If you were watching the NBA during that weird, isolated summer of 2020, you probably remember the "Bubble." No fans. Virtual cheering sections. And, most notably, jerseys that didn't have names on the back. Instead, players wore slogans. While "Equality" and "Black Lives Matter" were everywhere, a specific choice by Markieff Morris caught people off guard. He stepped onto the court with Education Reform arched over his number 17.
It wasn't just a random pick from a pre-approved list. For Markieff and his twin brother Marcus, that phrase was personal.
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The Story Behind the Markieff Morris Education Reform Jersey
When the NBA and the NBPA agreed to allow social justice messages, they gave players 29 options. Most went with the heavy hitters—the slogans that were trending on Twitter every single hour. Markieff chose "Education Reform" because he actually lived the reality of a broken system.
Born and raised in North Philadelphia, the Morris twins didn't have it easy. Philly's public schools have been notoriously underfunded for decades. We're talking about buildings with asbestos issues, lack of basic supplies, and astronomical student-to-teacher ratios. Markieff has been vocal about the fact that where you live shouldn't dictate the quality of the books you read or the safety of the desk you sit at.
By wearing that jersey, he was pointing at the "school-to-prison pipeline" without saying the words. He was saying that if you want to fix the issues the other jerseys were talking about, you have to start in the classroom.
Why "Education Reform" was a polarizing choice
Honestly, the term is kinda loaded.
In the political world, "education reform" is often code for charter schools or private vouchers. Some people see it as a way to "privatize" learning and suck money away from public institutions. But for Markieff, it wasn't about the corporate politics of it all. It was about the resources.
He and Marcus eventually attended Prep Charter in Philadelphia, which played a massive role in their development both as players and students. That experience shaped his view. To him, reform means:
- Better funding for inner-city schools.
- Updated curriculum that actually reflects the students' lives.
- Fair pay for teachers so they don't burn out in two years.
- Access to tech and extracurriculars that kids in the suburbs take for granted.
The Impact of the 2020 Bubble Messages
Did a jersey change the world? Probably not. But the Markieff Morris education reform jersey did something specific: it shifted the conversation from "what is happening" to "how do we fix it long-term."
While other players were focusing on immediate justice for police brutality—which was obviously the catalyst for the whole movement—Markieff was playing the long game. You've gotta realize that education is the foundation. If the foundation is cracked, everything else eventually leans.
He wasn't the only one, either. Guys like Gordon Hayward and CJ McCollum also wore the "Education Reform" tag. It was a small but vocal minority of players who wanted to highlight that systemic change is impossible without addressing the 7 hours a day kids spend in school.
Real-world stats that back him up
If you look at the data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the gap is staggering. In 2020, the year Markieff wore that jersey:
- High-poverty schools received about $1,000 less per student than low-poverty schools.
- Black and Latino students were significantly more likely to attend schools with fewer experienced teachers.
- The "Digital Divide" meant thousands of kids in cities like Philly couldn't even attend "Zoom school" because they didn't have reliable internet.
Markieff knew these weren't just numbers. These were his neighbors.
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What Markieff Morris does now
Markieff doesn't just wear the shirt; he puts the money up. Along with Marcus, he runs the Family Over Everything (F.O.E.) Foundation. They do a lot of work in Philadelphia, providing backpacks, school supplies, and support for single-parent households.
Basically, the jersey was a mission statement.
People often criticize athletes for "virtue signaling," but when you look at the Morris twins' track record in North Philly, it's hard to make 그 case. They’re actually there. They’re doing the turkey giveaways, the back-to-school drives, and the basketball camps that give kids a safe place to be.
Is the jersey still available?
If you're looking for a Markieff Morris "Education Reform" jersey today, it's mostly a collector's item. You can occasionally find them on secondary markets like eBay or specialized NBA auction sites. Fanatics produced replica versions during the 2020 playoffs, but they weren't mass-produced like the LeBron or AD jerseys.
Most fans who own one see it as a piece of history. It represents a specific moment in time when the league stopped being "just sports" and became a platform for something a lot heavier.
How you can support education reform today
If Markieff's message resonated with you, you don't need an NBA contract to help. Education reform is a local battle.
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- Attend school board meetings: This is where the money actually gets allocated. Most people ignore these until something goes wrong.
- Support "DonorsChoose": You can find specific teachers in low-income zip codes who need $200 for books or a rug for their classroom. It’s direct impact.
- Volunteer as a mentor: Organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters are always looking for people, especially in the communities Markieff grew up in.
- Vote in local elections: The people who decide on property taxes and school funding aren't the ones in Washington D.C.; they're the ones in your city hall.
The Markieff Morris education reform jersey was a signal in the noise of a very loud year. It reminded us that while the scores on the court matter for a night, the scores in the classroom matter for a lifetime.
Support your local schools by checking your district's upcoming budget proposal and seeing exactly where the funding for "at-risk" programs is being directed this year.