Dennis Rodman went from being an NBA star to a rock star of gender embracement and self-acceptance. In his recent interview for GQ, Dennis shares his path full of hard life choices and various outlooks. The moments described in the interview show the shift in his life and his influence on the modern generation.
In the beginning, basketball had been the only thing that invigorated him. However, after the death of his coach and police at his doors, he locked himself inside his home for nearly two months. Rather than committing suicide, his death took a symbolic way. In the words of Dennis: “I went from the mild-mannered, humble, emotional guy to this whole other side of Dennis Rodman” (Smith 18). This pivotal moment in his life led to tattoos, hair color changes, and piercings. I view this as a pure transition to one’s true self, which is essential in the process of self-acceptance and self-discovery.
Dennis discovered people living as brazenly as he desired, unconcerned with what was considered acceptable in society. As Dennis put it: “When you talk to people in the gay community, someone who does drag, something like that, they’re so […] happy” (Smith 23). This quote has impressed me since many people tend to be conformists, and those who oppose the accepted norms seem to be happier.
As seen from the pictures from the photoshoot for GQ, Dennis Rodman is rather a flamboyant individual. His gender fluidity and concerns about his sexuality were nothing new. Before, he tried to fit the criteria, but now he is experimenting with cosmetics and wears halter tops. In his own words: “I was trying to please people…. I just wanted people to like me” (Smith 42). In my opinion, Dennis is a very strong person to admit that he wanted to be appreciated in society, but he was even stronger to choose himself over everybody else and put his happiness first.
Dennis Rodman wasn’t the first Black man to embrace femininity. Still, he was the first Black man in a typically masculine industry who decided to control his happiness and true self. His eyeliner, bright hair, and piercings seen in the pictures from the GQ photoshoot allow him to feel free and influence modern society. So if Dennis Rodman made his choice to accept himself the way he is, what stops others?
Work Cited
Smith, Mychal Denzel, and Photography by Renell Medrano. “Dennis Rodman, Bad Boy for Life.”GQ, 2021, Web.