Dear Line Judge
Dear line judge,
I would ask if you are legitimately blind, but it is apparent that you can see color. Because that is what got in the way of your ability to correctly judge whether or not a foot fault occurred. Or whether the ball was hit in bounds. Or whether hearing "come on" could inhibit a person from returning an unreturnable ball. What you did see was a black woman from Campton not simply playing, but taking over tennis. Tennis, the embodiment elite white America. Tennis, a sport that was played at country clubs that did not allow black people to become members. Tennis, a sport where one of its biggest tournaments only allows the color white to be worn. Serena Williams, with her cornrowed hair, denim skirts, earrings, and black skin was not what a tennis player looked like. To you, she was not merely out of place, but intruding. She was tainting the game. She was the encroachment of black people into your jobs, your neighborhoods, your children's schools, and your favorite pastimes. The encroachment of black people into white spaces, white opportunities, white titles. Serena was taking the title of best female tenis player. A black woman was claiming tennis as hers. A black woman was on her way to winning another major tennis tournament. A black woman was beating someone who you thought tennis rightfully belonged to. You saw all of that.
-Mariah
I would ask if you are legitimately blind, but it is apparent that you can see color. Because that is what got in the way of your ability to correctly judge whether or not a foot fault occurred. Or whether the ball was hit in bounds. Or whether hearing "come on" could inhibit a person from returning an unreturnable ball. What you did see was a black woman from Campton not simply playing, but taking over tennis. Tennis, the embodiment elite white America. Tennis, a sport that was played at country clubs that did not allow black people to become members. Tennis, a sport where one of its biggest tournaments only allows the color white to be worn. Serena Williams, with her cornrowed hair, denim skirts, earrings, and black skin was not what a tennis player looked like. To you, she was not merely out of place, but intruding. She was tainting the game. She was the encroachment of black people into your jobs, your neighborhoods, your children's schools, and your favorite pastimes. The encroachment of black people into white spaces, white opportunities, white titles. Serena was taking the title of best female tenis player. A black woman was claiming tennis as hers. A black woman was on her way to winning another major tennis tournament. A black woman was beating someone who you thought tennis rightfully belonged to. You saw all of that.
-Mariah
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