Photo credit: Heidi Gutman/Getty Images, Alison Farrand/Getty Images
NBA star LeBron James is once again using his platform to uplift Black women- this time by choosing sports journalist Jemele Hill to narrate his upcoming basketball documentary, “Shut Up and Dribble.” The news comes only weeks after Hill departed ESPN and James unveiled the HFR x LeBron 16 shoe and “The Strongest” campaign, which celebrates the strength of Black women.
“Very excited that @kingjames pegged me to be involved in this incredible documentary for @showtime, Hill wrote in an Instagram post. “It’s an incredible opportunity on a personal level, but more importantly, this is pushing forward an important conversation.”
“Shut Up and Dribble” is a three-part documentary series that will explore the role of athletes in the current political climate. Its title was inspired by the “shut up and dribble” comment that conservative television and radio host Laura Ingraham directed towards James during one her shows for expressing his opposition to the current administration.
“It’s unusual — though it shouldn’t be — to hear a woman narrate a sports documentary,” the Hollywood Reporter pointed out. And Hill added: “Especially a Black woman.”
“Lately LeBron has talked about gender and wanting to uplift and position Black women in particular,” says Hill. “I get the sense that this is all part of that. He was raised by a black woman, he is married to a Black woman and he is raising a black woman. If you look at the societal ladder, Black women remain on the lowest rung. He clearly understands that we are facing a unique battle. It means a lot that he understands the intricacies of that.”
Congratulations, Jemele! We can’t wait to hear you continue to use the power of your voice on “Shut Up and Dribble” when it airs on Showtime in November.