I am in awe of these black women: Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles – women who have stepped forward courageously to act on their own behalf, authentically, confidently, and in full possession of themselves.
I’ve watched Simone performing at the highest levels of her sport for several years. I have appreciated her strength, her energy, her exuberance from the first. I have just recently followed the career of Naomi Osaka. I am always hyper-conscious of the struggle black people face not only in America – but especially in America – when they aspire to participate in fields where they have not participated (or have not been allowed to participate) before.
In the 1970s, my oldest son, a strong swimmer who learned to swim before he was 2 years old in Cape Cod, asked if he could join a swim team. We had moved to Atlanta Georgia, so I had to look around to find a swim team. I was referred to a team in our community where all the swimmers were black. The coach, who was also from a northern state, explained to me that he had attended the state competition a few years back and noted that there was not a single African American competing. He was bold enough to ask one of the officials why that was the case, when there were so many African-Americans living in Georgia. One of the officials told him that that was because black people didn’t have the physical build to compete in swim competitions at the state level. Coach Gordon had pulled together a team and was training them to compete, not only at state level, but at national and international competitions. My son joined that team.
When I first watched the Olympic Games on television, there were no black gymnasts competing. The same was true for tennis – I remember when Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe first competed at national levels. It had been alleged that black people were not built for tennis either. The Williams sisters finally laid that lie to rest! The truth is that, here in America, Black people had long been excluded from pools, tennis courts and golf courses. The problem was lack of opportunity rather than lack of ability.
For over 60 years, I have witnessed African American people – men and women – breaking racist barrier after barrier. We have demonstrated again and again that barriers of every kind are to be challenged, defied, demolished. Many have risked their lives to explore and develop their God given gifts – in spite of the zero sum thinking of so many white Americans.
Both Simone and Naomi have knocked aside racist barriers in their fields: Simone, as a decorated Gymnast and Naomi as a Tennis phenom. Now they have both challenged a barrier to self – determination – the attempt of Sports and Media. Megaliths to own their champions – body, mind, and soul – as if they were mere commodities, rather than human beings. So often, our black athletes feel they have to prove themselves, bowing to the “powers that be” because it’s been such a struggle to achieve and excel. The same is often true for women!
We have watched these two stars set an example – not just for African Americans or women – but for young people – especially those who develop their gifts to such extraordinary levels. They have stepped forward boldly – and demanded RESPECT for themselves, their mental health and their humanity. They refused to be forced to perform like puppets. Instead, they have made decisions based on their needs as whole people – not just athletes.
Much RESPECT and admiration, Sisters!