The Olympics is often touted as a celebration of unity and diversity. Athletes across the globe come together, and their differences seem to melt away under the banner of sportsmanship. On the other hand, the Olympics also serves as a mirror reflecting societal issues, most notably race. My father always said there are two instances when the world comes together in unity: the World Cup and the Olympics.
The sight of Black athletes dominating certain sports, like Texas’ very own Simon Biles, Sha’Carri Richardson, and Lebron James, along with others representing many Black nations, is enough to puff your chest with pride. Still, it’s hard to ignore America’s history against Black people. Waving that red, white, and blue flag in the air, knowing how hard it is to be Black in America and how deep-rooted the hatred and division is.
However, the journey of these athletes is often fraught with unique challenges. From disproportionate scrutiny and criticism to the weight of representing an entire community, the pressure on Black athletes is immense. And beyond the sporting arena, the broader societal context in which these athletes exist cannot be ignored. The persistent issue of racism, both overt and systemic, continues to cast a long shadow over the lives of Black people, including those who achieve athletic greatness.
Despite the negativity, Black people always find a way to take lemons and turn them into lemonade. They will walk into rooms unafraid and unashamed and wear their flags with pride because, at some point in our history, Black people weren’t allowed to play.
How can we forget two of the most iconic moments of American Olympic history are directly related to Black resiliency and liberation?
Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists while wearing black gloves during the 1968 Mexico City games, where they won both Gold and Bronze track medals, to protest racial injustice in the United States. Jesse Jones, the former Olympian and track and field athlete, won four gold medals at the Berlin Olympics in defiance of Adolf Hitler’s Aryan supremacy ideology. Now that the Paris Olympics are here, this is information that we can’t allow to go over our heads.
What are your thoughts on the role of race in the Olympics? Share your comments.
