Response to the "The Rise of the NBA Nerd"

     In response to the article “The Rise of the NBA Nerd”, I think Morris believes very strongly that the stereotypes of conventional black culture are changing. He analyzes the dress of people who would be considered role models (i.e. athletes) to this culture. These same people who once dressed like "urban gangsters" now dress in a way that could be compared to a nerd. The abrupt changes in mid to late 2000’s have changed their press conference attire from t-shirts and anything else they could throw on to plaid shirts, glasses, backpacks and khakis. The author’s rhetoric is very clean in trying to persuade us to believe his opinion about the changing black culture. His pictures also go hand in hand with this. The pictures used on the webpage are only of prominent black athletes that are dressed in the way he previously described.  The pictures could be taken out of context of course, but there is no way for us to know for sure. Rhetoric is all about the author’s ability to persuade, and the author manages to do this job well.

     Is what we wear an argument? Can it be political? I would say yes to both of these questions. An argument is an expression of opinion. Speech is obviously the best way of communicating opinions, but is by no means the only way. Paintings, papers, and even clothing are all acceptable ways of expressing personal opinions. What you wear can tell what your political, religious, and cultural identities and beliefs are, or at least can give a bit of insight. For example, the stereotypical urban gangster wears loose fitting jeans or sweats, along with some sort of baggy t-shirt. While not everyone who wears this is an urban gangster, most people who are classified as "urban gangsters" would stereotypically wear this.  So, since the basketball stars are no longer wearing this, they are changing the way we view the group they are stereotyped into. This, as a result, changes the group that black youth are wishing to be stereotyped into.  The argument about the changing cultural clothing of the black community can be politicized by addressing whether or not it should be allowed for these stars to influence young minds as much as they do. The changing identity can be debated, but the benefits to their culture, and society as a whole can not.