LeBron James hasn't been shy of late when it comes to making bold political statements. From his popular "U bum" tweet (targeting the president of the United States) to the time he unintentionally started a boycott of Trump hotels, King James has made it clear where his political allegiance lies.
This weekend, James made another, more subtle political statement aimed not at the president's pocketbook or ego, but at the nation's heart, NBA.com reports.
During the Cleveland Cavaliers' game against the Washington Wizards on Sunday night, James wore a white shoe and a black shoe that spelled out the word "EQUALITY" once the heels were joined together.
Following the game James addressed the shoes, and once again thumbed his nose at President Trump.
"This is a beautiful country and we're never going to let one person dictate how beautiful and how powerful we are," James said.
When asked about the meaning behind his shoes, ESPN reports that James said, "As Americans, no matter the skin color, no matter the race, no matter who you are, I think we all have to understand that having equal rights and being able to stand for something and speak for something and keeping the conversation going [is important]."
He continued, "Obviously, I've been very outspoken and well-spoken about the situation that's going on at the helm here, and we're not going to let one person dictate us, us as Americans, how beautiful and how powerful we are as a people. Equality is all about understanding our rights, understanding what we stand for and how powerful we are as men and women, black or white or Hispanic. It doesn't matter your race, whatever the case may be, this is a beautiful country, and we're never going to let one person dictate how beautiful and how powerful we are."
LeBron on @FOXSportsOH after #Cavs win on his statement wearing one black, one white shoe pic.twitter.com/ReITjT2Yfy— Keith Britton (@KeithBritton86) December 18, 2017
During halftime, James switched the shoes, which he had had hand-delivered before the game.
He explained that the change had nothing to do with what was written on the gym shoes, but with his performance in the game. "I didn't play well in the first half, and I'm very superstitious, so I took `em off," James explained, before joking: "I didn't play well in the second half, either, so if there was a third half, I would have took those off."
Black Twitter was quick to sound off on James' sartorial statement:
LeBron is very calculated in his thinking. Playing in the nation’s Capitol in one black shoe and one white shoe that reads “Equality.” https://t.co/qmzn2mEI7a— Michael Curtis (@mikeacurtis2) December 17, 2017
pic.twitter.com/e512TzUmmA— Rachel in Detroit (@TheRealRachelin) December 18, 2017
Only @KingJames would pull this off pic.twitter.com/9mLXGuckZ6— Miracles Do Happen (@2_highlyfavored) December 18, 2017
I'm so thankful that I live in the LeBron James era! Y'all see what that man is doing out here????— DJ Steph Floss (@djstephfloss) December 17, 2017
