The Skewed Lens of Ja Morant
Guns, suspensions, and blanket statements. The conversation around the Memphis Grizzlies point guard has gone from grave mistakes to something deeper and troubling
Over the last couple of weeks, there have been many words written and spoken about Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant. In the wake of a string of actions, Ja Morant stepped away from the Grizzlies and was subsequently suspended by the NBA. The timeline of Morant’s behavior has included members of the Indiana Pacers saying that a laser was pointed at them by a passenger in a car that included Morant, going on Instagram Live with a gun in clear view, and photos were leaked of Morant in a strip club. To his credit, Morant has taken the initiative and has sought help in the wake of his actions.
The public has resorted to the same tactics that we have seen before. Calling Morant a thug, wannabe gangster, or just plainly, an idiot. People have jumped on the bandwagon of blaming hip-hop music, even questioning Ja’s father, Tee Morant, for raising Ja incorrectly. While Ja Morant has behaved poorly and needs to be better (especially with his standing as an NBA superstar) I cannot help but feel that the way he has been villainized highlights a deep-rooted issue in the way that we cover Black athletes in this country.
