AngryGayBlackCanadianman

Katherine Heigl one of the stars of the ABC hit show Grey’s Anatomy has made some controversial statements removing herself from the nominations for this year’s Emmy awards.

Heigl said “I did not feel that I was given the material this season to warrant an Emmy nomination and in an effort to maintain the integrity of the academy organization, I withdrew my name from contention.”

Heigl also said “In addition, I did not want to potentially take away an opportunity from an actress who was given such materials.” The latter statement is a total dig at the writers on Grey’s Anatomy. Heigl is ungrateful, selfish, petulant, and immature.

Now some people may think Heigl is being “noble” but really she isn’t. Heigl obviously thinks she is the star of Grey’s Anatomy but she’s not. Ellen Pompeo is the star of Grey’s Anatomy not Katherine Heigl. Sandra Oh has a more prominent role on Grey’s Anatomy then Katherine Heigl as well.

Heigl doesn’t get it she is not the “star” of Grey’s Anatomy and she will “never” be the female lead on the show. It is clear to me that Heigl’s ego has gotten too big she obviously can’t handle being in a supporting role on Grey’s Anatomy.

Heigl does have a strong supporting role on the show. Heigl is taking her frustrations to the media and public in hopes of getting kicked off of Grey’s Anatomy but it won’t happen. Heigl is too important to ABC and they won’t terminate her contract.

Katherine Heigl is known for being outspoken she blasted Isaiah Washington last year in the press. I thought Heigl’s comments about Washington last year were totally out of line as well. Does anyone remember Heigl also complained about not receiving the same salary as Sandra Oh last year? Heigl has since received a salary raise. It appears Heigl is also jealous of Sandra Oh because she has a more prominent role on Grey’s Anatomy then Heigl.

However, Heigl’s comments demonstrates a lack of class and professionalism. It is clear Heigl thinks she is too a big a star to be on Grey’s Anatomy anymore. The ratings for Grey’s Anatomy have taken a hit this season due to the writer’s strike. However, Heigl probably thinks Grey’s Anatomy is slowing down her red hot film career.

Don’t feel sorry for Heigl though she gets an excellent salary for Grey’s Anatomy and since the show is now in syndication she’s going to make even more money. However, Heigl’s comments this week reeks of arrogance and petulance.

Everyone knows Heigl’s film career is on fire she was the female lead in Judd Apatow’s comedy “Knocked Up” the film grossed $ 148, 768, 917 at the domestic box office and the worldwide box office was an incredible $219, 001, 261. The production budget for Knocked Up was only $30 million dollars the movie. After the success of Knocked Up Heigl complained to the media saying the movie was “sexist”.

Heigl proved she can headline a hit movie by herself with her next film 27 Dresses . 27 Dresses was released earlier this year in January and since January is usually a slow month for the studios the expectations are not high. However, Heigl proved she does have an audience. Heigl is everything Hollywood loves she is young, attractive, blonde, and she is talented.

The domestic box office for 27 Dresses was a healthy $76, 808 654 and the worldwide box office was $158, 062,108. The budget for 27 Dresses was only $30 million dollars. The bottom line is Heigl’s career is sky rocketing she is in high demand. Heigl’s film salary is $6 million per movie and she will definitely make even more money. The quandary for Heigl is the fact she has a contract with ABC and most of the year is devoted to filming Grey’s Anatomy. Heigl wants to make movies she doesn’t want to be on Grey’s Anatomy anymore.

However, Heigl has to remember she never would of gotten the big film roles if she wasn’t a star on Grey’s Anatomy. Grey’s Anatomy put Katherine Heigl on the map in Hollywood. If Heigl wasn’t a star on Grey’s Anatomy she never would of gotten the attention of the power brokers in Hollywood. Heigl shouldn’t be slapping the writers of Grey’s Anatomy in the face with her backhanded comments.

What about Canadian actress Sandra Oh? Where is Sandra Oh’s Emmy award? Where is Chandra Wilson’s Emmy award? Where is Ellen Pompeo’s Emmy award? I thought it was kind of odd that Katherine Heigl won because I always considered her to be the weakest link on Grey’s Anatomy.

Does anyone remember Sandra Oh? Yes Sandra Oh was one of the stars of the hit comedy “Sideways” a few years back but she wasn’t the star of that film. Also, I am cognizant of the fact Sandra Oh has won a Golden Globe award and SAG award for her brilliant performance on Grey’s Anatomy.

It is nice that Sandra’s talent has been recognized by Hollywood. However, Sandra Oh isn’t being offered any leading lady roles despite the fact she is a superior actress to Katherine Heigl. Despite Sandra Oh’s incredible success on Grey’s Anatomy she is still only being offered secondary film roles.

The question is why? Why hasn’t Hollywood given Sandra Oh her breakthrough opportunity to shine on the silver screen? Nobody can say it is because the public doesn’t know Sandra Oh because she is famous. Is it an issue of race perhaps? It definitely appears to me that race is a factor here.

Katherine Heigl fits into the Hollywood category of the pretty, young, white, American, woman she already has a built in audience. Sandra Oh is viewed as an anomaly an Asian Canadian actress that was able to make it big in America.

It is interesting because in Canada Sandra Oh was always one of our biggest stars. Sandra always was a leading lady in Canada she was never second fiddle to anyone in Canada. The problem is Canadian films simply don’t generate enough international media attention or make enough money.

I remember Sandra Oh from the 1993 film “The Diary Of Evelyn Lau”. I was stunned at Sandra’s incredible acting talent. Oh followed up the Evelyn Lau movie with “Double Happiness” and she also starred in other Canadian films such as “Last Night”. Sandra Oh realized she had to move to America in order to have a profitable acting career.

Sandra Oh is successful she is a working actress and she has some acclaim in Hollywood. Katherine Heigl should be lucky she is blessed her career is thriving some struggling actress would gladly take her role on Grey’s Anatomy. Why is Heigl even complaining? Isn’t Heigl making enough cash?

Sandra Oh is in a similar predicament as another actress of colour Parminder Nagra. Nagra is the star of hit British comedy “Bend It Like Beckham” yet her co star Keira Knightley eclipsed her. Even though “Bend It Like Beckham” was a huge international hit grossing over $76 million worldwide Parminder was never offered any leading lady roles. The truth is despite Parminder’s beauty and talent she is not getting the leading lady roles because she is a South Asian British woman.

Keira Knightley is a talented actress I am not going to knock Keira but I find it odd that she is so much more successful then Parminder. Parminder should be the star of “Tulia” about the Indian American actress Vanita Gupta but of course we already known African American actress Halle Berry won that role. So what is an Asian actress supposed to do? It has got be so frustrating for Parminder and Sandra that inferior talents such as Katherine Heigl are getting the big roles while they are still in the background in supporting roles. It makes me want to scream at the top of my lungs it is so unfair.

Parminder is a British woman of South Asian descent Hollywood refuses to give South Asian actresses leading lady roles. People can say there is no “demand” for South Asian women but the truth is South Asian women aren’t even given a chance to smash the glass ceiling.

Now Knightley is a big star while Pariminder is still on ER. Parminder is a solid actress she is a star but just like Sandra Oh she is a woman of colour. Women of colour in Hollywood have it the hardest because they have to deal with the racism and the sexism of the film industry.

It is tough for women of colour to reach the top in Hollywood they have to have “cross over” appeal to reach a mainstream “white” audience. Hollywood won’t give Pariminder or Sandra the leading lady roles because they don’t think the public wants to see Asian women in leading roles but Hollywood is wrong. Hollywood refuses to even give Parminder Nagra or Sandra Oh the opportunities to shine in leading lady roles. Why can’t Asian women even be given a chance to reach the top?

I am not suggesting Oh and Nagra have to be in big budget movies. Nagra and Oh aren’t even getting the female lead in independent film either!

