So far, this year's American women's gymnastics team has been crushing it at the 2016 Rio Olympics. The "Final Five," as they call themselves, have proven themselves to be unbeatable competitors, and Simone Biles has even been dubbed the "World's Best Gymnast." What's also interesting is the diversity of the team: Simone Biles and Gabby Douglas are both African American, while Laurie Hernandez is of Puerto Rican descent. But if we're all "Team USA" during the Olympics, then why do the races of the "Final Five" matter so much?
Well, the "Final Five" are living, breathing proof that people of all ethnic backgrounds are capable of being the greatest in their respective fields. But while this may not be a revolutionary idea during the Olympics, it seems many people are unwilling to take this notion to its logical conclusion when applying it to everyday life back home. When confronted with the reality of the various daily institutional, economic and political challenges minorities face living in the United States, many of the same people that cheer "We are all Team USA" are the first to excuse away these inequalities.
Simone Biles is an African American woman and the best gymnast in the world. The five current world champions of women's gymnastics include three women of color. To many of us, this comes as no surprise. After all, talent and hard work are wholly separate from race. Yet when we try to address the disparities of race at home, it is rarely ever done without controversy.
When we try to repair university admissions policies that have created almost entirely-white institutions and excluded minorities for centuries, it's seen as "reverse racism". When political candidates discuss their race while trying to relate to voters, it's seen as "playing the race card". And when we question why our awards shows seem overwhelmingly white, it's called being "too PC."
Given the diversity of the United States, it seems obvious that the best group of anyone, whether it be scholars, politicians, or actors, would statistically include some percentage of minorities. And the "Final Five" have only gone on to validate this point. Yet I remain afraid knowing that after the Olympics end, the same sense of national identity that unified us for the past few weeks will quickly fade, and the pleas and demands of minority groups to have their issues be heard and acknowledged will again fall on the deaf ears of those who were so enthusiastically "all-in-this-together" just days before.
The "Final Five" may not have set out to make a statement with their Olympic participation. Yet their hard work, determination, and pure talent have made them into shining examples of perseverance, girl power, and yes, racial diversity.
