So here's a term, "street cred," that I've been hearing everywhere these days. It's kind of like "upside" around draft time, only worse. A couple recent articles on ESPN.com will serve as good examples: http://espn.go.com/page2/s/streetcred/030709.html http://espn.go.com/page2/s/kluck/030709.html The suggestion is that "street cred" might help sell shoes, and they almost but don't quite say that it would make the player more appealing to a thuggish segment of the African-American population. ESPN says here that it isn't just about being a criminal with a bad upbringing, that it's all about coolness and mystery, but then in another article it says Michael Jordan, despite his victories, probably didn't have any "street cred." Is it just me, or is there something really patronizingly racist about this whole idea? It basically seems to be saying that black kids care more about athletes who "keep it real" than those who are winners. And that's either just not true, or if true, is a terrible idea to promote.
well i've thought the whole idea of street cred has been pretty racist and bs. but at the same time you don't hear white people saying stuff like "you gotta keep it real", meaning you gotta stay in touch with the streets. i am not trying to be stereotypical, but it seems like there is this pressure for black people to keep it real to the streets even if they have no relation to it that isn't there for white people.
the basic idea is for atheltes who come from the streets not turn their backs on them once they have made millions. grant hill would never have street cred b/c he has been afluent his entire life. AI on the other hand was mixed up in a lot of "street" mentality stuff and continues to this day to hang around those people he grew up with. a comparison would be yao never going back to china or talking smack about the government and people there.
What's racist about it?? I really don't understand what you meant. What I find ludicruous about this whole topic is it mainly revolves around selling shoes, and why some guys can and some guys can't. They talk about Jordan having street cred because he sold a lot of shoes, and they also think LeBron will have street cred. If the premise of street cred is that you have to have a "thuggish" side to you to relate to today's youth, and btw Robbie, I think this applies to selling shoes to white kids as well as all kids generally by the same shoes, why are Jordan and Lebron considered to have street cred. Jordan comes from a two parent home, had a GREAT relationship with his father, is married, at the time he was selling millions of shoes appeared to be faithful, worked hard, and stayed out of trouble. He's the player that has made this shoe selling phenomenon take off the way it has. Why does Jordan have street cred, because he dunks?? That's what's b.s. about street cred.
it's racist because it implies that blacks come from the streets and in order to be keepin it real with black people you gotta act like you are from the streets too. maybe i am confusing the meaning of street cred, but that is what it has taken on.
Here is another viewpoint to back up what I was saying above, basically that this whole idea of "street cred" is pretty offensive when you think about it.