Hollywood doesn’t know what to do with Sandra Oh and that’s a shame.I honestly believe if the right screenwriter, or producer, and director would give Sandra the right material she could easily get an Oscar nomination due to her incredible talent.

Earlier this year the current Prime Minister of Australia Kevin Rudd apologized for the genocide against the Aborigines in Australia. Suddenly in June 2008 the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has a “conscience”. Prime Minister Harper has apologized for the history of systemic racism and discrimination against Canada’s First Nations Peoples. Canada’s treatment of indigenous peoples is strikingly similar to Australia.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has an image in Canada of being a very cold, callous, and brutally efficient man. Perhaps Harper utilized this opportunity to humanize himself make himself appear to actually be human and have a heart? One wonders if blood actually flows through Prime Minister Harper’s veins? Is the blood toxic or is it pure?

Harper is a very shrewd politician he has always come across as very aloof, obnoxious, arrogant, and very bitter man. Harper and his public relations team most likely want to improve his image in the international community as well as improve Canada’s image.

Unfortunately, the mythology that Canada is a “multicultural” paradise is false. There is a racial hierarchy in Canada and the racist attitudes against Canada’s First Nations People still exists. One of the racist ideologies is that the First Nations People’s just want “hand outs” from the Canadian system.

However, we cannot just turn the page and ignore history. The truth is Canadians must remember that the Residential Schools also involved a lot of child abuse against children, misogyny, the total destruction of families, and the eradication of Native cultures and languages.

The legacy of the racist Residential School system still exists today and just a simple speech by Prime Minister Harper will not remove the entrenched prejudices and biases against First Nations Peoples. The Canadian government must do more, the Canadian people we must demand more.

We cannot just let this moment slip through our fingers. Prime Minister Harper does not deserve accolades or platitudes what he deserves is a fresh bucket of hot water splashed on his face. Why did Harper take so long to apologize? Why now?

The Aboriginals in Canada encounter the most racial discrimination even though Canada is their land the rest of us Canadians are just immigrants. If you compare the histories of Canada and Australia you see a lot of parallels in the incredible amount of racism and prejudice against indigenous peoples.

For instance, in Australia the Aboriginal children known as the “stolen children” were forcibly removed from their homes and forced into residential schools. The residential schools were created to “civilize” the First Nations Peoples and make them conform and “assimilate” to “Canadian” values and culture.

I wonder what do people think? Is Harper’s apology good enough or is it just “words”? After all actions speak louder then words. What is Prime Minister Harper going to do to improve the quality of life of Canada’s Aboriginal peoples?

Do you think Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s apology to the First Nations people was sincere or just a way to score political points? Also why did Prime Minister Harper wait until now?

After all Kevin Rudd the Prime Minister of Australia apologized to the Aborigines in February 2008. Why did Prime Minister Harper wait until June 2008? Is Harper’s statement significant? I wonder what Canada’s First Nations People think about the apology?

Martin Luther King is best known for his speech “I have A Dream”, Sojourner Truth was an African American feminist and abolitionist she lived during the nineteenth century. Sojourner Truth is best known for her speech “Ain’t I A Woman”. Sojourner Truth is important to history because she brought to prominence the struggles black women encountered in relation to race and gender politics. Sojourner Truth lived a life of hardship and struggle but she persevered she fled her slave master, and advocated for equal rights for all women. Sojourner Truth should be more well known in fact the title of African American feminist bell hooks debut non fiction book was called “Ain’t I A Woman”.

Many people have wondered why did Richard Williams slam former tennis champion Tracy Austin in a recent interview? Some people will brush off Richard Williams comments as just Richard being controversial. It is true Mr. Williams was a bit inimical in his comments about Austin. Richard didn’t have to use scatological language against Tracy Austin.

However, if you dig a bit deeper there is indeed some veracity to Mr. Williams views about the American tennis expert Tracy Austin. For instance, anyone that has bothered to pay close attention to Tracy Austin knows she has an axe to grind against the Williams Sisters. Everyone knows Austin has an intense fondness for Davenport but it also demonstrates a lack of professionalism. What has Tracy Austin accomplished other then being a former teen prodigy that failed to live up to her potential? Austin burned out due to injuries and indifference to the game.

In a recent media report Davenport claims she asked Venus and Serena to play Fed Cup but both declined. First off, Lindsay Davenport has also been cruel to the Williams Sisters for many years since they were teenagers. Why should Venus and Serena support Lindsay? Venus played Fed Cup last year after she won Wimbledon. Venus only had one week to prepare for Fed Cup but she played anyway because she respects Zina Garrison. Venus also played for her country in 2005 after her stunning Wimbledon victory in 2005 as well. Serena played for the United States last year in Fed Cup in Spring 2007. Davenport has no right to insinuate that the Williams Sisters don’t support their country.

Austin doesn’t have to “like” the Williams Sisters but her complete lack of respect for Venus and Serena borders on the delusional aspect of Austin’s personality. Venus and Serena are the only Americans still consistently winning grand slam singles titles. On the ATP Tour Andy Roddick and James Blake are not slam contenders they are pretenders. On the WTA Venus and Serena may not be ranked at the very top but they are great champions and deserve our respect.

How can tennis fans take Tracy Austin’s comments seriously when she doesn’t acknowledge the fact Lindsay Davenport is a chronic underachiever and consistent choker? For many years French tennis star Amelie Mauresmo has been hammered in the media for choking the big matches. However, if you look at Lindsay Davenport’s career she’s had more opportunities then Mauresmo to win slams yet Davenport always fades into oblivion in the crucial matches. If Davenport is so great why does she only have three grand slams titles? Three slam victories is nothing special it means a player is good but this is not legendary status. I must also point out Davenport has only won the Australian, Wimbledon, and US Open events once in her career.

Tracy Austin has an intense irrational jealousy towards the Williams Sisters because they are the road blocks in Davenport’s career. Tracy Austin is so enraged when Venus and Serena consistently defeat Lindsay that she has a sad sulk on her face after the routine losses. Venus and Serena stopped Davenport from winning more grand slams because they are superior tennis players. The Williams Sisters never follow the crowd they create their own rules and it works for them. Venus and Serena don’t need to prepare for grand slams like the other women. Venus and Serena can show up at a grand slam play their way into form and destroy the competition. At the 2007 Australian Open and Wimbledon championships Serena and Venus blasted the women’s field off the court. It was a repeat of the 2005 Australian Open and Wimbledon Serena and Venus rolled over the competition.

Austin surreptitiously coats her comments with petulant remarks about the Williams Sisters she is careful not to use racial slurs but her objective is still the same. Austin has a problem with the fact the most successful American female tennis players of this generation are black women.

If you read between the lines Austin’s negativity against Venus and Serena is easy to point out. Austin is a two slam wonder she’s not even close to being as good as Venus and Serena. It is well known in the tennis world Tracy Austin is not only a hypocrite she’s also a pernicious termagant.

For instance, after Venus won Wimbledon for the fourth time Austin’s MSNBC.COM article claims Venus victory was due to “magic”. It was an insult and a backhanded complement by Austin. Since Venus has won Wimbledon four times it is not “magic” it is called “talent”. Venus joins an elite group Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean King are the only other women to have won Wimbledon four times or more during the Open era.

If you ever listen to American tennis analyst Tracy Austin you know just like clockwork she will gush on and on about Lindsay Davenport. Yet Austin will never be critical of Davenport’s constant choking during the big grand slam semifinals or final matches. At the 2004 Wimbledon Davenport had a 6-2 3-1 lead against Maria Sharapova yet lost the match 2-6 7-6 6-1. At the 2004 US Open Davenport was coming off an impressive summer she won four hard court titles leading into the US Open. However, against Svetlana Kuznetsova Davenport crumbled under the pressure again losing 1-6 6-4 6-2. Davenport is known for being a chronic underachiever in the grand slams.

