Serena, Naomi and the Importance of Black Women Reclaiming Their Voice On and Off the Field
Our voice.
The Throat Chakra.
Vishuddha in Sanskrit.
Represented by the element of sound, it is our voice, truth and how we speak and stand in it. We “exercise” our Throat Chakra when we express our values and beliefs. The rock upon which we stand or… the Root.
The vibration from our throat is vital, as it produces a sensation that travels through our internal landscape and strengthens our core of self.
A beat of confidence.
At the height of this vibration we are firm. When the vibration is low, we cower in it. Shy away from our voice and swallow our emotions. Pride in adverse. Snuff out the fire burning at the tip of our tongue ready blaze flames of freedom.
Sports, for the melanin strong, is just one of many avenues where the voices of Black folk are constantly and consistently snuffed. Though basketball and football are most highlighted, tennis is no different. Equality within the sport, as with every aspect of this country, a jagged melody. This exclusive listen party inclusive to folk on the opposite end of the color wheel with a separate VIP access marked XY.
The roads leading up to the US Open, came through high pitched and as more men continued to block the doors of the listening party, both Serena and Naomi continued to persist.
It began with Naomi’s interview at the Australian Open when she defeated Ashleigh Barty. It was quickly overshadowed by the omission of her Haitian heritage. Skipped over as if it were poop on the street. An asterisk for optional reading.
Fuck the fine print.
The dismissal of her Black skin so blatant, she skipped all the questions in her interview and made clear her Haitian-Japanese background. Topped it off noting she’s Floridian and not from New York, as if the island is only place anyone of Asian descendant lives.
Next, Serena’s ban from wearing her bodysuit at the French Open made airwaves, so much Nike (the creator of the suit) tweeted a political ad in response. A health-conscious wardrobe that, of course, made her feel like a superhero was deemed “over-the-top” compared to the mini skirts, sports bras, and one-shoulder tops of the 21st Century.
The irony.
It really is that gut-wrenching for a woman’s Blackness to be recognized?
Pushpin that answer.
Quick flashback to the FIFA Word Cup. Though France won, its success didn’t exonerate the country from racism and xenophobia. With 80% of their World Cup Team from Africa, it flashed floodlights on the love and hugs Black folk receive when we win for our countries and the quick ex-communication upon defeat.
Some sort of cognitive dissonance.
Our value hidden in the truth.
Third up in the timeline is Serena’s controversial “outburst” at the US Open. Picked up a sub-theme yet?
Even the sports-illiterate couldn’t help but see multiple clips of Serena defending her name on the court. Accused of receiving assistance from her coach. Penalized for an action no fault of her own, she finally spoke up for herself. Fed up from the decades of unequal treatment.
“If you work with a black woman, it’s likely she’s censoring herself most of the day. Everything from her hair, attire, tone of voice, hand gestures, accent, etc. is being internally policed. Most of us don’t get to be ourselves at work.” — Christiana Amarachi Mbakwe
I felt her anger.
Her elevated tone and index finger pointed straight at the umpire, represented the unspoken frustration of every Black woman, pushing the boundaries of excellence, labeled a fraud, cheat, or plagiarizer. Black women endure a constant struggle to maintain their individuality and authenticity. Ingrained in her that she must work twice as hard in a world which devalues both womanhood and Blackness.
Her anger was warranted.
Serena’s personal standards meant nothing to the umpire. Despite confirming she didn’t cheat, he continued to defame her throughout the match. The disrespected labeled “stern.” But was it really?
To him, maybe she was nothing but a brazen, colored girl going against a “newbie” in the field. Maybe he got tired of all that #blackgirlmagic and wanted her to suffer defeat. As if she’s never lost a tournament.
One can only surmise.
Regardless of the reason, Serena’s unfair treatment resulted in a $17,000 fine. Seemingly lightweight compared to the $89k she paid out in 2009, it is still far greater than many of her male counterparts who’ve assaulted umpires and received nothing.
So why Serena?
What makes her outburst different from the others?
Billie Jean King said it best:
“When a woman is emotional, she’s ‘hysterical’ and she’s penalized for it. When a man does the same, he’s ‘outspoken’ and there are no repercussions.”
Add in the “angry Black woman” stigma and it all seems warranted. But that’s the lie folk want you to believe.
Our voices are muzzled and dismissed at every corner. We’re charged, forced to perpetuate the “strong Black woman” stereotype. Stamped with the scarlet letter “W” for weak when we fall out of line, as if our #blackgirlmagic isn’t born through our emotion. As if we are the big, black buck that must yield to society’s proverbial whip.
Moreover, the viral cartoon of Serena’s caricature by Herald Sun’s Mark Knight continues the narrative of Black women’s emotions characterized as distorted masculinity, erratic, baseless, and rancid. Naomi’s white-washed character, made to appear soft and demure, only adds salt to the wound.
Because we’re not seen as women, particularly in male-dominated arenas, our voice is nothing more than garbled noise.
It’s time we bring clarity.
Turn up the volume.
Serena and Naomi represent a collective of Black and Brown women who use their voice to break the sound barriers of discrimination, dismissal, and outright disrespect. No different than Auntie Maxine reclaiming her time on the Senate floor and countless Black and Brown women speaking their truth upon firm ground.
These instances only scratch the surface of an uprising with Black and Brown women taking ownership and agency of their voice, as well as using it to rewrite the melodies that create glass ceilings.
