98 Time December 21/December 28, 2020
Eric Garner, who had uttered those three words be-
fore his death. Still, as recently as July 2017, an ar-
ticle in the Journal of Sport and Social Issues, titled
“Athletes and/or Activists: LeBron James and Black
Lives Matter,” argued that James “wears [the activ-
ist] label cautiously.”
That’s no longer the case. Early in his NBA career,
he started giving back in his hometown of Akron,
Ohio, with an annual charity bike ride. Now, a col-
lage of students and community members from his
I Promise School—which opened in the city in 2018
and offers free busing, meals, uniforms, bikes and
other resources outside the classroom, like mental-
health support—flanks James on a Wheaties box. In
July, James’ foundation opened the I Promise Village,
a transitional housing complex for school families
in need, like LaTasha Clark’s. A home health aide,
Clark fell behind on bills after losing work hours
because of the pandemic, and she and her two chil-
dren were evicted from their house. They moved into
the I Promise Village in August, as Clark’s daughter
started third grade at the school.
“He has opened up doors that I never thought
would have been opened for me,” says Clark, fight-
ing tears. “I’m just a regular, single Black mother try-
ing to make her way. Just being here, I’ve met a lot of
different people that have supported me more than
anyone I have ever known in my life.” The next step
for I Promise is an initiative centered on job training
and financial literacy.
This work changes lives. It also builds trust.
“There is an attachment through racial identity,
for African Americans especially, when they see
even the most privileged famous athletes still
understand and relate to the Black community like
anyone else would,” says the Black Voter Project’s
Towler. “LeBron James can fill a tremendous gap
in future mobilization efforts and really empower
Black people in ways politicians since Obama
haven’t been able to.”
As he embarks on his 18th NBA season this win-
ter following the shortest off-season in North Amer-
ican major pro team sports history—the 2020–21
schedule tips off on Dec. 22; the Lakers clinched the
2020 championship on Oct. 11—James insists his
work is just starting. “We feel really good right now,”
he says. “But you don’t want to feel great. Because
it’s never done.” More Than a Vote is now reminding
ex-felons of their voting rights in Georgia and mo-
bilizing young first-time voters for the state’s Jan. 5
runoff election, which could determine control of
the U.S. Senate.
“It would never, ever go back to us just playing
our respective sports,” says James. “It will never be
that way for as long as I’m around. And hopefully
I’ve inspired enough athletes that even when I’m
gone, that legacy will carry on.” —With reporting by
AlejAndro de lA GArzA James celebrates
his fourth NBA
title on Oct. 11 in
Orlando; he’s the
first player to win the
Finals MVP award for
three different teams2020 Athlete of the Year