The most spectacular collapses in Davenport’s career was in the year 2005. For example, during the Wimbledon women’s final Davenport served for the match even had a match point but lost to Venus in the marathon match. Davenport was controlling the tempo of the match it was in her grasp yet Davenport doesn’t have the mental fortitude of the Williams Sisters. On the crucial big points as usual Davenport lost her composure and choked.

Tracy Austin was stunned that Venus won the 2005 Wimbledon she also was extremely obnoxious during the trophy presentation ceremony. Austin made excuses especially this comment “why did Lindsay have the back injury up 4-2 in the third set?”It’s not Venus problem that Lindsay got injured that’s Lindsay’s problem. All Venus can do is play her own game and she won.

Austin was just being a typical racist termagant she refused to acknowledge Venus Williams incredible fighting spirit and refusal to give up. It was a disgraceful and disgusting comment on Austin’s part because prior to the back injury Davenport had numerous chances to win the match but capitulated as usual.

After Venus incredible comeback victory Austin kept on using the line Lindsay was “classy” during the trophy ceremony. It was just another typical snide backhanded comment by Tracy Austin. Austin was attempting to mock Venus because Venus was so thrilled and happy to win the tense women’s final. Venus has a right to display her happiness after winning a match she was losing and pulled through to win. Austin has no right to tell Venus how to express herself either.

Earlier in January 2005 Davenport won the first set against Serena at the 2005 Australian Open only to lose the match 2-6 6-3 6-0. The excuse was that Davenport had a tough doubles match the day before. It’s not Serena’s problem that Davenport is not in top physical condition. If you are an athlete at the top level of your profession you better be in maximum physical shape. Davenport capitulated the final set and didn’t even try. Davenport gave up in the final set due to lack of fitness she simply is out of shape. During the ESPN television broadcast Mary Carillo even said Davenport is a very “moody woman”. It is obvious Davenport can’t handle pressure very well.

Now to be fair Davenport is a three time grand slam champion and former world number one. However,Lindsay Davenport is not the best American female tennis player of her generation. Venus and Serena are superior to Davenport. Austin obviously doesn’t like this but the results are the facts.

Davenport is a solid player but Austin’s comments about Davenport have zero objectivity. Tennis fans also need to know Davenport and Austin shared a former coach Robert Landsorf. Austin’s reticence about the weaknesses in Davenport’s game are a complete joke and ruin her credibility.

For instance, during the 2008 Australian Open the media hyped the Davenport and Sharapova second round match. I picked Sharapova to win and she blasted Davenport off the court 6-1 6-3. Austin will comment about Davenport having hard hitting groundstrokes but Davenport lacks the variety, speed, and mental toughness of Sharapova, Williams Sisters, and Justine Henin. Davenport has also lost every single grand slam final she’s competed against the Williams Sisters. Venus and Serena have a combined 4-0 record against Davenport in the grand slam finals. Davenport is 1-5 against Sharapova as well. Justine Henin has blasted Davenport off the court multiple times in the last few years.

Austin attacked Serena’s fitness at the 2007 US Open John McEnroe defended Serena against Tracy Austin’s bitter, idiotic, acidic, immature outbursts. Tracy Austin of course will never admit the truth she is completely unprofessional and has a lack of class. Venus and Serena have brought tennis to a wider audience across the globe.

After the Williams Sisters retire they will be remembered as great female tennis champions. Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe opened the door for blacks in tennis. The Williams Sisters kicked the door down. Venus and Serena know they are good and this irks some people. In terms of pop culture the Williams Sisters have a bit more cultural resonance as well. The Williams Sisters proved you don’t need to be white, rich, play junior tennis to become tennis champions. Only hardcore tennis fans will remember Lindsay Davenport.

It appears the WTA and the Williams family may have a major legal battle in 2009. Larry Scott the CEO of the WTA is not only stubborn his attitude towards the Williams family also demonstrates his complete lack of respect for the biggest stars in the women’s game. Scott has a lack of class and sensitivity to race issues. I shouldn’t be surprised though after all Scott is a white heterosexual upper class male he doesn’t have to think about race relations since he is the mythical norm. Larry Scott and the Indian Wells organizers want to force Venus and Serena to play Indian Wells in 2009.

The WTA have basically stabbed the Williams family in the back with this new rule making the Indian Wells event mandatory. The WTA never forced Monica Seles to play the WTA championships in 2001 in Germany because she boycotted Germany after being stabbed in the back in Hamburg in 1993. It is about a matter of principle. Monica Seles statement was an important one a reminder of the apathetic attitude of the WTA tour in relation to the tragedy.

The racist German government had the audacity to allow Gunther Parche a man that attempted to murder Monica Seles on live television to walk free in Germany. I shouldn’t be surprised. Germany is a xenophobic nation African immigrants are set on fire and thrown off of bridges. Turkish families homes are torched by racist Neo Nazis and the German government is apathetic to immigrant concerns. How can Parche be free to roam Germany after there is video evidence of this monster trying to kill Monica Seles? The disgraceful German government message is racism and xenophobia is palatable as long as a German tennis player benefits from attempted murder. The German player Steffi Graf returned to the number one ranking and ruined women’s tennis until she retired in 1999.

The Williams family also believe in principles and the WTA should respect their decision to boycott the Indian Wells event. It is all about principles and values. The WTA and the white American tennis establishment have no respect for black people. The racist incident in Indian Wells must not be forgotten or ignored it was a disgusting, abhorrent, and disgraceful incident. The WTA and the white American tennis establishment have an apathetic attitude to the Williams family concerns they don’t care. It is just that simple I can’t be more blunt then that.

The Williams family boycott of Indian Wells is very important it is a political and social statement. The Williams family absence is forcing the white American tennis establishment to remember the racist incident. The articles by various white American sports journalists demonstrates whites don’t want to remember the racist incident.

The question the public should be asking is why is the WTA and the white American tennis establishment attempting to force the Williams Sisters to play Indian Wells? The reason is drum roll please……. the Williams Sisters are money makers. The Williams Sisters are the only superstars on the WTA right now. The Williams Sisters sell tickets faster then any other players on the WTA. The Williams Sisters are international superstars and the Indian Wells organizers want the prestige to return to their lackluster event. The tactics of Larry Scott and the Indian Wells organizers is not only pathetic it reeks of desperation.

The WTA and the white American media are attempting to develop the Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova and market her as a new star. Why is the WTA marketing a foreigner? Sharapova fits into the Eurocentric standards of beauty since she is tall, very thin, has blonde hair, and blue eyes. Maria Sharapova may have won a couple of grand slam singles titles but she comes across as very unpolished in interviews with zero class. There is also a problem with the fact there is a disconnect between Sharapova and the tennis audience. Sharapova has won a couple of grand slams she is obviously talented but there is nothing extraordinary about her game or personality. Sharapova is not a legend yet she doesn’t have the star quality, personality, or the ability to transcend sport like the Williams Sisters. On numerous internet boards tennis fans have commented about Sharapova’s ice queen persona. Sharapova comes across as very aloof, arrogant, haughty, and has a sense of entitlement. People across the globe recognize the Williams Sisters they do not know Sharapova.

The Indian Wells WTA event has become a complete farce and a joke for the past seven years due to the absence of the Williams Sisters. Last year Daniela Hantuchova beat Svetlana Kuznetsova in the women’s final last year. Does anyone care about Kuznetsova and Hantuchova? Nope. Most people most likely never heard of either player. The Indian Wells event has been lacking serious star power for years it is now a D list event.

The organizers of the Indian Wells event refuse to make a formal public apology to the Williams family about the racist incident at the Indian Wells event in 2001. The arrogance of Larry Scott and the organizers of Indian Wells has no boundaries. The Williams family have boycotted the Indian Wells event and ESPN.COM has the nerve to publish an article by Greg Garber once again attacking the Williams family. Why should the Williams family help Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, and Pete Sampras part owners of the Indian Wells event make money?

