‘Mummy, why do all of the runners have black skin?’

[MoiraRoseIsMyQueen]

So, my 5-year-old has just asked this question while watching the 100m heats, and I’m struggling to answer! Does anyone have any advice on how to respond, without making generalisations or being racist? I am so sorry if I sound ignorant but I said ‘because people from Africa tend to be very good at running because of their genetics’ - and then thought that is probably not a good answer. Help!

It is not rude to acknowledge skin colour. People that want to appear woke claiming ‘not to see skin colour’ do more harm than good.

The ironic thing is that "not seeing" skin colour is considered extermely "unwoke" now. The trend in anti-racism is for people to acknowledge and be aware of differences.

It's not racist to acknowledge that genetics not only determine our physical appearance, but also play a key role in determining who is better than average at different activities, such as racing or endurance running.

It's genetics that mean most of the best runners are also black. There's nothing racist about recognising this as truth. The only problem would be suggesting that all black people are good at running, or saying that white or Asian people can't be good at running.

[quote MoiraRoseIsMyQueen]@CayrolBaaaskin yes I really don’t understand the aggression from some posters. He’s five for God’s sake, he’s not being racist - I was posting because I was doing my best not to be in my response to him![/quote]
He may not be being racist but at that age you should have already told him you don't ask questions regarding the colour of people's skin. Lots of people of different races, abilities and nationalities excel at different things.

I do hope you're preparing him for the paralympics..

I'm surprised a 5yr old is even watching the Olympics let alone noticing who is winning.

I'm surprised a 5yr old is even watching the Olympics let alone noticing who is winning.

My 4 and 6 year olds love it. They especially copying what they're doing. They set up a BMX track with cushions and have been going over it with scooters and balance bike.

I sat down to watch it and said to my 4 year old ‘DS, come and watch these really fast ladies running!’ And he said ‘but mummy they don’t look like ladies?’

I responded with ‘everyone’s body is different and these ladies are really fast and really strong and have worked really hard to be in this race - let’s see who wins!’

No idea if that was the right way to handle that comment, but seemed appropriate at the time 🤷🏻‍♀️

Yes, it is “un-woke” to disregard skin colour. Just as it is un-woke to reduce the accomplishments of some enormously talented athletes with diverse stories, challenges and life experiences down to generalisations about their genetics.

For 5yo

We are all made up of genes
Genes give you characteristics (like your brown curly hair - or whatever)
Some genes give you stronger muscles
Some genes make you taller
Some genes make you like certain foods
Some genes decide the colour of your skin, hair and eyes.
It just happens that you are more likely to have the genes that give you strong muscles if you also gave the genes that give you black skin.
Runners need these strong muscles
So there are more good runners with black skin than with other skin colours.
But anyone can have the genes for strong muscles. It’s just more likely for someone with black skin.

And most critically, race is not a “thing” as far as genes/DNA is concerned. A black person and a white person can very very easily and commonly share more DNA than two white people might share with each other. Race problems occur because some people are nasty - not as a result of people of different skin colours making people fundamentally different - as they are not different.

Honestly, if it's just about grit and dertmination why are there no 5 ft tall 100m finalists? Are short women just not determined enough?

To get to the 100m final you have to have lucked out with a lot of innate physical qualities that many people don't have. That doesn't mean you don't also have to have grit and determination on top of that, but no amount of determination will help you if you don't have the correct physique.

@MoiraRoseIsMyQueen

Also laughing at all the suggestions of saying ‘I don’t know’ - not an acceptable answer in our house

The truth is no-one knows for certain but there are lots of theories - then give some.

One of the truths is Olympians are unique in genetics and training ability - both mental and physical - which is linked to genetics.

Oh and if you really want to get into the opportunity to do a sport, socioeconomic and cultural factors dig out the film Cool Runnings. (It is PG) Yes it's about the winter Olympics but it makes the point how it is difficult for some people to do a sport for those reasons.

@Greenlittle

Yes, it is “un-woke” to disregard skin colour. Just as it is un-woke to reduce the accomplishments of some enormously talented athletes with diverse stories, challenges and life experiences down to generalisations about their genetics.

So how would you answer the 5 year old's question?

