Perfection: The Pressure to Perform for Black Female Athletes-- A review of Misty Copeland's "Life in Motion"

There is nobody who faces more obstacles to success and who must prove more than the Black American woman. The first female in any space must be the best in the room to be allowed in the club (and even then she will always face bias and an often toxic work environment.) Add race in? The level for excellence and perfection climbs even higher. No wonder Black athletes are reclaiming their lives and taking rest! (Rest: The greatest form of Black resistance in a culture that squeezes every last ounce of productivity from Black Americans like modern day slaves to capitalism.) 

The following review does not actually discuss content from Life in Motion. This is me pulling upon current events and applying them to real themes shared by Copeland about her life in her book. I expand these themes to present them as patterns faced by Black female athletes in general. 

In every way, this book is a catalyst to talk about the pressures, bigotry, obstacles and hatred endured by Black female athletes. Serena is called angry, spoiled and worse. Biles is blasted for the smallest mistake. Olympic hammer thrower Gwyn Berry is called a nation traitor for protesting white supremacy. Osaka belittled for taking a wellness break. In the late 90's, French skater Surya Bonaly broke the color barrier. Perhaps the best at jumping in skating in the world,  she was called too muscular to be "graceful." The same was said of Misty Copeland, that she could never appear in Swan Lake, or be considered a true ballerina. That she was too fat, her breasts too big. Until she became undoubtedly the best dancer in the world. And that's what it takes. Perfection to the point of breaking. Even when the best in the world, Black female athletes are trashed in every media outlet around the world, from Russian news to FOX. 

We can list the unreal obstacles Black female athletes must overcome.  If you are a woman and a woman of color, especially, if you are not the very best in the room, you are dismissed outright. For Black people, there is an added pressure to be the best to overcome the often insurmountable stacked deck of racism and often poverty (a legacy dating all the way back to slavery.) 

 In order for the Williams sisters to be able to play tennis on public courts, their father was willing to risk his life. He went every day to stake out the court for his girls. Gang members wanted the court for their own sports practices and told him he could not have it. He refused to leave. He returned every day. They knocked his teeth out. He kept returning. FINALLY they relinquished the court, allowing the William sisters a place to practice. 

Both Simon Bile’s parents struggled with alcohol and drug addiction and she was raised by her grandparents. Sha'Carri Richardson was raised by her grandmother and aunt and found out about her biological mother’s death from a news story. Can you fathom? In addition to unbelievable family, economic and racial obstacles, female athletes must contend with massive body shaming, sexism, and sexual assault that their male counterparts do not contend with. Larry Nassar sexually assaulted over 250 female gymnasts. And then people wonder about mental health of athletes, black athletes in particular. 

Sports teams and media companies are typically owned by white people who profit off of Black athletes.  (Look at football, basketball.) THERE ARE ZERO NFL TEAMS OWNED BY AFRICAN AMERICANS. 13.5 percent of the US identifies as Black. Almost 70% in the NFL are Black. Full stop. 

Black athletes are rising up against exploitation. They are saying, enough. You make money off of us, enough. Misty Copeland is both Black and White. If she were dark, say, like Serena or Simon, would she be a ballerina in swan lake? Would she be promoted to the principle dancer of the best dance company in the world? Most likely not. 

Let's take a pivot and look at Michelle Obama. After the president's last day in office, Michelle burst into tears. She was so happy to be able to let it all down. The burden of being prefect. As a black lady every eye was on her. She could not take a single misstep. So, too, for Black athletes. If they take a knee. If they bow out of a meet or miss perfection, or their usual standard of excellence. 

There is zero forgiveness. Once media darling, the media and public immediately shames and decries the poor performance. Black athletes know this and so push their body and minds to breaking in order to maintain and keep opportunities they have fought  their whole lives to achieve. 

For those that claim Black athletes benefit from a race card? They've got it warped and backwards.   There IS a race card. It is if you are white and it has played out for centuries. Enough, say Black athletes. Enough. We are taking back our power. We will no longer be slaves to the media or the public. We will be our own master.