Why have Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, and Pete Sampras never taken the first step in the healing process and made a formal public apology the Williams family? Are King, Evert, and Sampras too stupid to connect the dots? It is obvious the Williams family are very hurt and and rightfully so about the Indian Wells incident. I am not surprised that Sampras and Evert have been silent. After all, Pete Sampras has also made disparaging comments about the Williams Sisters in the media commenting about their tennis abilities and their hair. Chris Evert has been one of the most vocal opponents of the Williams Sisters for the past decade. Evert is a classic covert racist.

Chris Evert wrote a deleterious public letter in Tennis Magazine in the Spring of 2006 lashing out at Serena Williams claiming Serena has a lack of commitment to the game. Evert didn’t care that Serena was at the murder trial for her deceased sister Yetunde Price or that she had chronic knee injuries. Evert published the public letter to gain free press, publicity, and sell more copies of her tacky magazine. Visit the local public library and look for the Sping 2006 issue of Tennis Magazine read in the bold black print Evert’s disgusting letter. Would Evert ever publish a public letter slamming the white American female tennis players Jennifer Capriati or Lindsay Davenport? I doubt it. Why should the Williams Sisters help Chris Evert make money?

Why should the Williams Sisters support the Indian Wells event it doesn’t make sense? In this world you have to give respect to get respect. If Chris Evert had any ounce of dignity or class she would hold a press conference with the world media and make a real public apology to Venus, Serena, and Richard Williams. Seven long years have passed since the Indian Wells incident. The question the media should be asking why hasn’t Evert done anything? Why is Evert silent? Pete Sampras attitude towards the Williams Sisters is also abhorrent. Yet Evert claims she is an ambassador to Women’s Tennis so why hasn’t Evert made the first move for healing to occur?

It is also disconcerting that American tennis writers such as Greg Garber an employee of ESPN and Jon Wertheim an employee of Sports Illustrated refuse to acknowledge their roles in promoting racism against the Williams sisters. The racism and prejudice is so obvious and so is their hypocrisy. Why is there silence to this offensive bigotry?

The Williams Sisters are the most successful female tennis players of their generation they have a combined 14 grand slam singles titles. The Williams Sisters both have been ranked number one, and they have both won Olympic gold medals, and all the grand slam women’s doubles titles.

Some people are ignorant they act as though a racist bigot has to make a racial slur to be a racist. Racism is both covert and overt. When the Williams Sisters were dominating the game the American tennis experts said the Williams Sisters were “bad” for the game. When the Williams Sisters had to deal with the tragedy of their sister Yetunde Price being shot to death in 2003 obviously their priorities changed. The American tennis experts again slammed the Williams Sisters for their so called “lack of commitment to the game”.

Now of course, the white American tennis experts are very careful not to use any racial slurs on live television. However, the pernicious and deleterious racism of the American tennis experts is obvious to the discerning eye. Martina Navratilova on BBC television last year had the audacity to call Serena Williams a “drama queen” after she had her leg injury during her fourth round match at Wimbledon. Although Navratilova is a lesbian she also has bashed the Williams Sisters ever minute she gets. John McEnroe is a consistent hater of the Williams Sisters on BBC, NBC, and CBS television.

I will never forget watching the ESPN telecast of the 2007 Australian Open. I cringed. I was so disgusted and angry when Mary Carillo had the audacity to compare James Blake’s father dying from cancer to Yetunde Price’s murder. Carillo claimed Serena wasn’t committed to the game. We all know Serena stormed to the 2007 Australian Open women’s title last year. The only reason Carillo compared Blake and Serena is because they are both black tennis players. Serena Williams is an eight time grand slam tennis champion and James Blake is not a winner. The American tennis establishment doesn’t mind Blake he’s never won anything of importance on the ATP Tour he folds and loses all the time in big matches.

Pam Shriver also made offensive comments about Serena’s physique and her dedication to the game. Pam Shriver is best known as Martina Navratilova’s sidekick she never was a champion. Mary Carillo have never won grand slam singles titles either. Carillo and Shriver are not champions they have also never been ranked number one in the world. What right do they have to bash Serena and Venus consistently on live television without any retribution? Does ESPN condone prejudice?

Tracy Austin has also lashed out for years against the Williams Sisters Austin only won two slams that’s it. Austin is not even in the same league as Venus and Serena. After Venus won Wimbledon for the fourth time last year on MSNBC.COM Austin wrote that Venus’s victory was “magic”. The word “magic” is a backhanded complement by Austin. Venus winning Wimbledon for the fourth time proves she’s a legend it wasn’t “magic” yet Austin has never respected Venus or Serena Williams.

I am especially disappointed in Billie Jean King she claims to be a woman that has class she claims she is against oppression against all people. King is a fraud, phony, and a hypocrite. King lectures society about sexism against women and preaches about tolerance for white homosexuals yet she ignores racism. Is Billie Jean King only against discrimination that affects white women and white homosexuals? It sure seems like it. Or is Billie Jean King a woman that believes discrimination is wrong against all people regardless of their race, class, or sexual orientation?

King will make statements in print interviews or on television saying the great Althea Gibson meant so much to her. Was King’s words about Gibson just a pack of lies? Perhaps Billie Jean King isn’t really a heroine after all? Maybe King is just as racist just like Chris Evert, John McEnroe, Martina Navratilova, Pam Shriver, Tracy Austin, and Mary Carillo? Althea Gibson was against racism and sexism.If King claims Althea Gibson is one of her heroes then why doesn’t King take action? Why is Billie Jean King a pernicious hypocrite and remain silent for all these years?

So why hasn’t Billie Jean King ever spoken about Indian Wells incident? Does King just care about making money? Billie Jean King could be a source of dialogue there is clearly a lot of hurt feelings here between the Williams family and the WTA. Billie Jean King could make difference yet she chooses not to. I have lost respect for King.

I used to have respect for Billie Jean King but now I realize King is just a silent supporter of covert racists such as Tracy Austin, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Pam Shriver, Mary Carillo, and John McEnroe. If King claims she’s against discrimination against all people why doesn’t Billie Jean King take a stand? The Indian Wells incident should of been dealt with years ago the covert racism by the American tennis establishment demonstrates the racial divide still exists.

The death of the innocent fifteen year old Jane Creba on Boxing Day December 2005 in downtown Toronto shocked the city . Creba was an innocent bystander walking down Dundas street with her family when she was shot dead by a bullet. Creba’s death was like a electric shock an alarm to white Canadians that anyone can be a victim of violence.

The Jane Creba murder trial also exposes the incendiary racism of the Canadian press exploding like an atomic bomb. Suddenly the poisoned pens dipped in acid, tainted with supremacy was printed in bold black print in newspapers across the nation. The radio talk show hosts shouted at the top of their lungs that gun violence must be stopped. The Jane Creba murder trial is currently taking place in Toronto the typical racist hysteria has emerged once again.

The social constructions of race and gender must be explored and examined. Inside the newsrooms across Canada most of the editors, managing editors, editor in chiefs, are white Canadians. The perspective of the news will be painted from a Eurocentric perspective there will be no equilibrium in relation to how race is framed. The lens is still from a white gaze looking out at the other.

Since Creba was also white there was a heightened sense of urgency by the white Toronto press. Suddenly the attitude shifted that Toronto was gang central and that everyone had to fear for our lives while walking down any Toronto street. People die in Toronto everyday so why was Creba’s death treated as though it was so significant? The reason is because Creba was a white Canadian middle class female and not black. If Jane Creba was a black girl the Toronto media would cover the murder for a brief moment and move on.

