Lash Extensions 101: Faux And Fabulous
Happy Birthday, Mr. T!
Serena Williams has been listed as a headliner for this year's Australian Open. The problem is that it's not clear whether she'll be allowed to play.
Because of a recent outburst in which she threatened a line judge, Williams may be banned from at least one Grand Slam tournament. According to published reports, Williams told the judge, "You don't know me. You better be right. I swear to God I'm going to take this ball and shove it down your throat."Given that a ball going down your throat might actually kill you, the judge felt that Serena had threatened her life. Then again, Serena's from Compton, a California town that has become famous for finding creative ways to kill people. Serena does not, however, need to take "the hood" with her all the way to Australia.
To make matters more interesting, Serena recently got naked for the cover of ESPN magazine, certifying her status as an iconic and thought-provoking figure for the early 21st century. These two events, plus the fact that she just happens to be one of the most dominant female tennis players in history, makes her the kind of woman we'll all be talking about for the next 100 years.
Our great-grandkids won't be talking much about the boring apolitical figure called Michael Jordan. We'll congratulate Tiger Woods for being the first incredibly rich black man to consistently beat the crap out of the arrogant guys at the country club. Serena Williams' name, though, will come up in classes on feminist theory, history and sociology.
Like Muhammad Ali, Serena is becoming bigger than her sport, and my greatest hope is that her ability to transcend tennis is guided by a desire to serve all humanity, and not just herself. Her nude body on the cover of ESPN is her way of yelling to the world that she is more than a tennis player. I agree that she is.
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Serena Williams
BEIJING: Serena Williams of the USA hits a return to opponent Kala Kanepi of Estonia during day three of the 2009 China Open at the National Tennis Centre in Beijing, China.
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BlackVoices.com
Someone asked me if I think that race plays a role in the banning of Serena Williams. I say, absolutely, yes, but not in the way you may imagine. You see, race and racism permeate the fabric of our society and play a powerful role in our perceptions, actions and attitudes. Even things that appear to have nothing to do with race end up having everything to do with race.
Those who dislike Serena do not hate her for having black skin, they hate her for "acting black." The cultural norms and attitudes that Serena carries as a black woman are heavily influenced by her Compton upbringing. Serena's strong response to the official might be inappropriate to the majority of non-black Americans, but many African Americans might be more likely to understand or forgive her seemingly aggressive behavior. (My mama threatened to kill me quite a few times growing up.) This does not, in any way, imply that misbehaving is "a black thing," (we all saw John McEnroe) or that black people are more aggressive. It simply says that the method for handling disputes might vary across cultural lines.
Those who know nothing about Serena's background are not going to understand Serena and will thus disapprove of some of her behavior. Human nature dictates that we tend to dislike those who are different, which is why the officials end up hating Serena. Even before the incident took place, many officials had already found the behavior of the Williams sisters to be unacceptable, similar to the way a white school teacher from the suburbs is five times more likely to decide that a black male student has a behavioral disorder. The truth is that the world has never seen a woman like Serena Williams, and it probably never will again.
I congratulate Serena for her boldness and expression of independent thought. Simultaneously, I encourage her to show a bit more discipline on the court, since there is no need to "get gangsta" with a line judge. The woman made the best call she could, and threatening her only makes Serena look as petty, spoiled and inconsiderate as McEnroe.
That's not the Serena I, nor my grandkids, really want to remember.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Professor at Syracuse University, a leading black speaker and author of the forthcoming book, "Black American Money." To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.
Comments: (1292)
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By: DwightMann on 10/22/2009 9:52AM
Absolutly true. Just because the ball was out of bounds was no reason for the judge to make the call against her. Michael Vick is a mediocre QB, that should make him immune to the rules that civilized society lives by. Kenya West should be allowed to run his biggoted mouth without repercussions. We should treat all athletes as fairly as rev. al treated the Duke Lacross team, or twanna brawleys police friends.
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By: rick rustin on 10/22/2009 9:41AM
You are an unmitigated idiot, and as much the problem with this as she is. When you give approval to NEGATIVE behavior, and what she displayed was NEGATIVE, you further aggravate the real problem. Then, to imply, wrongly, that the judge was somehow the one at fault is ludicrous. You are even suggesting that she be allowed to have these animalistic outbursts and be pampered for doing so. Grow up!
