What do the Williams sisters have to do with that?
They have been trashed, lately, with vitriolic comments being made about everything from their features to their complexion — by fellow blacks on black-run blogs. What gives? These girls are legends.
It used to be sacrilege to speak ill of black legends, but now, sadly, it’s commonplace.
What’s the difference between Muhammad Ali, Jackie Robinson, Thurgood Marshall, Sidney Poitier, etc., and Serena and Venus Williams? They’re all barrier-busting blacks, right? The former group are still respected as legends to this day, but the latter two are called everything from men in dresses to baboons, again, by other blacks. Appalling!
Serena is the only black woman to win three major singles titles in a year, she was the first black woman to win the US open, at 17, the only black woman to win a career slam (all four majors), she leads in the most aces served …
Venus Williams holds the record for the fastest serve (129 mph) in women’s tennis, she’s a five-time Wimbledon winner, on the list of most aces served, part of first black sisters doubles champion team …
And the list goes on for the both of them. So to level such undeserved harsh judgment at them is unconscionable. They don’t need us calling them things equivalent to the N-word — they get their fair share of that elsewhere.
Does that speak to just how shallow we’re becoming as pseudo-accepted African Americans? Should we be joining the chorus of detractors against our race in calling our own the very names that hurt us in earlier days? Of course not.
Respect those that are still kicking down doors on our behalf, as these sisters are doing. While many of us are beset by complacency, there are still those that are being the best they can be, making sure we’re viewed as a dynamic race with more to offer than sagging pants, rapping and tattoos.