Creba’s whiteness galvanized the Canadian press they could kill two birds with one stone. The press manipulated the tragedy and utilized the moment to pathologize Toronto’s black community. Why should I care that Jane Creba died and not about other people that die? I question the real motivation of the Toronto media. I don’t subscribe to just believing everything the news media presents in print, on the radio or on television. I want to scrape beneath the surface. Why should I care that the accused killers are also black?

The Canadian media presents racist and misandrist articles through the radio and television broadcasts that somehow black Canadians we should feel ashamed to be black. Black Canadians we need to rise above this oppression the press presents and look at this case clearly. Obviously it is a tragedy that a young life was lost. However, it also doesn’t give the Toronto media permission to exploit Jane Creba’s death to vent their frustrations and anger and expressing so called racial superiority. The media was once again attempting to demonize black Canadians as a group for the actions of individuals.

Creba’s death was elevated to front page news for weeks because the white Canadian media suddenly realized gun violence has no boundaries in relation to race, gender, or class. Anyone can be a victim of violence and we should be disgusted and angered when any innocent person dies regardless of their race, gender, or social status. When young blacks die there is only apathy. However, since Jane Creba was a white girl the white Canadians viewed Creba’s death differently they felt she could of been their daughter, their next door neighbor, their child’s best friend.

Creba’s whiteness and the pusillanimous nature of the Canadian racism was in full force. Why is there this dissemblance to the hypocrisy of the Toronto media? When people of colour are innocent victims of murder there needs to be the same urgency, the same heightened sense of social importance. It is clear and obvious in Canada the blood of a white Canadian person has more social value then the blood of Canadians of colour.

Creba’s death is a tragedy because she was just a kid someone that clearly didn’t even start to live her life yet or reach her potential. Make no mistake though race and gender are also factors in the Toronto press’s fascination with Jane Creba’s appearance. Creba was an attractive, middle class, young, white female with long blonde hair, thin build, clear white skin, and has a photogenic face. Numerous articles focused on Creba’s beauty. If Creba was considered less attractive by the occidental world’s standards would her life have less social value? If Jane Creba was a fat white girl or a white girl not considered attractive would she of gotten as much press? So because Jane Creba was considered pretty means her death is more horrifying and more important then other people deaths?

Another Toronto teen died a few months after Jane Creba her name is Chantal Dunn.On February 7th 2006 nineteen year old Chantal Dunn the York University student was brutally murdered. Dunn’s car was attacked when she picked up her boyfriend from a basketball game in the parking lot of Northwood Community Centre. Dunn was shot and killed. Dunn was also a black girl and in Toronto black Canadians are viewed as the ultimate other.

The Canadian media consistently presents this perfidious racist lie to the rest of the world that Canada is a utopia paradise and that multiculturalism brings the races together. The fact remains the repugnant stench of Canadian racism thrives like a cancer. Canadians are too pretentious to deal with the truth. The Toronto media briefly reported Dunn’s murder but her death was ignored rather swiftly. After all Chantal Dunn was black and since young blacks die in the city of Toronto her death was just an afterthought.

Black teens dying is considered “trivial” to the Canadian press and “normal”but since Jane Creba was white her death was viewed as a national tragedy and extraordinary. Dunn was a promising scholar the girl had a bright future and clearly was an innocent bystander just like Jane Creba. Why is there this insistence, this reticence, this denial, of Canada’s racism against people of colour? Why was Chantal Dunn’s death not splashed across the Toronto media and treated with the exact same respect as Jane Creba? Dunn’s murderer is still on the loose.

Over a decade ago on November 14th 1997 another Canadian teenager fourteen year old Reena Virk was brutally murdered by white students near Craigflower Bridge in the city of Victoria. Since the main culprits in the murder were white females the press focused only on the fact Virk was savagely murdered by other girls. One boy Walter Glowatski was also one of Virk’s killers.

Suddenly there was a plethora of articles about the rampant dangers of female aggression. The journalists, criminologists, psychologists, and sociologists only focused on the issue of gender. Of course the real issues of the Reena Virk murder relates to racism and xenophobia. The Canadian media seemed more stunned that white females can also be violent, sadistic, murderers. The issue of Canadian racism against South Asians was not an issue at all the press ignored race completely.

There also wasn’t a “racial link” to white supremacy and the refusal of the Canadian press to discuss the rampant racism that still occurs in Canadian high schools against teens of colour. Teens of colour are often bullied by white students across Canadian high schools it is a common occurrence.

Since Virk was South Asian she was viewed as “the other” dismissed by the apathetic and racist Canadian society as being from “a different culture” and ultimately as inferior. The quandary is the Reena Virk murder case is a perfect example of the intersection of Canadian racism and sexism against women of colour. The Canadian press marginalized Virk’s murder to only the issue of gender because this was considered more sensationalistic.

The more controversial and explosive issue of Canadian racism was not explored most likely due to politics, avarice, but also indifference. If a racial reverse occurred and Virk was white and the killers were people of colour the attitude, venom, blood thirsty prejudices of the Canadian press would explode like a grenade.

Whiteness in Canada is viewed as superior and the Canadian media have no interest in turning the mirror and forcing white Canadian society to look at cracked reflection of their own racial prejudices. What would be the point of the Canadian press to make whites examine the truth? Virk’s murder was also framed through the lens of gender because the press deemed it as an anomaly a way to excuse the killers because they are a part of white Canadian society. Reena Virk’s killers could of been one of their neighbors, or children’s friends. The focus on gender was a tactic to create a distance a parallel dimension and refusal to explore the issue of white supremacy and Canadian racism.

There is also the factor of the classic white female victimhood that permeated in this sad tragedy. The press painted the white girl Kelly Ellard as a victim. Of course, white females can’t be violent killers. The Canadian press was attempting to rationalize the murder by creating another explanation for the heinous crime. It is not surprising this pernicious racist perspective was consistently presented by the mainstream Canadian media.

The insistence and refusal to acknowledge Reena Virk wasn’t just killed because she was an outsider or a loner but also because she was South Asian is rooted in white cultural domination. People of colour in Canada don’t own the top newspapers but people of colour can utilize critical media literacy and be cognizant of the fact the press has their own biases and views. The issue of racism between white Canadians against the South Asian community in British Columbia was buried beneath the surface.

Since the murderers were under age the pathetic Young Offenders Act was under increasing scrutiny and rightfully so. Between April and May 1998 six girls pleaded guilty and were convicted of assault. The Reena Virk murder case was a painful ordeal for Virk’s parents. It has taken many years but there was finally justice for Reena Virk. Kelly Ellard was found guilty of second degree murder. First Kelly Ellard claimed self defense she went through two trials but finally in the third murder trial she was given an automatic life sentence. Walter Glowatski the only male involved in the murder was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. However, in July 2006 after nine years in prison Glowatski was granted temporary passes by the National Parole Board.

“If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position,” she continued. “And if he was a woman (of any color) he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept.” Ferraro does not buy the notion of Obama as the great reconciler.

“I was reading an article that said young Republicans are out there campaigning for Obama because they believe he’s going to be able to put an end to partisanship,” Ferraro said, clearly annoyed. “Dear God! Anyone that has worked in the Congress knows that for over 200 years this country has had partisanship - that’s the way our country is.”

As our conversation came to an end, Ferraro said of her upcoming talk in Torrance, “It’s going to be very up to date. It’s going to be my version of the inside story.”

Geraldine Ferraro’s comments from a recent interview with the Daily Breeze demonstrates her racist and misandrist views about black men are not surprising. Senator Obama earned his success he didn’t obtain it through the marriage market. Ferraro’s suggestion is stupid and idiotic. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton also ran for the United States presidency and both men are well known black political figures. Sharpton and Jackson never had Senator Obama’s success because both men are too inimical.

