Sha’Carri Richardson Is an Unapologetic Black Woman

By Bernard Turk On Jul 16, 2021

She’s fast. She’s confident. She’s bold. She’s audacious. She’s a woman. She’s Black. That’s what I love about Sha’Carri Richardson, who has been on the path to becoming one of the most dominant sprinters in the world for years. She became an overnight sensation on June 19 after winning the 100-meter dash at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials, and then just as swiftly, she was put on a one-month suspension and was no longer able to compete in the Olympics after testing positive for marijuana.

During the Olympic Trials, I had no doubt that Richardson was going to win the 100-meter finals—it was just a matter of by how much. When I watched her fly through the finish line in 10.86 seconds, with beautiful form, I was in awe. It wasn’t because she made it look effortless, but it was because I saw how unapologetic Richardson is about the way she moves through the world. And as a Black woman, that moment meant the world to me.

Richardson shows up to every competition as her authentic self. She’s listening to music and having fun in the warm-up area. She engages with the crowd as the announcers introduce her. She enjoys the spotlight and she enjoys putting on a show. And when the gun goes off, there’s no doubt you’re going to experience one of the most exciting 10 seconds of your life.

But it goes further than that. Beyond the track, she’s not afraid to correct reporters during interviews when they mispronounce her name (it’s sha-KAIR-ee for those wondering). She’s not afraid to celebrate her success. That’s what I want the world to see when they look at her, when they talk about her, and when they write about her. Yes, I want them to applaud her for being one of the fastest women ever, but it can’t stop there. I want people to celebrate her as a Black woman—and what that means in its entirety—versus simply lauding the palatable parts of her that make white people comfortable and that are “marketable.”

I want people to celebrate Richardson for not succumbing to society’s idea of who she should be and how she should present herself. I want people to celebrate her for standing up for herself. For demanding respect. For celebrating herself and her accomplishments. For her humility and joy. For her authenticity and her flaws. Because as Black women, rarely are we afforded the opportunity to be our authentic selves, let alone celebrate our wins, without it being misconstrued or used against us, especially in our place of work.

Take the racism and sexism Serena and Venus Williams have always been subjected to because they are Black and better than their white counterparts. Or Naomi Osaka, who was fined $15,000 in May because she chose her mental health and well-being over press obligations at the French Open. This led to the heads of all four Grand Slam tournaments signing and issuing a public statement warning Osaka that she could face suspension and harsher penalties if she continued to forgo speaking with the media.

Christine Mboma and Beatrice Masilingi, two of the best 400-meter runners in the world, have been ruled ineligible to compete in the 400m at the Tokyo Olympics due to their naturally high testosterone levels. The same rule has prevented Caster Semenya, a two-time Olympic champion, from defending her 800-meter Olympic title in Tokyo and competing in any event ranging from the 400m to the mile at top meets unless she takes medication or undergoes surgery to lower her natural testosterone levels. In June, the international swimming federation (FINA) banned swim caps designed for natural Black hair, created by Soul Cap, from the Olympics.

And now, Richardson.

I’ve never met Richardson, but if our paths were to cross, I’d give her the biggest hug. I’d tell her how proud I am of her. How much she means to little Black girls and Black women. By showing up as her authentic self and taking up space in a society that devalues Black women, she’s breaking barriers and she’s showing us that it’s okay to do the same in our worlds. I’m not quite sure if she’s aware of the impact she’s made in both sport and society, but that’s what makes her iconic to me—not just her speed.

If this is Richardson at 21 years old, I can’t wait to see how she continues to grow into “that girl” and how much more confident and outspoken she’ll become. I can’t wait to see her annihilate records. And I can’t wait to see what the future holds for her on and off the track.

To see the grace with which Richardson has carried herself over the past month—showing up on the biggest stage of her life after finding out about her biological mother’s passing, and then showcasing incredible humility and accountability for the fact that she isn’t without flaws—has been nothing short of beautiful. That’s why I’ll always support her, now and forever.

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