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| Two-Time Olympic Gold Medal Gymnast Gabrielle "Gabby" Douglas |
Seriously?
Some social media sites and blogs went HAM over Gabby's hair. And you know we were all up in it.
Really, Latisha? This is what you had to add to the discussion? I'm all for different opinions, but sometimes folks really need to shut the hell up! Now folks -- sites like Gawker and other mainstream sites -- are zeroing in on the supposed criticism, making news about an "issue" that really isn't worth reporting.
How superficial -- and stupid -- is this conversation about Gabby's hair?
Hair over Olympic Medal?
Latisha isn't alone. A caller on V-103 in Atlanta on Friday essentially said the same thing, referring to Gabby's hair in a number of derogatory ways, which I won't go into specifics here. But know that essentially, she said Gabby isn't representing for the race because her hair looks a hot mess. To his credit, radio host Frank Ski went in on the caller, calling her a "slave" for her opinions and focusing on hair.
Let's focus on the facts, not the hair: Gabby Douglas is the first African American to win a gold meal in the women's Olympics all-around gymnastics competition. On Tuesday, she picked up her first gold medal, leading the USA gymnastics team to its first medal since 1996.
How Many Olympic Medals Do You Have?
"Hot mess" is up to interpretation. I wonder how our hair would look if we were going for the Gold. I sure know mine would be sweated out, all over my head. Gabby's hair is fine -- gathered into a ponytail, like many of her other teammates. Get a workout regimen like Gabby's and let me see how your hair looks? I dare you.
Why are we even talking about this? Reportedly, Gabby is relaxed and uses gel and a weave ponytail to keep her hair in place during her high-energy routines. Umm... What should Gabby have said, as she was training, that she doesn't want to compete too hard because her hair might get messed up?
I Give Up! The Problem is "Us"
Please! Folks criticizing obviously don't know too many world-class athletes, who don't let trivial things like appearance get into their way. They focus on the Gold, not their hair. I am so done. Let's look at who the real "enemy" is: The "fight" about wearing our natural hair, for the most part, isn't being waged in White America; this is Black America's war. And I'm tired of fighting the battle!
We are the ones complaining about her hair -- not them. Why do we insist on finding something, anything and everything, to criticize about each other? Why wouldn't we instead lift this girl up for her accomplishments, the sacrifices she made to get there and be proud of what she's accomplished and what she'll no doubt continue to accomplish?
I sometimes hate to use the term "haters," since it's often a catch-all phrase that folks use whenever they are criticized at all, even constructively. But THIS ight here? Haters gone hate!
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| Source |
Even if Gabby's hair wasn't fine, so what? That's not the point -- the gold medals are. I could give two less than damns about Gabby's hair or how she chooses to style it. Wear it bald, in locs, braids or shave it all off, hell, I don't care. Half of the folks criticizing her hair need to have several seats, because they've never competed in a race, let alone an international competition.
The same folks spouting off about Gabby's hair are the same folks who don't work out at all because they don't want to mess up their hair. And most of those folks who are doing the talking are Black. What, are Black women competing in Olympic-level swimming not supposed to swim because their hair will get messed up?
Don't Listen, Gabby
I hope to God that Gabby, and any other Olympic athlete concerned about her hair, brushes this criticism off. Really, who cares about Gabby's hair while she's winning Olympic medals -- competing is her primary concern, not her hair. I can just see her now: I'm not going to do that triple somersault because that will mess up my curls! Girl, Bye!
How ignorant is that? Apparently, Kellogg's is quite OK with putting Gabby's face -- and her hair -- on a box of Corn Flakes, gelled ponytail and all. Let's see us talk about that! Edited to Add: For folks with their hands all up in Gabby's hair, know that this Kellog's deal was worth MILLIONS. Now, how many of those do YOU have?
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| Olympic Medalist Gabby Douglas on Kellog's Corn Flaxes Box Source |
Funny thing is, I saw all of this coming, because I wondered if Gabby was natural (she's not, reportedly). And I knew that some folks would instantly zero in on her hair, just to criticize. She's a two-time winning Olympic Gold Medal winning athlete. Point Blank. Period. End of conversation.
Let's keep the focus on her Olympic accomplishments, not her hair.
What do you think of the criticism about Gabby Douglas' hair?
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