Obama has been able to obtain support outside of the black community and this strikes a fear in the Clintons and their friends. The grandstanding and the belligerent comments by Clintons supporters has grown more nasty every single day. Senator Obama’s strategy has worked so far to not get into the mud slinging with the Clintons and their supporters. I wonder how much longer Senator Obama can stay above the rhetoric though? Ferraro’s comments are hurtful and disgusting.

Isn’t this interesting once again white feminists such as Geraldine Ferraro trying to make gender the only issue while ignoring race and class. White feminists once again trying to play the victim card. White feminists playing the same record trying to make black men appear as though we are the oppressors. Black men have also been oppressed due to racism, sexism, and misandry. White women have also contributed to the discrimination against people of colour of course Ferraro ignores this fact. White women are active participants in advancing their cause while ignoring minorities.

Its just typical of white feminists to do this to play the gender against race card. Black feminists have written for decades that white feminists are no friends of the black community. The Combahee River Collective, bell hooks, Audre Lorde and many other black feminists have pointed out black feminists have to deal with issues of race, gender, and class. Black feminism can’t isolate or focus only on gender because blacks don’t have skin privilege. Blacks we encounter multiple forms of oppression. It is the classic divide and conquer strategy that white feminists have played for decades.

Make no mistake Geraldine Ferraro does not care about black women or about blacks. Ferraro’s only concern is that a white woman is the next President of the United States. Of course Ferraro ignores the fact part of the reason Senator Clinton is so successful is due to the marriage market. Powerful white women such as Senator Clinton have already been in the White House due to benefiting from marrying powerful white men. Senator Obama earned his success not due to being a black man but due to hard work. Hillary Clinton has the benefit of being in the American consciousness for over twenty years and she is a former First Lady. Bill Clinton is a former President of the United States he is also a part of this campaign.

Senator Clinton did not denounce Ferraro’s racist and misandrist comments. Senator Hillary Clinton may be a female but she’s also white. Why do white feminists such as Ferraro act as though Senator Clinton’s whiteness is not an advantage? The vast majority of Americans are white. According to the 2006 United States census the United States has 221 million white Americans they make up 73.9% of the total United States population. Add in the 23 million white Hispanics and the white American population is even larger. Why do white feminists ignore white skin privilege? Senator Clinton won the delegate count in the big states such as California, New York State, Ohio . Clinton is a part of American political aristocracy she has name recognition by being Bill Clinton’s wife.

The quandary for Senator Obama is because Senator Hillary Clinton is a female she can play the gender card. Senator Clinton can obtain the sympathy of the female voters crying to the media that a man is challenging her on important issues. Next, the hypocritical white feminists will be screaming at the top of their lungs crying sexism if Senator Obama stands up to her. Its like give me a break. Why should Senator Obama allow himself to be constantly attacked by Senator Clinton and not defend himself? The white feminists and Hillary Clinton have played the gender card very well for far too long. If Hillary Clinton can’t handle criticism then she needs to get out of politics. Raw politics is a part of the game Senator Clinton has been throwing everything and the kitchen sink at Senator Obama.

Yet the white feminists are silent when Senator Clinton attacks Obama. Senator Clinton wants her cake and eat it to but she can’t have it both ways. Senator Obama needs to make his move and start criticizing Hillary Clinton right now. I suggest Senator Obama start attacking Senator Clinton on Bill Clinton’s past political history. Bill Clinton is also a part of this campaign make no mistake he is no silent partner.

At a Mississippi event today Senator Obama made it emphatically clear that he is not running for Vice President but for the President of the United States. The Clintons are once again playing dirty politics trying to confuse voters and push people to vote for Senator Clinton. Various members of the Democratic Party have questioned whether people would vote for Senator Obama because he’s a black man. It isn’t the Republicans that are attacking Obama it is other Democrats.

The Clintons suggestion that Senator Obama can be Vice President is so offensive and racist on many levels. The assumption is that a black person should just accept a secondary role instead of the top leadership role. Thank goodness Senator Obama made it clear he’s not running for Vice President . Senator Obama has had more success then Senator Clinton and he needs to just keep on working hard. The Democratic Party has its racist bigots that believe blacks should be the side show or on the sidelines but not in leadership roles. I applaud Senator Obama for trying to smash the glass ceiling. I encourage the young black voters to get out there and vote make your voices heard at the ballot box.

Senator Obama made it clear that the public has to make a choice for either candidate. I think Barack has been too nice for far too long he needs to attack Senator Clinton and attack her hard on the important issues.

The WTA Indian Wells event starts this week in Palm Springs California. The D list of the WTA tour such as Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic, and Lindsay Davenport will be competing. The best players on the WTA Tour world number one Justine Henin and the Williams Sisters of course are skipping the event. The only marquee player at Indian Wells is Australian Open champion Maria Sharapova. Sharapova is the new white “It” girl of the WTA. The WTA are attempting to market Sharapova but she is bland and boring. Sharapova has no personality she is aloof, arrogant, and has a haughty attitude.

The bottom line is the only superstars on the WTA are the Williams Sisters. The organizers of the Indian Wells event have paid the ultimate price by not apologizing to Venus, Serena, and Richard Williams for the pernicious racism at the 2001 event.By contrast, the ATP Tour Masters event all the top male tennis players will be playing the event. Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal will be there. ESPN television is not even televising the Indian Wells or Miami Masters events this year. ESPN already has a full plate with the men’s and women’s NCAA basketball championships.

I will never forget watching ESPN television and being so angry and disgusted at the white lynch mob screaming at Serena Williams. Serena was only nineteen years old in 2001 she was competing against the Belgian Kim Clijsters in the finals and she won 4-6 6-4 6-2. Serena has incredible mental strength to be able to block out the racist crowd focus on her tennis and win the match. The incident was an ugly example of the bigotry against the Williams Sisters. The most disgusting aspect of this nightmare was it took place on American soil.

Also disconcerting was reading the covert racist articles by white American journalists such as Jon Wertheim and Greg Garber defending and attempting to minimize the racist incident. Wertheim and Garber are racists along with the lynch mob at Indian Wells. Since Wertheim and Garber are both the mythical norm I shouldn’t be surprised by their pernicious bigotry.

The incident was clearly an example of white supremacy it is easy to point out. The question has to be asked would a white female tennis player ever be treated so harshly and so unfairly? This kind of racist treatment would never happen to a white female tennis player. You have one black American girl Serena Williams on the tennis court the rich white crowd are screams at every single shot she hits.

Next, you have a packed stadium of several thousand rich white Americans going overboard cheers for her foreign born white opponent. The audacity and the perfidious attitude of the American media was also abhorrent. The United States has a long way to go in race relations and the Indian Wells incident was a perfect example of this. It is simply outrageous that anyone can actually deny this incident was not an example of white supremacy and white skin privilege. The Indian Wells organizers should be ashamed of themselves they don’t have an ounce of credibility. Sometimes I feel the Williams Sisters get more respect when they play internationally then when they compete in the United States.

The white upper class audience claps at every single mistake and error Serena made even though Serena is American. Serena may be an American champion but she’s not white and Kim Clijsters is. The whiteness was the unifying factor for the rich upper class crowd they have no respect for black people in Indian Wells. The white country club crowd claim that because Venus pulled out minutes prior to their semifinal match that the result was fixed. However, Venus consulted with the WTA and she was unable to play. The country club crowd unleashed their irrational anger at Serena. The incident was a perfect example of racism and sexism against black women. Although Richard Williams the father of Venus and Serena can be confrontational at times I believe him when he said he heard racist slurs during the match.The Williams family have kept their vow never to play Indian Wells ever again and it has now been seven years since they played the event.

The absence of the Williams Sisters weakens the women’s event in Indian Wells. It also underscores the serious issue of race relations in professional tennis. It is obvious to the discerning eye the WTA does not care about discrimination against non white tennis players. The WTA have refused to force the organizers of the Indian Wells event to make a formal public apology to the Williams Sisters and their father Richard in front of the world media.

