In a new episode of The Shop, a new series on HBO created by LeBron James, James speaks on his experience transitioning to an all white high school environment and learning what a pantry is for the first time.
James acknowledges that going to a catholic high school with majority white students was difficult at first. "When I first went to the ninth grade in high school, I was like, 'I ain't f*cking with no white people," James stated. He says he did not want anything to do with the white students because he had grown up understanding that there were levels and systems in America, that made white people higher ranking.
"I was so institutionalized growing up in the hood, it's like, they don't f*ck with us, they don't want us to succeed."
James solely wanted to focus on basketball and that was it. He didn't go to school with the purpose of bonding with the other students.
"I'm going to school to play ball, and that's it. I don't want nothing to do with white people. It's me and my boys, we're going to high school together and we're here to hoop."
Ultimately, things shifted during his experience and James was able to learn to communicate and befriend outside his race. It's the hesitation that stands out, one that I'm sure we all feel as people of color put in an unknown environment. The conversation takes on a lighter note when the groups laughs about James discovering a pantry for the first time in high school. Being put in a different environment always puts us off until we feel comfortable enough to emerge ourselves into a new understanding, and a new group of people.
Photo via Getty.