American's Dawn Harper, Kellie Wells, and Lola Jones at the Finish Line for the 100M Hurdles.
Did you happen
to see on the NBC Network, the drama behind Lolo Jones vs. Dawn Harper and Kellie Wells, who
won silver and bronze respectively in the women's 100m hurdles? NBC was making
it seem as if Harper and Wells didn’t like the attention that Lolo has been
receiving during these 2012 Olympic Games. But this story goes much deeper than
just professional jealousy. It stabs at the very heart of centuries old
intraracial conflicts.
Intraracial Racial Conflict Among African
and Native Americans
To most
people and for many Blacks in America, the problem of intraracial conflict does
not exist. This conflict has been going on since slavery days and it continues
to this day. It all started when slave masters segregated their slaves
according to color.
These slaves came from many different places such as the
many nations of Africa and North America. Some even came from as far away as
Asia or the Middle East. The light skinned slaves worked and sometimes lived in
the main house while the darker skinned slaves lived and worked in the fields.
Some of the light skinned slaves were fathered by their master or by White
slave breeders and was given education as in a skill. This held true in the
slave systems in all states until the 14th Amendment was passed.
After
slavery ended the United States started the “Jim Crow” system. In “Jim Crow” light skinned Blacks were
treated differently than dark skin Blacks. Some light skinned Blacks could pass
as White, living among White society while all along keeping their secret only to
themselves. Other light skinned Blacks lived in communities that favored them
over darker skinned Blacks. Movies of that era would always show darker skinned
Black men with light skinned women.
In the middle of the 20th Century, several
organizations emerged for “light skinned Blacks only” such as the “Frogs.” Many
families discouraged light skin men from dating darker skinned women. Darker skinned Blacks resented this
segregation of Black people. Today we still have people in the Black community
that will not associate with people of lighter or darker skin.
Lolo Jones at the 2012 Summer London Olympics
Track and Field Marketing
People get
the idea that track stars have natural ability. They don’t have to work to get
to the Olympics. Somehow someone or corporations find them and gives them money
to travel around the country and to the Olympics. They don’t have to work
according to ignorant “on lookers.” This myth gives reason as to why so many
people resent Track and Field Athletes until they medal at the Olympics. Everyone loves a winner.
My
Grandson Daniel is 7 years old. He has been running track events since age 5. I
started marketing him 2 years ago as a track and field athlete. The idea is to
get his name out in the public as a track and field star. The wider his name
and reputation around the world, the more the athlete can receive in
contributions from the public. These contributions are used to offset travel
expenses to and from track and field competition. At his age, the family spends up to $4,000 per
year in track and field expenses. The cost goes up as the athlete’s age. This
is why it takes more than talent and skill to advance to compete in major
national and world competition.
Many
athletes don’t know how to market themselves to the media and to the public.
Most hold two or three jobs to raise enough money to compete around the world.
Track and Field even for a seven year old costs a lot of money to compete every
year. Try doing this for 30 years.
Light skinned
Lolo Jones did a very good job of marketing herself to the sports media. Besides,
she is beautiful according to White standards and can back up her talk on the
international track and field stage. The
media likes white and light over dark skin and caters to such on TV. They also
love a winner. The Olympics is no exception.
For the
same reason why Lolo is so successful at using the media, Dawn Harper and
Kellie Wells are not. The same doors were not open to them as it was with Lolo
Jones. They had to do a lot of jobs and save a lot of money just to get the
same track and field opportunities as Lolo. At the 2012 Olympics this caused
some friction between the light skin Lolo and the two darker skins Dawn Harper
and Kellie Wells.
How this came to a head
By the time
the 100 Meter Finals started, Dawn
Harper and Kellie Wells had it with the media attention given to Lolo Jones.
NBC already had Lolo as the person to win the Gold in this event. Nothing can motivate
an athlete better than to tell them that someone else is better than them. Add
to that equation the idea that it is just because the competition is prettier
and light skin.
The gun
sounded, the athletes took off down the track and over the hurdles. Dawn Harper came in second and Kellie Wells
came in third. Lolo Jones arrived at the 100m hurdles finish line in fourth
place.
After placing fourth
in the women's 100m hurdles last night, a heartbroken Lolo Jones discusses how
the media has "ripped her to shreds".
This made the media turn on her. They do not like losers.
Dawn Harper and Kellie Wells got their respect from the media.
Usain Bolt after running the 100 Meter Run
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