The WTA’s president Larry Scott is actually attempting to force Venus and Serena to play Indian Wells in 2009. Does Larry Scott have any morals or class? However, Richard Williams has made it clear he might take the WTA to court if Larry Scott even thinks about trying to fine the Williams Sisters. The reason Larry Scott and the Indian Wells organizers want the Williams Sisters to play Indian Wells is because they are the only bankable stars on the WTA Tour.

Tennis fans flock to every single event the Williams Sisters compete in they are money makers. So instead of making a formal public apology the pathetic and racist Indian Wells event organizers are trying to upset the Williams family even more. The Williams family must never play Indian Wells ever again because the message needs to be sent that racism and sexism is unacceptable in professional sports. Some sports reporters are trying to say the Williams family are being a bit overtly sensitive. It is obvious to me these sports reporters they are just racist and refuse to see reality.

The racist attitude of the American sports establishment and their views of black women is the real issue here. If a white female tennis player was booed by an all black audience you better believe the white media would immediately support that white female tennis player. However, when a black woman tennis player is booed by an all white upper class privileged crowd there is only apathy and indifference. It just goes to show how racist professional tennis still is.

The status of the event is no longer tier I the event now has a lower status among the other top women. The WTA Indian Wells event is a complete joke nobody cares that Daniela Hantuchova beat Svetlana Kuznetsova in the women’s finals last year. Kuznetsova and Hantuchova are D list players they may be highly ranked but nobody outside the tennis world cares about them.

The Williams Sisters absence at the Indian Wells event has reduced the star quality of the event it now has a D list status. Most of the top women skip Indian Wells in favor of playing the more important WTA event in Miami at the end of March anyway. The white feminist Billie Jean King and Chris Evert the termagant former tennis player are part owners of the Indian Wells event along with the washed up former champion Pete Sampras.

Billie Jean King and Chris Evert are both a disgrace to women’s tennis. Both women pretend to be ambassadors of the game. Are Evert and King only against discrimination that affects rich and privileged white females? Black women encounter multiple layers of oppression in relation to their race and gender. Both Evert and King have been silent about the Indian Wells incident for the past seven years. Does Billie Jean King or Chris Evert have any class at all? Why are King and Evert still reticent after all these years? King and Evert have a responsibility to speak out against the discrimination against the Williams Sisters at Indian Wells. However, King and Evert’s silence speaks volumes about the kind of people they really are.

I applaud the Williams family for standing by their principles. The WTA Indian Wells event will be a complete bore this year just like last year and the previous years. I can’t wait until the end of March to see the Williams Sisters play the more prestigious Miami event.

A seventeen year old black gay teenager Simmie Williams Jr was brutally murdered in Fort Lauderdale Florida on February 23nd 2008 at 12:45 am. Williams was minding his own business walking down the street and was gunned down. Williams was shot to death while wearing a dress. Williams mother knew her son was gay and loved her son. Williams was planning to obtain his GED and apply to culinary school.

This is such a tragic and disgusting act of violence against a young gay person. Where is the outrage? There have been rumours that Williams may have been a male prostitute. Witnesses say they heard Williams in a heated argument with two men and homophobic slurs were hurled at him. However, there is absolutely no concrete evidence to prove Williams was a prostitute.

The LGBT Democratic Caucus plan a vigil and rally today at 4:30pm at 1000 Sistrunk Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale to call attention to violence against gays and lesbians in Florida. Williams death underscores the dangers that black gay teens encounter in a world that is heterosexist, homophobic, racist, and also against people that don’t conform to society’s rigid gender roles. Black gay teens encounter a quandary due to their age, race, and sexual orientation that heterosexual teenagers do not. Straight teens can meet at school, at the local library, at the mall, in the public sphere. Black gay youth also encounter homophobia from heterosexual blacks and racism from a hostile mainstream white gay community. Where do gay black teens turn when the gay community rejects them?

Since homophobia and racism is so entrenched in North America black gay teens encounter more barriers that haven’t broken down fast enough. Black gay teens often have a difficult time negotiating between the public and private sphere. High schools across the United States have developed gay and straight alliances to help alleviate this dilemma.

However the quandary is some homophobic people utilize religion as a weapon. Gays and lesbians have to fight in court against heterosexist organizations in order to have safe spaces available for gay teens. Gay and straight alliances are imperative because most gay social spaces in North America are reserved for adults. The gay bars, clubs, and bathhouses in America bar anyone under the age of consent. Gay teens don’t have access to the gay epicenter.

Williams death highlights another issue did he have access to counseling or social network programs? Some cities and towns in North America do not have gay and lesbian youth centers or programs for gay youth. Fort Lauderdale is considered a gay tourist city. However, were specific programs available for black gay youth? The question remains where do gay teens turn to when when they may feel isolated, alienated, confused, depressed, or seeking attention and want to make friends?

The internet is a new tool on the information superhighway for gay teens to connect with each other. However, the internet can also be a dangerous place for teenagers since sadistic pedophiles surf the net looking for impressionable youth . Transgendered youth encounter even more barriers including transphobia from the gay community and heterosexual society.

One argument is that Williams could of been more cautious walking around in public in a dress. However, Williams was only seventeen years old and unlike heterosexual teenagers gay teens encounter the crushing force of homophobia from a hostile society. Another point to consider is perhaps Williams was comfortable enough with himself that he had the courage to wear a dress in the public sphere. Also, the United States is a democracy and people should have the freedom to dress anyway they want without judgment, prejudice, or the threat of potential violence.

I remember the first time I ever watched a tennis match on television was in June 1990 during Wimbledon. I saw Zina Garrison defeat Monica Seles in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon 3-6 6-3 9-7. Zina went on to beat Steffi Graf in the semifinals 6-3 3-6 6-4 but lost to Martina Navratilova in the finals that year. I was excited about seeing Zina Garrison a black woman compete at the elite level. I was also curious about Monica Seles. I wondered to myself “why is that girl screaming at the top of her lungs?” I was just a kid back then I had no appreciation of Monica Seles incredible talent.

Monica Seles invented the power game in women’s tennis she was an aggressive baseliner and the first woman to ever hit the ball hard off both the forehand and backhand. Monica also hit the ball on the rise robbing her opponents of time when they served the ball to set up and hit their shots. Seles was also left handed so it was hard for opponents to know where she was going to hit the ball. Seles created incredible angles on the court.

In the early 1990s the North American media wasn’t kind to Monica Seles. Monica was depicted as a care free kind of a girl she was the bad Eastern European girl. Although Monica Seles was a great champion she was an underdog with the public and media. The Occidental world always favored the petulant American brat Jennifer Capriati and the callous German Steffi Graf.

I will never forget watching the 1991 US Open women’s semifinal match between Monica Seles and Jennifer Capriati. I was only thirteen years old and I was so inspired by Monica Seles to pick up a tennis racket. I loved Monica’s attitude she didn’t care that the fans booed her she was so focused on winning. Monica Seles is the godmother of the power era she brought the power game to women’s tennis. Seles and Capriati were able to hit the ball so hard with incredible accuracy and consistency. Women’s tennis was no longer a game of moon balls, and boring baseline games. Monica Seles demonstrated a woman tennis player can be very aggressive and fearless.

The majority of the US Open crowd was on Jennifer Capriati’s side but she choked the match. Capriati she served for the match twice at 5-4 and again at 6-5 in the third set but couldn’t deliver. Monica Seles incredible mental toughness was evident she was only seventeen at the time and she prevailed 6-3 3-6 7-6. Capriati’s confidence was shattered after the huge US Open loss.

In Jennifer Capriati’s career she went on to lose two more matches that went the distance to Justine Henin in 2003 and Elena Dementieva in 2004 at the US Open. Capriati never reached the US Open finals in her career. Monica Seles career soared after the 1991 US Open she demonstrated she was the real number one on the WTA Tour. Many people thought Monica Seles could dominate women’s tennis for a long time.

