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| Gabby Douglas |
I’ve been pretty much out of the hair news with school and work taking up most of my time. I can tell you the latest on the presidential campaign front but have been out of touch with much else. This Gabby Douglas superstar who has graced us with a Gold Medal should be a happy story but unlike the news swirling around the white girl winners, the story around Gabby is mostly attacks on her hair.
Just look at some comments made on Twitter about it.
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Are they for real? I mean, I can’t stop hearing about the white swimmers or gymnasts or …whatever sport they are playing and it’s all GOOD PRESS. I mean they are praising these women for their athletic abilities and saying how wonderful they are and when we get to Gabby our very own selves are criticising her HAIR?!?! Have any of these women competed in anything? I ran track a million years ago and let me tell you…your hair gets jacked up! I can’t imagine all the flips, tumbles and jumps would do to one’s hair so all of the girls gel their hair. Gabby can’t because she’s black? Give me and Gabby a damned break!
This young lady has done something that most of us could only dream of before she’s even turned 17 and we can’t find it in our heart and minds to lift her up and give her praise for it? She’s young, beautiful, talented and black. Why all the hate? I’m stunned that as black women we can find anything to verbally assault someone. I thought it was just talk about negative people like the fools on Basketball wives but I see it can be anyone…
Now, I know the majority of black women don’t feel this way and are proud of and for Gabby and her accomplishments before and during the Olympics. I know there are small minded people out there but when I see on the news (not even Olympic news but regular Denver news) praise that those white winners receive, I just wonder why our black winners have to have negativity swirling around them. She’s a 16 year old girl who has done more in her life than most and has feelings just like the rest of us. Does she need this bad press when she’s representing our country in London? I don’t think so.
She’s got good supporters on twitter as well and I am glad to see it but the sting of the negative is painful. Hair is a big topic in our culture and I understand that. It doesn’t have to be everything and what one finds ugly may be sheer beauty to someone else. How she choose to wear her hair is her right. Respect it. That’s all we should be doing.
Let’s not be petty Naturals,
Sabrina
AMEN Sista! I know I could not do even HALF of what this young woman has done. But then again, I also competed in track as a youngster and the LAST thing on your mind when you are trying to excel at a sport is what your damned hair looks like. If your hair is on your mind, then you aren't focusing on what is important.
Another example of us being our own worst enemies and tearing someone down rather than lifting them up.
You hit the nail on the head. We really need to stop being so mean and tearing one another down and for the stupidest reasons!!!
Exactly! She's an Olympic gold medalist for crying out loud! Why is it so hard for us to uplift and be proud of our own? This girl has accomplished a great feat for her race and her country and all people can think about is her hair. Really? Get a life people.
CONGRATS, GABBY! JOB WELL DONE!
She is so talented and this whole nonsense about her hair is the petty. Thanks for sharing.
I never even noticed her hair, only her poise and grace.
Exactly. Why was that even an issue?!?!
I was also in track and field. I got a scholarship for college and was nationally ranked in high school and college. Hello! Her hair shouldn't even be in debate! She's talented and gifted. Why can't people just be happy for her?
You couldn't have been more right.