AIBU to say that the racism against the Williams sisters never goes away

[derxa]

www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/11174583/Calling-Serena-Williams-scary-isnt-just-sexist-its-racist-too.html

Just that. I think they're fantastic sportswomen and every commentary on every game seems to make out that they are the bogey man/woman fighting against the delicate flower on the other side of the net.

stareatthetvscreen

having seen them play at the very beginning of their careers at wimbledon i can say they are veryintimidating.thesweet nice polite sisters you see interviewed on tv always makes mesmile.alsotheir entourage/family are v v loud and have a huge extremely noticeable presence atwimbledon.thesisters don't really fit with the british style of sportsmanship

I really suggest that you read your post again and see whether you recognise the type of coded language that strongly implies the Williams sisters are very non U because they are in the wrong place, don't fit in, don't know how to behave, need to do a bit more to fit in, be meek, grateful they are allowed in to the hallowed grounds of Wimbledon. Intimidating is the most unsubtle way of saying threatening. I'm sure Sharapova, Federer, Nadal etc al are as dangerous on a court, but no one seems in fear of their physical and emotional safety from hanging around with them.

BTW I have heard lots of racist comments around wimbledon. My first letter to the BBC was actually was in relation to a shitty American commentator who blatantly did not like the idea of black people in this sport.

stareatthetvscreen
they are veryintimidating

alsotheir entourage/family are v v loud and have a huge extremely noticeable presence atwimbledon.

thesisters don't really fit with the british style of sportsmanship

but i have never heard or seen anything remotely racist at wimbledon.

Newsflash
Tennis especially tennis at wimbledon (and cricket and rugby) is a bastion of white upper middle class privilege.

If an outsider plays the game and beats the incumbents and then aspires to and successfully pulls off becoming part of the establishment they are feted. If they choose to maintain their identity like Andy Murray or the Williams then they are vilified whenever possible. I sit in disgust every time Andy plays as I remember the difference in attitude when it was Tim Henman not quite making it. Greg Rusedski had less prejudice to put up with despite being foreign, I presume, as he was always second best and suitably subservient.

Just like women in most workplaces really.

I think the Williams sisters are fantastic role models as women and as sports people. They go on court and expect to win or be beaten on merit every time. They compete as sisters and yet have very different styles and personalities and don't close ranks. They are proud of their physiques which allow them to bring such awesome power. They are not afraid to go after what they want and they are also not afraid to make tennis fit around their life rather than the other way round. I am not surprised the establishment are afraid of them. They should be and we need more women like them of all colours and classes in sport and more mundane careers.

The rant that spewed from Serena's mouth back in `09, removed my respect for her.
On the other hand, her sister is someone l'd want my daughter to look up to.

It's not racist, but it IS sexist. People are also getting bored with Serena winning everything, just like we all got a bit bored with Bjorn Borg, so they're saying slightly unkind things. But female athletes have to have strong bodies to be able to get to the top, and that strong, muscled physique is not considered 'ladylike'.

She was criticised for doing a so-called crip walk after winning a match.
www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/06/crip-walk-dance-serena-williams_n_1747593.html

YANBU OP. The racism is insidious but constant. Oh and a bit lot of sexism thrown in for good measure.

howabout's post is spot on unfortunately

I think they both are amazing!

however, they are transgressive in many ways and that tends to attract hostility or sanctions from others, in particular those who have a vested interest in the status quo.

Such overt physical prowess in women is often met with disapproval.

Physical strength often seen as is a male domain, a way for men to get some sense of masculinity. If women start owning those attributes then it no longer has the same masculine status.
Then what will the men do to feel like men?
Poor dears

?
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I think they're both amazing but will sadly face racism and sexism til the day they die. I think they're even more amazing for overcoming that.

Totally agree. I saw comments on the Daily Mail website under an article about Wimbledon calling them 'men' and 'the Williams brothers'. I think this is racist as well as sexist: they are strong black women, and some people obviously feel threatened enough by that to need to dismiss them as not 'real' women.

If I was facing either of them on the tennis court, yep, I'd be scared.
But generally, just looking at them I'd be awed by their amazing bodies. They're stunning, the pair of them. Strong, but still feminine. In what world does being athletic make you mannish? Don't get the racist thing though?

Black people are often described in animalistic terms as a way to dehumanise and other them. The 'scary' black person is a well worn racist trope used to paint people as uncultured savages. It should have died out long ago.

I am always amazed at the lengths people will go to in order to ignore and minimise racism.

The "they just overpower their opponents with brute force" stuff is pretty clearly about race.

Serena is genuinely very muscular for a female tennis player - but Venus is not, she's very similarly proportioned and sized to other female tennis players who are described as though they are delicate little flowers in comparison.

Well be prepared for a lot of shit comments today since Serena is playing Heather Watson. (British No 1) I think Heather is mixed race though and is not as beloved as Laura Robson the British No 2.

i stand by what i said becles - they just don't really have very pleasant personalities.the tv interview personnas are v fake.

nothing to do with race imo.

OP. It doesn't, but then (as was said upthread) Tennis is a game that the white middle classes would probably rather have for themselves. I'm always pleased when black or mixed race sportsmen (and women) break through in white dominated sports it's boring dominating athletics

I was especially pleased to see the Williams sisters, Lewis Hamilton and Tiger Woods rise to the top of the sports. Some people will always have a problem with it. The best thing is for black sports stars to keep on winning.

The West Indies cricket team need sorting though - so it's not all good news I'd have them bought to Kingston and shot

There is definitely a lot of subtle racism .
The Williams sisters are aware of this.
However, the best revenge is to be the best at what you do and Serena Williams is the best.

i stand by what i said becles - they just don't really have very pleasant personalities.the tv interview personnas are v fake.

Do you know them? Or have z friend/acquaintance that knows them well? If not how can you state that their true personalities are unpleasant and they hide them for the cameras?

Totally agree with Capricorn's post

Stare- I have watched several interviews with the girls and they are genuinely nice normal girls; despite their success.
Next , you will say that they are 'aggressive '

yanbu. The sheer amount of racism and sexism directed towards them is astonishing. I don't understand the vitriol. They are strong black talented women. I don't care wrt some previous posters comments about losing respect for them because they swore or danced or whatever.
More power to them imo!

Btw- Howabout's post is correct

As an addendum, it's the same sort of shit Lewis Hamilton goes through. He's constantly criticised for being too 'bling bling' but no-one takes issue with the extravagance his contemporaries display. If he wants to wear earrings and a gold chain, so what!? Let him be.

Malice
I live in a house where we all watch a huge amount of sport. (I agree about the West Indies cricket team btw They seem to be pathetic). I think the thing that annoys people about the Williams sisters is that they are completely serious about what they do on court.
stareatthetvscreen I'm sure that Serena isn't very 'naice' but she is a sportswoman not a social worker. She can speak French though.