Monica went on to win the US Open for the first time in 1991 destroying Martina Navratilova 7-6 6-1 in the finals. Monica Seles dominated Steffi Graf 3-1 in grand slam finals prior to the stabbing incident in Hamburg Germany. The best match between Monica Seles and Steffi Graf was the classic 1992 French Open final Monica won 6-2 3-6 10-8 in two hours and forty five minutes.

A new rivalry emerged between Seles and Graf they were superior to all the other women on the WTA Tour. Although Monica lost the 1992 Wimbledon to Graf due to the ludicrous grunting controversy, she bounced back blasting Arantxa Sanchez Vicario off the court 6-3 6-3 in the 1992 US Open final.

Monica Seles brought a Hollywood glamour to the women’s game she was cognizant of the importance of fashion she often was seen wearing a cocktail dress after winning grand slam titles.

Monica Seles was the best teen prodigy to ever to play women’s tennis. Seles won the French Open three years in a row from 1990 to 1992. Seles is still the youngest French Open champion ever when she won in 1990 at sixteen years and six months. Monica Seles won nine grand slams in her career.

Monica Seles was superior to Steffi Graf prior to the 1993 stabbing incident in Hamburg Germany. Since Steffi Graf is German I feel Steffi had a responsibility to speak out about this horrendous act of violence against Monica Seles. Steffi never made any public statements she just acted petulant and haughty.

How can Germany justify Gunther Parche attempting to murder Monica Seles and not spend a day in prison? Why didn’t the WTA ban all WTA tennis events in Germany immediately and support Monica Seles? The WTA should of sent a clear message to the German Tennis Federation and Germany that violence in sports is unacceptable. How can a man attempt to kill a woman on live television and just walk away? If Monica Seles wasn’t Serbian would the sentence for Parche been harsher?

My perspective is since Monica Seles is Serbian and not German the racist German judicial system ignored the tragedy. The world knows Germany is a racist xenophobic nation where African immigrants are thrown off bridges, set on fire, murdered, and attacked. Germany is also well known for murdering Turkish people. There have been numerous news stories about Turkish families homes being torched by Neo Nazis and the racist duplicitous German government does nothing. The silence of German society to these abhorrent acts of violence means they condone and accept this pernicious racist behavior. I wonder why people of colour and ethnic minorities bother living in such a disgusting racist nation anyway?

At the trial Parche received a slap on the wrist by the racist German judicial system a two year suspended sentence. Germany makes me so sick. The suspended sentence makes me so ill I want to vomit. The German court system basically allowed an attempted murderer to walk free because Germany’s golden girl Steffi Graf was able to return to a second period of dominance on the WTA Tour.Gunther Parche should be behind bars today and he would be if the stabbing had taken place in North America. Steffi Graf should be ashamed of herself she was so callous and cruel to Monica Seles after the stabbing.

Yes, Steffi visited Monica in the hospital but she ignored Monica and simply acted as though the incident had never taken place. Why didn’t Steffi try to help Monica more? It seems to me Steffi was apathetic to Monica Seles concerns all she cared about was winning more grand slam titles.

There are still rumors floating around that Steffi Graf had something to do with the stabbing. Perhaps the rumors are lies but the truth is Steffi Graf is the only person that benefited from the tragedy. Once Monica was out of the way Steffi won virtually everything on the WTA tour reducing women’s tennis to a complete bore and a joke. Women’s tennis was no longer enjoyable until the Williams Sisters and Martina Hingis emerged in the late 1990s and Steffi Graf retired from the game. Graf is such an unlikeable person she was so rude, obnoxious, and indifferent to the other players and the media.

Monica Seles showed up at the US OPEN in 1994 and she slammed Steffi Graf calling her out for not even getting her a “get well card”. Monica also resented the fact the other top women didn’t want her back at the number one position when she returned to the WTA Tour. Gabriela Sabatini was the only top player that stated Monica Seles should return to the number one position. Monica says that Gabriela Sabatini is a decent human being for speaking up for her when nobody else on the WTA Tour would.

It is well known in the tennis world Monica Seles does not like Steffi Graf. The resentment Monica has for Steffi is not jealousy. I honestly believe it is because Steffi Graf’s actions speak louder then words. Steffi demonstrates with her attitude towards Monica Seles that she is a disgraceful, despicable, and disgusting human being. Steffi always had an aloof personality so self absorbed and superficial. Monica Seles was different she’s always humble, genuine, real, and a kind person.

Although Monica is ethnic Hungarian she was born in Novi Sad in Serbia she is also Serbian. The young Serbian tennis stars Novak Djokovic, Ana Ivanovic, and Jelena Jankovic all say they looked up to Monica Seles when they were children she inspired them to play tennis. The Williams Sisters always say that Monica Seles was their favorite player they love Monica too.

Unfortunately Gunther Parche got his wish he stabbed Seles in the back and allowed Steffi Graf to become number one again. In Monica Seles absence Steffi Graf was ruthless she made women’s tennis boring dominating the game for three years from 1993 to 1996. Arantxa Sanchez Vicario managed to have one good year in 1994 winning two slams but she simply wasn’t powerful enough to challenge Graf consistently. It was boring watching Steffi defeat Arantxa in five grand slam finals in a row. Women’s tennis desperately needed Monica back.

When Monica returned to the WTA in 1995 she wasn’t the same the focus and intensity was gone also Monica had gained weight. Since Monica plays with two hands on both sides she needed to be quick to track down the tennis balls. Suddenly, Monica started to lose to inferior players. Monica only won one grand slam event  after her return to women’s tennis she stormed to the 1996 Australian Open women’s title. Monica was still talented enough to be a consistent top ten player but she wasn’t one of the “best” players anymore.

In 1998 Monica’s father died from cancer somehow during this period of grief Monica managed to reach her last grand slam final losing to Aranxta Sanchez Vicario in a tough three set match. Monica lost to Arantxa because she was not physically fit the determination was gone. After the loss to Arantxa, Monica did managed to remain in the top ten of the WTA Tour but the spark was gone. Monica’s last WTA match was the 2003 French Open she lost to Nadia Petrova in the first round.

It is now official that Monica retired she is truly a legend of the game. In my opinion Seles at her peak was superior to Steffi Graf she was dominating Steffi like nobody else has ever done before. Monica boycotted Germany and never competed in Germany after the stabbing.

Germany may have Steffi Graf but the lax and pathetic German judicial system demonstrates that the intense racism, xenophobia, and prejudice still haunts the nation. Germany has no excuse for allowing an attempted murderer Gunther Parche to not serve time in prison. Again, the how can a man caught on video tape attempting to murder a woman be allowed to walk free? Why didn’t Steffi Graf speak up and take action? Why did Graf remain silent? Does Steffi Graf have a heart? Is Steffi Graf human? Steffi Graf demonstrated she is a bottom feeder and a pathetic coward that has zero credibility and humanity. Steffi Graf didn’t mind profiting off of the tragedy in her lust for tennis glory and fame . Steffi Graf didn’t mind sweeping through all the grand slams but she never would of won so many if Monica Seles was around in her prime.

The message the German government is sending is Germany accepts violence against women, attempted murder, racism, and xenophobia because Steffi Graf a German player benefited from tragedy. Steffi Graf is not the greatest player of all time that label belongs to Martina Navratilova. Graf would never win twenty two grand slam singles titles if Monica Seles had not been stabbed. I am glad Monica Seles was honest in a NY Times interview she said “Steffi and I have no relationship”. Steffi Graf is a monster she is a disgusting human being. I cannot blame Monica she is very professional in interviews but even she cannot understand how Graf can be so evil, truculent, cruel, and shallow.