Every athlete at the Olympics is by definition talented and hard working, and many have faced significant challenges to get where they are. It's not racist for a five yo to notice that the runners were all black. As he gets older he will start to learn about difference, asking his question doesn't mean it's inevitable he'll end up a member of the BNP.

The biggest factor that explains someone being in the olympics is grit and determination. And that’s not down to genetics

Of course it isn't. Do you think if you'd trained every single day of your life for every minute possible, you'd have the slightest chance of beating Simone Biles at gymnastics? Or Katie Ledecky at swimming? Or Elaine Thompson-Herah at running?

@Geamhradh

"each country chooses its finest athletes"

Then point out it's rude to comment on the colour of people's skin. Do you live somewhere very racially homogeneous?

Jesus H Bananas, the child is 5, why would you want OP to confuse & shame them?

Also, it's no more rude to comment about the colour of a person's skin than it is their hair or eye colour. It's a descriptor, not an insult.

Of course it isn't. > not very clear. I meant of course grit and determination isn't the biggest factor.

I would simply say these are the best runners and everyone has different skin colour. And there are so many different skin shades and differences in physical features between the runners (spot the one with a big/small nose, long/short hair etc)
And xx (pick a runner you know something about) has an amazing story, would you like to see/hear about it?

@Rege

I’d have turned it around a bit and asked if she noticed all the gymnasts, swimmers, cycling, hockey teams etc etc were white and what did she think of that?

All the gymnasts are not white though are they? I haven’t watched anything from Tokyo but Simone biles, gabby Douglas are back and the Chinese gymnasts are awesome.

I'm surprised a 5yr old is even watching the Olympics let alone noticing who is winning.

I watched the Olympics when I was 5.

Though only years later did I understand about countries boycotting it.

Incidentally the Scandinavians aren't the only countries good at throwing they just like doing it. We use to have some very good javelin throwers.

Also not all good long distance runners are Kenyan. For the men there have been Algerians, Moroccans, Ethiopians and South Africans. Mo Farah's heritage is Somalian. (Also the Japanese are apparently good but like doing their own races so peak at the wring time for international events.) They do tend to have the same build.

The other thing going on is sort of selective specialisation/filtering.

For example in your teens you might be a very strong swimmer, but maybe not quite good enough to win a medal. If you run and or cycle anyway, and are happy to have a challenge, you might think about moving sideways to the triathlon where your strong swimming will help. You might become an excellent triathlete, but you'll have removed yourself from the pool (no pun intended) of competitive swimmers.

Or you might be a very good runner, but know you'll probably never win the 100 m, so specialise at longer distances — so you end up with a gold for 400 m, but don't come (say) 7th in the 100 m, which you might have done if you'd focussed your training there.

It just happens that you are more likely to have the genes that give you strong muscles if you also gave the genes that give you black skin.

That is really bad information.
There are physical differences between first peoples in all nations- some are shorter and strong, some tall and have endurance, some can survive cold or heat.
But this is not related to skin colour.
By lumping "good runner" characteristics to black people we homogenise people of colour and deepen differences.
Many first nation black people are short - slow on their feet, but are very strong.
Black people have ethnic diversity- that needs to be recognised.

@PolkadotsAndMoonbeams or you may decide to do a completely different sport entirely as there is more opportunities (money ) in it. There are a few rugby wingers who have been/are fast sprinters.

@JaniieJones ‘He may not be being racist but at that age you should have already told him you don't ask questions regarding the colour of people's skin.’
What?! Why on earth would you expect a child not to ask questions about skin colour?! It’s not racist to say ‘yes, that woman has black skin’, for example. And as for your paralympics comment - he will ask questions, of course he will, as he’s FIVE and that’s his way of making sense of the world. But he won’t be horrified or mean or rude - they are adult emotions, and adult behaviours, and little children learn them from the people around them. And he hasn’t learned them from us, so he will be interested and ask questions, and he’ll accept people’s differences, because that’s what we teach him.

It just happens that you are more likely to have the genes that give you strong muscles if you also gave the genes that give you black skin.

That is racial stereotyping.

You are saying that weight lifters and boxes who are all ethnicities, so all races including white, aren't strong.