‘All black podium’

[BWPodium]

In Simone Bile’s interview she said ‘it’s an all black podium for the first time, which is super exciting’

Whats your thoughts on this? Is it ok / positive thing to say? Unneeded? etc

I understand this is a first for woman’s gymnastics and a few years ago the sport was built around what looked like under fed teenagers so brilliant for the sport that it’s opened up to other body types and therefore makes a positive however, what about sports like 100m sprint that has traditionally always been tall African builds, if by any miracle three white men were on the podium, would saying this be acceptable?

@C1N1C you've misunderstood then. The post you've quoted specifically says that differences are noticed. Not ignored so that you "don't see colour".

Notice, accept and celebrate diversity, not pretend that you don't see colour.

I've just been reading the comments on the ITV News Facebook page about this and it's running much like some of this thread 'why does skin colour come into it, skin colour isn't relevant' well yes it is, and saying that it isn't is just dismissing institutional racism with a wave of a hand.

Thank you @SilenceInside . @C1N1C what we are trying to get across to you is that noticing colour is fine ..to be encouraged in fact, since it is often central to the identity of a person that they have Black, African, Asian etc heritage that may come with a whole host of interesting cultural ideas, practices and so on. It is also relevant to notice colour if it indicates that an individual will quite probably have had to overcome additional barriers to achieve or succeed in X field. Reacting negatively towards a PoC because you've noticed their colour is the issue here. Can you not see that difference?

It's a fantastic recognition for the winners. Good luck to them and long may it continue, reaching a point where it no longer needs to be recognised as something out of the ordinary.

I’d go further and say that anybody saying it isn’t is very much part of the ingrained racism that’s backed up the way the world is for so long. Why would the most privileged groups in society feel the need to note the disadvantage faced by minority groups? 🙄

@BWPodium "There has to be more to it then this though as majority or US / UK runners are also black."

I just read that the lower GDP countries were more likely to have good runners than, for example, cyclists or archers, as running doesn't need such expensive kit as some other sports, at least in the early stages.

Nailed it in the first few posts.

Give over. You almost sound sad about it.

Well seems I put the cat amongst the pigeons with my 'rich podium' post. To be clear, I have no problem with Biles 'all black podium' comment, it is notable and progress. The fact remains though that (imo) money is the biggest obstacle to success (not just in sport) in every country and across the world. This isn't to say some people don't have additional hurdles as well as money. I also realise that some sort of utopia where everyone has an good chance at life has never existed and probably will never exist.

This is so true. The cultural influences.

When I used to teach the BTEC unit, Equality and Diversity, I would start with the diversity in the class so languages spoken / signed, clothing worn, skills etc.

One question that was fun was that I would ask anyone who washed meat before cooking it to stand up.

It wasn't always clear white / POC split but not far off, and this always led to a robust discussion of why some people do this, why other people don't, whether it was actually necessary, the dangers of spreading salmonella etc etc.

I think a lot of white people don't know much about the cultures within the UK and often they get things spectacularly wrong.

So we get well meaning people deciding everyone should try fasting in Ramadan to experience what their muslim colleagues / students / insert group here.

Jews fast, Christians fast, Hindus fast... I can't think of the top of my head of a faith group that doesn't fast or abstain at some points. I know Buddhists don't have to but many do.

Sorry I have just rattled on in teacher mode, I miss teaching this unit.

You're not fooling anyone OP.
Try harder with your 'genuine interest'.

Why is it that so many white people automatically interpret black people's celebrations as being anti white people?

As PP have pointed out, there are many, many reasons why this event was so unusual. We should all acknowledge this, and celebrate with Simone and her fellow black athletes, surely?

Oh, hang on, unless we white people want to deny the reasons why such a celebration is important?

(One point about relative costs of participation in different sports, and its impact on participation: to run, you need (apart from your clothing) a pair of good running shoes. Kelly Hopkinsons' shoes (that she wore to win the 800m) cost £214.99. The bikes used by the Japanese cycling team cost €126,555. Each. And that doesn't include 20% VAT if you were buying in the UK.)

Out of interest, which group washes meat and why/why not?

Andi Oliver references washing chicken in her recipe book The PepperPot - she says it's always done in the Caribbean.

Afro Caribbean people wash meat.

There are occasional threads about this, usually when there is a public health campaign telling you not to do it.

If you have been brought up believing this is the only hygienic way to eat meat, and not had food poisoning, then you aren't going to stop.

... but this is why you shouldn't

https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2019/08/20/washing-raw-poultry-our-science-your-choice