Having More Money Doesn't Equal More Power For These Young Stars
Zion Williamson joins Ja Morant in the court of public opinion
The Back Story
There’s a trend among young NBA players being spotlighted in the media for their personal choices without regard for how those choices can impact their livelihood. On the otherside of that spotlight however, their very public lives are discussed and dissected by strangers who aren’t in their position but swear that if they were they would do things differently.
Zion Williamson was in the news recently after porn star Moriah Mills reacted to photos Zion posted announcing that he was expecting a baby with his girlfriend. Mills went on a tweeting spree that revealed the two had a sexual relationship on the side complete with screenshots of exchanges between the two.
In my most popular article I discussed this concept of money invincibility as it related to Ja Morant and his numerous run-ins with the media. Money invincibility can be described as the idea that their [athletes] “actions and behaviors are of minimal consequence and thus the money will always be there”. It seems to be reflected in the behavior of athletes and other ultra high income professions that present as “I’ve made it” and thus can do whatever I please.
Even in instances where said behaviors are guarded in some form of secrecy that later comes to light, it appears that the court of public opinion has a direct impact on opportunities that impact income.
See Also: Ja Morant Demonstrates Another Side To Financial Trauma
Understanding The House Rules
If you’ve ever played Uno or Spades you know that depending on who you’re playing with the rules might be a bit different. Spades specifically has been used as a reference to determine just how “Black” you are in terms of whether or not you know how to play, but is shrouded in secrecy in that no one ever really sits down and teaches you—you just learn.
That learning experience can come with some aggresive push back if and when you mess up, especially when playing with an experienced player. The analogy of “just learning” can be applied to many things within the experience of young Black professionals.
You ‘just learn’ how to navigate corporate America. You just learn how to navigate your personal finances. And some of these guys just learn how to navigate their 20’s with boatloads of money. This certainly makes the case for mentorship or someone breaking down exactly what the rules are, however as previously stated whether Spades or Uno, those rules might be different depending on who you are and who you play with.
I’ve participated in many discussions that intersect classism via how much financial resources one has and racism via a caste based system that sees Black people at the bottom. There are those who argue that it’s not about race it’s about rich vs poor, and others who argue that racism and classism are two sides of a larger coin. Regardless of which view you take, the reality is that the house rules look very different at the level of these ultra high income professionals than they do with the common folk.
Check out: Financially Irresponsible
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