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By: LaRoseOfSharon on 10/23/2009 3:18PM
I certainly agree with your comment. It is very obvious that the world has to deal with the white media's opinion or the white persons opinion most especially about high profile African American people in general, all of the time and what they believe is (the world is going to end) bad behavior. White people whine all the time about what they think is right. Just ignore negative opinions... I don't recall as much negative media hype or any form of banning with John McEnroe.... Could be because he's... a white man!
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By: jenmaster2 on 10/22/2009 3:09PM
from pro and even to the little league world series where i seen our kids pissed when they feel someone may have made a bad call. ITS SPORTS!!! its a competition. i know the new generations beleve everyone should go home with a trophy but theres only one #1 and thats ok. she did nothing wrong and one more note...if u watch the nfl and can read lips ouch all kinds of things are said to the refs from players to coaches and its not in the news hmmm.
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By: Bruce Jepsen on 10/22/2009 10:00AM
Are you seriuos when you say what ever the judge did to Serina she deserved it! either you did not see the confertation with the judge or you are very ignorant! what abuse was she taking? you need a reality check! Black, White, whatever color you
need to be held acountable for your actions!!!!
that is one of today's problems, it always someone else's fault.
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By: hav2 on 10/22/2009 10:04AM
I sure hope you people would learn proper english. The next thing you will be trying to get passed in our schools will be classes on your "dimwitt slang". If you can't express yourself the correct way stay off the board.
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By: NikonF2-AS on 10/22/2009 10:22AM
SHELLFISH789: You must
have been sent to the rear of the classroom for your total three years of school. You are an embarrassment to yourself. You are (dis)missed from this blog. Your thought process is thoroughly flawed. People of all colors enjoy watching athletics of all colors. True enthusiast of the sport, focus only on the players of the team they favor most. Not the pigment of their skin. I've played and watched golf for forty-eight years. The Golden Bear, Watson, Miller, and so many others. I've watched golfers from the 50's to present day. Fast-forward, presently, the golfer I follow most is a young man who goes by the name of Tiger Wood's. In my life time, I feel lucky to have watched this young man through his youth, and into manhood. Tiger has accomplished so much in such a short time its mind boggling. As I watch Tiger on tee off, on the fairway, on the green, I'm right there with him. My BP goes up, my pulse races, I'm right there with Tiger! The same for Michael J. and so many more. People of all colors hang on their ever move. When I talk of sports to the people I know, all colors, we both enjoy the excitement of the game all over again. I feel this is more the norm than not. Also, in reading your post, you weren't really knowledgeable of what took place on the judges call. It appears you and another numb-skull were just inflamed over the call against Serena, not over what actually happened. Its people like you and your friends who perpetuate this phenomenon. The media, if anything, magnifies their accomplishments, through repetition of reruns or sports talk shows. Attend your local Community Center, probably organized by our President Obama, and take some remedial classes. It'll do you good, I promise.
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By: spicemonkey on 10/22/2009 10:23AM
Why? Because it's quite likely to be true. Or are you one of the uninformed imbeciles who walks around professing that there is no racism anymore? The tennis world is one of the whitest, most racist clubs there is, full of the elite, no one matters but me, self-entitlement crowd. And, as for Max, the idiot that responded... let's just use him for an example of the racism that exists. Other than me, you got one response, and it's clearly based in bigotry. You're running 100% on racist responses so far. Still want to ask "why?" If so, read the responses to anything concerning blacks around here.
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By: Ken on 10/22/2009 10:27AM
You might try to rephrase your comment in english i haven't gotten around to studying my hooked on ebonics yet
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By: Harry B on 10/22/2009 10:35AM
Its afact that Blacks when achive aclaim are look at in a different manner. Serena case the punishment does not fit the crime. Her being FINE was enough, now just move forward. Remember they got got on Tiger Woods reading his lips after a bad shot. McEnroe did not get ban. Double standards. Com'on we all say something verbally wrong in anger, grow up adults. Thanks you shellfish for your comment.. to the point.
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