Black Olympians have a heavy cross to bear. They have to meet the highest physical standards of Black excellence, but also have to deal with the mental duress of dealing with white fans and sports commentators hating on them and pointing out every flaw or weakness!
But there’s a third layer that made this year even worse for many of them.
While white Olympians can get away with sexual assault or bragging about drug use, Black Olympians like Christine Mboma, Beatrice Masilingi, and Sha’Carri Richardson are penalized for natural hormone levels or the harmless use of cannabis.
As if Black bodies weren’t scrutinized enough, the Tokyo Olympics also disrespected Black hair. While Olympic swimmers donned an array of swimming caps, ONE brand was banned: Soul Cap, created for Black hair, was banned for not fitting “natural” head shapes!
Olympians were barred from apparel or signs mentioning Black Lives Matter or any other type of pro-Black representation, yet the Olympic committee was still happy to reap the benefits of having Black athletes compete. The message? “Shut up and play.”
As more Black athletes openly discuss the mental health of the enormous pressures they face, it is important for us to remember that our health and well-being is our first responsibility. We cannot expect those benefiting from our Black bodies to care – so we must!