She was one of the only freshman in my class; confident, questioning, and thoughtful. Her ability to absorb relatively complex ideas about gender, race, and class and fit them into her own experiences was impressive. Particularly because, although she had graduated at the top of her high school class, her writing ability was no higher than a middle school level. Her thoughtful reading of course materials, persistence in attending office hours for extra help, and astute questioning of everything around her gave her an air of innocence and intelligence; making it clear that any shortcomings in her writing was not because she hadn’t learned it, but because it had never been taught.
Of the many anecdotes I gathered from her, this one is the one that has stuck with me for years. She described playing in the band in her Detroit High School, something she loved. She never really noticed that the instruments were dull and dented, or felt it was strange that students had to take turns bringing instruments home for practice. The fact that they wore matching clothes rather than actual uniforms didn’t really occur to her. What she loved was the camaraderie of the group and the chance to be proud of what they played together. She was thrilled when they were offered the chance to compete at a State-wide competition.
Then they arrived at the competition. She saw the new instruments, fancy uniforms, and huge numbers of students from schools not too far from her own. When she saw the tremendous differences between her school, of which she was so proud, and the other schools, she realized, ‘we weren’t suppose to be there.’ She understood that the unspoken message to her and her classmates was that this competition was not for them; they were not as a prepared, not as polished, and ultimately, not going to be a serious participant. I remember her talking through that memory, struggling with the complex feelings of pride for the opportunity, confusion at the differences that were so apparent, and frustration over what to do or how to feel about it.
Without taking away from the acheivements of any athlete, I find it hard to watch the Olympics and not have her story foremost in my mind.
UPDATE: This post was named a JUST POST for August 2008. (Thank you!)
eli | 13-Aug-08 at 10:12 am | Permalink
You beat me to the post today. I’m having serious issues with the Olympics and feel like most of it is utter bs. We watched part of the opening ceremonies and I thought the little girl singing looked like she was lip syncing. I chalked it up to just a fact due to the size of the stadium. NOT Because the actual singer was not cute enough!
I held back on watching the gymnastics just because the US team even if they won the gold would not be as jubilant as the other teams happy to be at the olympics.
In swimming the focus is all on Michael Phelps. He’s not winning the gold on his own, his team mates who are getting less than top billing are completely responsible for two of the gold medals awarded to Phelps.
In general it is more than evident the olympics is not about amateurs or givng everyone a chance. It’s about semi-professional and professional athletes who are poor sports, poor losers and in general boring to watch.
admin | 13-Aug-08 at 10:25 am | Permalink
I really love to watch the Olympics… I thought the opening ceremonies were tremendous. They left me in awe. (In the power vaccuum left as we leave the era of USA as the world’s dominate power, I think that the opening ceremony really put China as the front runner in taking the USA’s place.)
The Korean swimmer who fell into the pool and was disqualified at the last games and then came back to win the gold at this game won my heart. As did the Indian air rifle gold-medal winner. First Olympic Gold for India! How can the whole world not be happy for that?
I hate that the only medals that matter to the USA are gold… or at least, that is what it seems. USA women’s gymnastics took silver, but you wouldn’t know it by the press, where they were ‘crushed’ by the Chinese. (As for the Chinese gymnasts, who are absolutely amazing notwithstanding, there is no way all of them are over 16 years old. No. Way.) To be a top athlete is amazing to me and to get a medal, any medal, is absolutely astounding.
At the same time, asserting that the winning teams are not at a competitive advantage is not really seeing the whole picture. Our friend Valerie talks about the Peruvian swimming team being made up of the folks who could manage to get through the training season without contracting typhoid from the water.
I love Michael Phelps… what am amazing athlete! But yes, the focus solely on him is a little bothersome. I just hold my breath whenever someone approaches him with a mic, hoping that he keeps his modesty (so far, so good). But what about all the other Olympians who actually showed up to walk that opening ceremony? They have compelling stories, too, in my book.
Randy | 16-Aug-08 at 12:27 pm | Permalink
Wow, you must have missed the US Men’s Gymnastics team ecstatic celebration when they won Bronze in the team competition. The Olympics is not only about medals, but about doing your best, that is why the women’s gymnastics team was so heart broken they every one of them knew they were capable of better.
Shawn Johnson’s praise of the Chinese team after the team competition really showed that although they didn’t win gold the lack of celebration was not poor sportsmanship.
A lot of the focus this Olympics is on Michael Phelps because there will probably never again be a person so completely dominant in an Olympic sport. Hearing his conversation with Mark Spitz (maybe the one person who truly understands the accomplishment) made me realize that he is very much aware of the contributions his team mates have made to his gold medals. Not just in the team events, but in pushing him to perform at his best in practices and meets.
It is entirely unfair to equate NBC’s coverage with the attitudes and personalities of the athletes competing in the games.
admin | 16-Aug-08 at 11:00 pm | Permalink
NBC’s coverage is worse than ever… “Central African Republic is in Central Africa.” Ugh. When we were in Michigan, we would watch the coverage through Canadian channels. No such luck in New Orleans!
The men’s gymnastics were really incredible. I wince everytime they hit the parallel bars on their upper arms… those bruises!
I was afraid Phelps would say something stupid when the relay team won the close race against the French athlete who had been talking smack… but he took the high road. So far, he’s really been a class act. None of that “USA-USA-USA!” I remember from other athletes in previous games. The pressure upon him in all of this is beyond what I can imagine — yet he just always seemed to be able to be cool and polite. Plus, he is good to his Mother. No matter how you slice it, that kid can SWIM.