The only reason Gabby Douglas got heat from the public for not placing her hand on her chest during the National Anthem is because she’s black.
That’s it.
Ryan Lochte and three other swimmers made a mockery of the United States by falsifying a claim that they got robbed, saying that a gun was to put to his head (and that his response was “whatever"). His lie and their actions were defended by Mario Andrada, a Rio 2016 spokesperson. He said, “Let’s give these kids a break.” Lochte, the oldest in the group of four swimmers, is 32. The youngest, Gunnar Bentz, is 20. We have Hope Solo, the goalie of Team USA, calling the Swedish team she and the Americans lost to “cowards,” as well as prior domestic violence charges.
But Gabby Douglas doesn’t place her hand over her chest and stop the presses, she is a disgrace to the United States on the world’s biggest stage. According to some of the public, she's a spoiled brat, should be thrown off the USA team, disrespectful, and looked bored.
The man standing with his eyes closed in the picture below is Ryan Crouser, the 2016 Rio gold medalist for men’s shotput. He’s 23 and set an Olympic record in the event. He didn’t put his hand on his chest when the national anthem played, and neither did Joe Kovacs, the silver medalist in the same event, also an American.
Where’s the outrage?
I searched “Ryan Crouser national anthem” on Twitter, which is basically a breeding ground for anger and ignorance. Nothing. The only results were people calling out the double standards, and before I hear “we didn’t see it,” know that his throw and medal ceremony were aired on NBC’s primetime coverage of the Olympics. I saw it. I’m sure other people saw it as well. So, I ask again.
Where’s the outrage?
When Gabby Douglas won two gold medals in the 2012 London Olympics, one for team and one for the all-around, she faced public backlash for her hair. It looked "unkempt" apparently. People forgot the fact that she was performing at the Olympics, not a pageant. Why should her hair matter when she’s winning for our country? Yet that victory was not enough. Four years ago, she faced scrutiny for what was essentially nothing. People grasped at straws. This year, she faced scrutiny, once again, for nothing. If the public is going to be outraged over the most minute things, they should at least make sure that outrage is equally and fairly distributed.
Why is it that black women in this country are constantly policed and under fire for the most insignificant things? Nothing is ever good enough.
Simone Biles comes to the Olympics as the favorite for five gold medals. She wins four. Most, if not all, of the coverage I heard about her talks about the bronze. The bronze this, the bronze that. How she should have won five gold medals, etc. She literally solidified her status as the greatest gymnast of all time during these Games and that's ignored because she's a black woman.
I don’t need to say anything about Serena and Venus Williams. If you want to see for yourself, go on a YouTube video with footage of them and read the comments.
Why aren’t they given the basic privilege of being treated like humans with feelings? Because they are black women living in a society that has done everything to keep them down. Even when they rise, something, someone, has to pull them down.
