This past Olympic season has been filled with amazing athletes and unforgettable moments. One moment that will definitely not be lost in history is the moment Simone Manuel became the first African American female to win an Olympic gold medal in swimming. Of course this is not the first time that an African American woman has won big in the Olympics but the fact that it is swimming, which is usually not considered a “black sport” or an activity that African Americans usually engage in, makes it even more of an amazing accomplishment. “Black people can’t swim” and “Black girls don’t like to get their hair wet” are both on the long list of stereotypes that we all have heard from birth. Yet and still, Simone Manuel pushed through what was expected of her and pursued her dreams. Young African American girls watching Simone Manuel win gold on national television now know and understand that it is possible. I have a friend who is a swim coach for girls and boys ages 8-12. It is a predominantly black area and when they swim against other teams they usually have to go outside of the area to compete because there are not a lot of swim teams in the area. After watching Simone Manuel, all the girls came to swim practice that day with a certain glow and a proud feeling. Even though they did not win the gold, it felt like they were close and that is now something they can strive for because they have already seen it done. Never forget. They drained an entire swimming pool because Dorothy Dandridge stuck her toe in it. That is why Simone Manuel is so important. I cannot stress enough how important representation matters for the upcoming youth in the black community.

-She Is Melanated