Rise of the NBA Nerd

Wesley Morris’ essay “The Rise of the NBA Nerd” is subtitled “basketball style and the black identity”.  Morris begins his essay by describing how Kevin Durant, an NBA star, has started arriving to press conferences dressed in nicer, nerd-like clothing, standing out in the sea of basketball sweats and ill-fitting clothes that many of the other players wear to such events.  Though Morris’ essay is roundabout, his point is clear – black men are finally being looked at with respect regarding their place in society and intelligence.  Throughout the past twenty years, there has been an evolution in the outlook of black people and the clothes they wear.  It is no longer about symbolizing the fact that they were often too poor to afford nice clothes or too athletic to wear suits; it’s about showing that they can now dress as the average white man does and have an equal place in today’s society.  Whereas ten years ago, sweater vests, glasses, and suit coats were the epitome of the nerdy white boy about to get picked on, they now give an air of class and education to the wearer.  Morris refers to characters from Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and current figures such as Kanye West to exemplify this style and attitude evolution in black society.  These men stepped out of the stereotype associated with black men and turned it around, showing that there is no one way a man should dress to show his identity and he should not have to dress a certain way to simply remain in his stereotypical group.  Visually, these men are showing that what one wears does not define him, he may be a star on the court and in the workforce, but what he wears is not the determining factor.  I believe that Morris is stating that there is no longer a norm for the black society, as they have been started to individualize themselves, showing that they can have many things to offer and that the outward appearance of a man does not determine what is inside.