Oxford Dictionary defines bigotry as prejudice against a person or people on the basis of their membership of a particular group, otherwise known as racism.
This widespread contagion has infected the minds of many, and although there has been progress since those “good ol’ days”, it will take years to ensure that skin color doesn’t affect perception. One big field where this is noticed frequently is the sports industry. Recently, in the Euro 2020 football final, Bukoyo Saka, Marcus Rashford, and Jadon Sancho – all people of color – accidentally missed their penalty kicks. After the game, and not a second later, social media was bombarded with racist abuse.
People make mistakes, and believe it or not, they’re also human. Missing a penalty does not and will not ever justify racial abuse. Even though I’m not the best judge for sports, I bet that there were white players who weren’t called out as much for such mistakes. Skin color has no impact on missing a penalty kick. Everyone makes mistakes. Read that again and see how bizarre it is.
After Rashford’s mural was defaced, people got together to cover it up and post loving messages. On the topic of international sports, Soul Cap, a swim cap specifically designed to accommodate afro hair has been banned from the Olympics. The reason, “It didn’t fit the natural form of the head” and to their “best knowledge,” athletes competing at the international events never used, neither require caps of such size and configuration.
These swimming caps were made to fit and protect dreadlocks, afros, and curly hair. Personally, I know the hassle to fit thick long hair into a normal-sized swim cap, only to have it slide off after 2 minutes. This could be the sole reason that black girls decide to quit swimming; hair!
Tony Cronin, a 22 year old black swimming coach, quotes “it shows misunderstanding and ignorance. While wearing a small swim cap, you have to make sure you have your hair braided so it can actually fit. Then you worry about getting your hair wet because you'll have to go clean it, condition it, comb it out. It's like a full-time job. So, to see Soul Cap come out with a hat that actually helps us, but then to be told: 'Yeah, we don't want you to use them,' it's just terrible."
These caps, specifically made for black people and people with voluminous or curly hair, were banned by FINA, Fédération internationale de natation, translated as the International Swimming Federation. One can easily point out racial bias in this decision. Although this decision was pulled back for review, the ban hasn’t been lifted.
The topic of racism and bias and even misogyny in the sports industry can cover numerous more stories. Discrimination, sexual assault, sexual harassment, racial bias, unequal treatment, toxic stereotypes, homophobia, and the list goes on. Change must occur for the minority to take part in these industries. It can’t go on like this.
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Cover Photo by Fitsum Admasu on Unsplash