Fox Again Injects Racism Into Olympics By Attacking Serena Williams
Fox Sports over the weekend injected a disgusting racist commentary into the London 2012 Olympic Games by attacking tennis gold-medal winner Serena Williams. Fox News on Friday had attacked gymnastics great Gabby Douglas for her supposed lack of patriotism.
“She was in the city of kings and queens. People were sipping champagne and eating strawberries and cream. And Serena Williams had just ascended to the throne of tennis, becoming the second woman after Steffi Graf to win all four Grand Slam titles and an Olympic gold in singles,” Fox Sports’ Reid Forgrave wrote, although he claimed he didn’t want to “let her tone of celebration overshadow a stunning performance on this Wimbledon grass that’s been so good to her.”
Then the 30-year-old who will end her career as one of the greatest tennis players of all time did something that could be interpreted two ways: As a stupid and insensitive celebration that dampened the crowning moment, or as a joy-filled nod to her roots.
The woman who grew up in Compton did the Crip Walk.
For the uninitiated, the Crip Walk is a funky little hip-hop dance move made famous by Crip gang members in Compton in the 1970s.
And there was Serena — the tennis legend, the winner of 14 individual Grand Slams, the best player of her generation, the American girl being crowned at the All-England Club as the queen of tennis — Crip-Walking all over the most lily-white place in the world.
…
You couldn’t help but shake your head. It was as if Serena just couldn’t seem to avoid dipping into waters of controversy even as she’d ascended to the top of her sport.
The article appeared all over the Fox network, and noticeably, Fox changed the headline several times.
On Fox Sports it was “SERENA FLUBS CROWNING MOMENT.”
On Fox Nation it was “Serena Does The ‘Crip Walk’,” which was then changed to “Serena Williams Dances in Russian’s Face.”
Of course, many were outraged, and took to Twitter to express their concerns.
[View the story “Fox Sports Injects Racism Into Olympics” on Storify]
Fox Sports Injects Racism Into Olympics
Storified by David Badash · Mon, Aug 06 2012 12:18:15
Hat-tip: Uggabugga
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