame to advance the causes in which he believes. In a league where no team is owned by black people, his confidence is inspiring. (Mr. Jordan once owned a majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets, but sold his stake this year.)

But disqualifying Mr. Jordan would be a rookie mistake. At a time when individuals are often reduced to race, their insistence on universalism is inspiring. “I think sometimes I’m viewed not just as a black man but as a human being,” he said in 1989. “I think this is new territory for us and society…” Mr. Jordan then concluded, “Look at it and it made me a person.” ” ■