WCW: Serena Williams

Diary of a Mad Black Woman

Dear Diary,

Well this U.S. Open was a bust. From them telling me I can't wear a jumpsuit to me being called a sore loser. I just don't understand where I went wrong.

I swore I was going to prove everyone wrong and come back on top after having a child. Man, think the only thing that this transition into motherhood did was make me soft. That damn umpire would've gotten a racket thrown upside his head if the old me was playing.

I don't understand that all these years here they are still treating me like I'm nothing special. These people know I have the talent, but I really feel that they are trying to discredit me. And poor Naomi. That poor baby just wanted to play tennis. Damn, I hope and pray that this changes for the better...

" Did I not raise you better? How many times have I told you, you have to be what? You have to be what? - Twice as good as them to get half of what they have." - Rowan Pope (Scandal S6 E1)

Papa Pope truly said it best. His quote has followed me all through grade school and high school. I bet every child in a black household has heard this saying or something like it at least once. My mother used to say it all the time, with her graduating from a PWI (predominantly white institution) she felt the pressure. She also knew me living in a culturally diverse environment that racism might not be a serious issue, but sexism would. I want to talk about a woman who has conquered it all, from racism to sexism, she is a true conqueror.

My first Woman Crush Wednesday goes to a queen that I clearly have taken for granted for too long. Serena Jameka Williams - Ohanian. In my world, she has been something of the norm. I grew up with Brandy on my television and radio, Will Smith in every other movie, and the Williams sisters being played on the weekends. Sports Center was always being played since I am the only girl of three children. Then my mother is pro-black and a feminist, so anybody dominating an all male space was going to be praised. Lastly, my parents are news buffs and Real Sports was always being played. I hope you get it by now. It was understood that black excellence was important and the Williams sisters were apart of that excellence. When you grow up seeing black people on big scales of success I believe they are taken for granted. I can admit I took Barack and Michelle Obama for granted. Shoot, to see Uncle Barry and Auntie Chelly Chell in the White House right now would make my day. Sigh.

Serena is and will always be black excellence. But her and her sister's road to this grand scale of excellence was not easy. From the media pitting them against each other to them over sexualizing her outfits, Serena has been through it.

At first I was going to write about how America is taking advantage of the excellence Serena brings to the court, but nah I'm good on pointing out the obvious. I will write about how she has shed light on the black woman experience in today's time.

The black experience is being great but having to be greater than someone of the melanin deficient race (my definition, quote me if you would like). There is a severe difference in the black man's and black woman's experience (in my opinion but if you observe this opinion can be a fact). In the pecking order of America (or in any other country, in my opinion) it is men, women, black men, then black women. I am not going off recent studies, I know us black women are lower I am just trying to make a quick point. Since black women are at the complete bottom just think how we are being treated at school, work, dating, hell just life overall. Now, look at my cousins Serena and Venus and understand this fight is never ending.

Serena goes onto to fight the good fight on the court by herself when European beauty standards are thrown her way. She's too thick, showing too much skin, it (y'all know they were talking about her booty) can be a distraction. Let's not forget the bead debacle back in the 90's. I bet those ticket sales skyrocketed when sis popped up on the court with that catsuit for the first time in 2002.

Before Serena was being praised for surviving death after giving birth, she was being judged for the man she marries and starts a family with. But this criticism is coming from her own community, males specifically. The same community that praised her for her great talents and bangin' body is telling her 'Nah sis, not him he's not the one to make you happy.' Bi-racial relationships are for another day. It seems like she can never do anything right but play tennis huh?

I say all this to say that Serena is a groundbreaker all across the board. One of two daughters to make it big, great competitor of a sister (against her star athlete sister Venus), amazing wife (that man would die for her), and great mother. She is a mirror of us women in one or all aspects of life. The only thing is her job is on television and we get to see her argue with triflin' behind coworkers around the world. Just think your argument with Bob over a presentation was televised, how would you look?

This past weekend we saw Serena clock in, have her character almost assassinated on live television and clock out to be deemed the sore loser of a somewhat rigged game. I felt for her. People with some type of authority can take the smooth taste of a black woman for granted. Ladies think about when you first started your job, you're nice to everyone and will do almost everything to prove that you're the best for your position. Then over time unnecessary shade is thrown your way and opportunities you know you can benefit from are thrown towards people who are not even qualified to boil water. But once we rise to the occasion and stand our ground, we are full of attitude and rage. But you know what, ya damn skippy I have an attitude, came here to do my job and get slighted with a slanderous attack instead, tuh the nerve.

Then after one disagreement has simmered down at the office, you have a cartoonist attack who you are physically and morally just to get a rise out of the dying situation.

I'm glad this was revealed for the world to see. This is the third time the world has tried to pit Serena against another black tennis player. First it was her sister, then it was Sloane Stephens now it's poor Naomi Osaka. Had to correct myself, a friend who knows sports corrected me on a couple of things. Black women deal with this on a daily basis. If you're great you have to be greater than them. If you're both great, one has to go.

As a woman it is hard to have a place in an all boys club. But to add race to this hard enough life is tipping the intensity scale over the edge. I am amazed at the women I meet and interact with on a daily basis that walk around with a smile on their face. I swear as soon as I had hit the age of 21 and saw what the world was doing to women like myself, my chip formed and hung around for a while. At this tender age of 23 I sit back and thank women like Serena who come with love and ease. Black women will get the respect we deserve. Oh and y'all gonna get this black girl magic whether y'all like it or not.

Say what you want about Richard Williams (Serena's father), him and his wife raised women who stand up for what they believe is right and sit down for nothing less. They work twice as hard and demand respect even harder. Happy Wednesday.