Now that the Olympics are over, and done, and we are celebrating American athleticism at its finest, some disturbing conversations to me that don't employ common sense were reverberating from different mouths. The spectacular young lady Ms. Gabby Douglas became the first African American to become the individual all around champion in Gymnastics, and proudly America embraced her as they should because she is a spectacular individual full of positivity, passion for what she does, and embodies the spirit of perseverance to the max, as she is quite a lesson in the attitude of "Go out and get it if you want it." What she did took "Balls", "Intestinal Fortitude", "Courage", whatever you want to call it, she has it, and is truly someone who at this early stage in her life, should be looked up to for inspiration. What disturbed me were cries of people complaining and wondering just why we have to announce that she is the first African American to accomplish what she accomplished. Most people have good intentions in their minds because they want a world where that notation doesn't have to be stated, but it is truly a horse blinder statement of not malice, but ignorance. And it is in the ignorance that I have the problem with.
To be absolutely truthful, that is the ultimate utopian goal in our society which is to honor achievements based upon non color categories. A great portion of Americans are truly hoping for that wonderful day when all barriers have been broken, and no one sees race as a wall, but a bridge where people and what they accomplish becomes a referendum of the individual, and not a whole race of people whom the individual that accomplishes shares the yolk of. It's obvious as this is the 21st century, and no longer 1947 where Jackie Robinson had to endure major suffering to ensure that his race would have an opportunity. Many people argue that since there is now a Black president in office as of this writing that all is well in America, and we can now stop talking about race. That is absolutely the most ridiculous thing that I have ever heard, dangerous, and complete nonsense to anyone whose eyes are wide open. It would be nice, but it is not realistic of the America, and world that we live in. Yes there have been major steps forward, and yes there is a more rainbow like landscape of some aspects of America as it pertains to achievement and position, but there are still barriers to be broken, and still hurdles to be jumped, and over 300 years of systemic oppression and laws of the paper and mind will not be wiped out by just 48 years of a law preventing such acts. 48 years..That is not even half a lifetime, and many grandparents remember just what they couldn't and weren't permitted to do, and that pertains to North AND South of the Mason Dixon line.
Race has been the tricky fault line of America ever since people came to this land. Whether it be what happened to Native Americans, African Americans, Irish Immigrants, Chinese rail workers, or Japanese in Internment camps. Race is the big red blotch on the history of this country that we are still feeling the effects of, but Blacks have a special notch in that situation because of just how they ended up here, the brutality that it took to keep them from achieving anything, and the residual impact of broken families, and no sense of identity during the process. This is not whining. This is reality, and I challenge someone to put themselves and their families through those things willingly for generations and have a better outcome..Not gonna happen, so with that information, of course there will be extraordinary individuals who rise to the surface, and achieve, but those incidents will be slow and steady. Just imagine if those brilliant folks like Benjamin Banneker, or Frederick Douglass had been given the equal tools of achievement..
So as we trample into the 21st century, yes we still have things that have not been achieved. So when Ms. Gabby Douglas does something that hasn't been achieved by someone of her race, it is equivalent of making a note of reference such as the first woman in space, or someone who might be a first Hispanic head of neurology in a hospital, and the list goes on and on. The fact is that there were systematic limitations. Now there are not, so when the first of something happens, it is our duty to remind ourselves not only how far we have come, but how far we still have to go. Someone has to be the first to do something. As it pertains to race, yes there will be more. We are all Americans, but let's not have selective memory, and forget that we were all not treated equally. I know that people either mean well in their attempts to "De Race-ify" events, or they are sick of hearing about race, and want it to go away under some ignorance cloak that if they just don't say anything everyone will be considered equal. Not going to happen. The playing field is full now, but some people just within a lifetime have just recently seen what the ball even looks like.
Do I sound angry? I am at the ignorance of people whether it be unintentional or not. Race issues have not left this country. We have not given race problems walking papers, and now it is looking for another job in another country. Race problems and the accompanying uneasiness, and rip in the American fabric that were created over 300 years ago in this country still exist. Is it better? Yes absolutely! Is it over? You take a look, and ask yourself the hard question, and if you live in a fantasy world, your answer will be much different than if you live in the world of reality. And in that world of reality lives Gabby Douglas and her achievement. And in that world of reality she deserves to be recognized as an American, AND as an African American. That is truth, and often America dodges the truth like it is playing "Hide and Seek". The real world is where America needs to be, and in America's real world Gabby needs to be honored as a person, a Gymnast, an American, and an African American. Why? Because we all still have work to do, and things to achieve. Because of her, there is now one less. Because of her, we are just a little closer to the true idea of America.
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