A friend and i (we are both black) went to a park with prodominatly black people to play tennis. We got so much crap from all the girls there because we were playing tennis. we didn't get crap from the guys just the girls. so the question i am asking is:
why is it such taboo for black women to play tennis or workout. why because i play tennis i am ridiculed by my own race? what is wrong with wanting to be healthy?
2006-07-26 09:00:37 · 22 answers · asked by flo 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
unfortuanatley, it is a complex thing and youre caught in the middle. Your black sisters feel you are beeing too white. White people wonder what that black girl is doing playing tennis.
i understand your position. But bottom line, at the end of the day you are the only one who has to look at yourself in the mirror. you've commited no crime, you've not been moraly substandard, so continue to be yourself. Those other girls are just immature and see that you are stepping up to improve yourself.
take this analogy - if you fill a bucket with crabs, one will try to get out and go over the top, but the others will reach up and pull him back in. Keep going my friend. get out of the bucket.
2006-07-26 09:07:11 · answer #1 · answered by Dr. Linder 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am a black woman and I see absolutely nothing wrong with you playing tennis. I think these girls might have been just jealous of you and your friend. I do not believe it had anything to do with the fact that they were black and you were playing tennis. Although, tennis is not a typical sport that black people play, Venus and Serena have changed all that. Ignore them, we all can't and don't play basketball or run track either. You are not a traitor to your race if you participate in a sport that not everyone else is involved in. Like Nike says, " just do it" and screw those dumb girls.
2006-07-26 16:09:12 · answer #2 · answered by Peace2All 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The stereo type is that in the past, tennis was known as a cake-eater sport. Something rich, white, women did at the "club" to pass away the afternoon and to tryst with the hot, young, tennis pro, while nannies were watching their babies.
Personally, I thought Venus and Serena Williams would have dispelled the racial aspect of that myth.
Sounds like the green-eyed monster at work, here.
Keep on playin'
2006-07-26 16:06:50 · answer #3 · answered by pamspraises 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It shouldn't be taboo since two of the greatest female tennis players in the world are black. Tell those girls to get a life.
2006-07-26 16:03:55 · answer #4 · answered by anthonydavidpirtle 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure that taboo is the word.
What were those other women doing in the park if they weren't playing a sport or working out or using the park in some other manner?
Are you sure that maybe they weren't just jealous for some reason?
Next time you should sincerely ask them if they would like to play.
Love begets love.
If they were jealous, then they were ridiculing you, and hoping that your reaction would be negative, or better yet immature. Don't let them win.
2006-07-26 16:12:10 · answer #5 · answered by niffer's mom 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Never heard of this taboo. The girls who were giving you crap have sad, shallow lives. They obviously have no idea who Venus and Serena Williams are. Guess they never heard of Althea Gibson either. There's nothing wrong with wanting to be healthy. You should feel free to go and play tennis and enjoy it.
2006-07-26 16:09:45 · answer #6 · answered by leo509 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ugh, I know that must suck.
I assume it's beause tennis it's not very often you see black people playing tennis, so they think you're trying to be white or better than them. And if they see you working out, they think you're giving into the "white" image of a beautiful woman (i.e. ridiculously skinny, ). That's what people tell me whenever I try to work out, and I'm mixed Black-Pacific Islander.
2006-07-26 16:08:13 · answer #7 · answered by The Marionette 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why do you care?
When they mock you, say I am having fun!
Also, Tennis palyer are usually cuter than Basketball Horsegirls!
Guys like the outfits and the bouncing, they will not complain!
However, to answer your question, Tennis and Golf are considered white yuppie sports. That is why you are getting grief!
Just remember, Groove is in the heart!!!! Go have fun!
2006-07-26 16:08:25 · answer #8 · answered by happymrzot 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nothing is wrong with u 4 wanting 2 be healthy. They're hating b/c u play better than them. Many ppl have this societal bias that blacks r usually lazy & sit around on their butts, but u have 2 show ppl ur different. Maybe they're jealous b/c by u being healthier than them, you'll live longer & happier.
2006-07-26 16:09:30 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I play tennis too but not as good. NO one make fun of me because of that fact maybe because I can't get ball over the net or hit it most of the time. Its a shame that our people think we can only be limited to basketball!
2006-07-26 16:05:15 · answer #10 · answered by ♥c0c0puffz♥ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