Not Every Black Public Figure Can Be an Activist
Whether Jordan’s infamous political silence to Jay-Z’s social-justice missteps, we expect Black celebrities to be both endlessly knowledgeable and tirelessly dedicated — but that’s simply not realistic
Update 6/7/22: Level has a new home. You can read this article and other new articles by visiting LEVELMAN.com.
After 10 episodes spanning five weeks and spawning countless online conversations and memes, The Last Dance took its last step Sunday night. ESPN’s documentary series exploring the Chicago Bulls’ historic 1990s dynasty aired new stories, retold old ones, and aimed to reaffirm the notion that Michael Jordan was the best to ever play the sport of basketball — and one of the best athletes in the history of all sports.
But every legacy has an underbelly. In 2020, a public figure’s eventual obituary is no longer confined to the deeds that made them famous; what one has done off the court (or course, or stage, or studio) will now be entered into the ledger. And for many people, Jordan’s refusal to endorse Harvey Gantt, the first Black mayor of Charlotte who was running against notorious racist Jesse Helms in the 1990 North Carolina Senate race — reportedly saying “Republicans…
