The 2020 Summer Olympics: 5 Ways To Use Your Activism To Support Black Athletes
This Friday (July 23) welcomes the start of the 2020 Summer Olympic Games (postponed from last year because of the pandemic) in Tokyo. What should be a celebration in patriotic solidarity is actually the gut-wrenching reality of the new and institutionalized policies and procedures imposed by the Olympic committee that ultimately target, disqualify and demean Black athletes.
While we support these athletes in their efforts to medal and receive recognition for their prowess in various sports, Civil rights organization Color Of Change wants to provide you with clear and focused information to use activism to help those who may not be able to publicly stand up for themselves.
Black women athletes especially have been excelling in the Olympic pre-trials, despite continuous scrutiny. While these women shine, corporate Olympic leaders have been implementing policies and procedures that attack, exclude and punish them simply for being Black women. They banned swim caps designed for our hair types, forbid athletes from protesting for racial justice, and disqualified two Namibian sprinters because of their naturally high testosterone levels. These racist policies specifically exclude Black people from participating in the games and prevent us from showing up as our true, authentic selves.
The Olympics has had a long history of trying to silence Black athletes from standing up for our communities and calling out leaders for committing to their anti-Black standards. As these games begin, we want to put pressure on the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, the International Olympic Committee and other Olympic institutions to respect Black athletes in sports and beyond. Valuing and protecting Black lives is not a trend to exploit. It requires a serious commitment and sweeping actions within corporate institutions like the Olympics, to dismantle cultures and profit structures that prioritize profit over Black communities.
Here are five ways to help fight for Black Olympic athletes through individual and collective activism letting the world know we're doing things differently this time around.
Show Your Support For Black Women Athletes
Sha’Carri Richardson and Brianna Rollins-McNeal deserve their chance to run in the Tokyo Olympics. But the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has used its archaic and destructive “War on Drugs'' practices to suspend and demean both of these Black women athletes. Sign this petition and join Color of Change in demanding that these institutions revoke Richardson and Rollins-McNeal’s punishments, reinstate Richardson’s Trial win, and stop punishing athletes for marijuana use.
Tell The Olympics To Stop Trying To Silence Black Athletes
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is upholding its Rule 50 policy, which silences Black athletes from fighting for racial justice during the Summer Olympics. The policy limits athletes' ability to fully and openly protest the way they’d like to. Sign this Color of Change petition and join us in demanding the Olympics' corporate sponsors stand up and publicly demand an end to Rule 50.
Create Your Own Athletes and Activism Olympics Watch Party
Color Of Change is celebrating the history of Black athletes’ activism by acknowledging the power within their activism. This an opportunity to celebrate Black joy, have conversations around our issues and envision a path forward through community building, creating services and pushing for accountability. Create your own Athletes and Activism Olympics Watch Party event and honor the activism of our Black athletes.
Demand Companies Keep Their Sponsorships With Black Athlete Activists
Olympian, record holder, and Pan-American gold medalist Gwen Berry, was abandoned and scrutinized by her corporate sponsors after she raised her fist to protest racial injustice on the awards podium at the 2019 Pan-American Games. Where other corporations fell short, Puma has recently gone #BeyondTheStatement to take concrete actions to support Black athletes. Join us in calling on companies who sponsor the International Olympic Committee to step up, sponsor Gwen, and support her fight against Rule 50.
Demand Corporations Go Beyond the Statement
We need more than talk! We need corporations to speak out against the racial injustices and take steps within their own companies to address the restrictive and racist policies that harm Black communities. Please join us and learn more about how you can demand corporations to push for change!
The Olympic committee cannot silence our fight for racial justice. Please join us as we push these institutions to change their policies and stand up for Black athletes.
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Color Of Change is the nation’s largest online racial justice organization. We help people respond effectively to injustice in the world around us. As a national online force driven by over 7 million members, we move decision-makers in corporations and governments to create a more human and less hostile world for Black people in America. Visit www.colorofchange.org
