There has been much discussion as to whether Wozniacki’s caricature of Serena Williams was “funny,” or a blatant act of racism. To which, once again comes the need to better understand and re-define what racism is…and is not. Seemingly, its true meaning has been co-opted and misappropriated over the years; watered down to such a degree that few have a good handle on its definition.
Racism has prerequisites.
Racism requires malice.
Racism and ignorance are inextricably linked, but that doesn’t mean that all ignorance and ignorant displays relative to race equate to racism. Racism requires the belief in the idea of racial superiority with respect to the orator and subjugation relative to the object of the offense.
Without getting too specific, racism requires all of the aforementioned. Not all things “racially insensitive” are racist. Not all things “racially ignorant” are racist. Racism and racist acts are of a much higher standard.
Now on to Caroline Wozniacki, and it doesn’t require extensive analysis or debate. The following we know for sure and isn’t open to discussion…
There is a verified history of mocking the features of Black people in this country. It was in print, in film, music and in general society. There have long been caricatures of how we walked, talked and for far too long nothing was considered beyond the pale. There is a litany of examples of how historically the notion of the beauty of Black women has been denigrated by the larger mainstream media.
There is no question that Serena Williams is one of the greatest tennis players of all time. BUT…there IS the question of whether this behavior would have been conceived or perpetrated against a White champion of equal legacy.
Therein lies the discussion of how race impacts the perception of this moment and Wozniacki’s behavior.
The issue for many who are offended at Wozniacki’s display is the belief that such behavior would never have been tolerated relative to a Billie Jean King, a Chris Evert, Steffi Graff and so forth.
How “funny” would it be if some minor tennis player came out on the court attempting to mock the lesbian lifestyle of Martina Navratilova to delight the crowd, or wore an oversized Jimmy Durante nose to ridicule Steffi Graf? If Serena Williams has earned anything, it’s the right to be treated with the respect accorded to one of the greatest of all time.
The display by Wozniacki may not have been in and of itself motivated by racism…i.e. perceived racial superiority or subjugation of another race. But it rings awfully familiar with certain historical cues relative to minstrel shows in which our features were always fodder for humor. This minor tennis player may not have consciously made the correlation, but I think she’s aware of the fact she could probably get away with it with Serena as opposed to a non-Black champion of similar stature.
It’s connected to how many have perceived the treatment of President Obama; 
disregarding the need to respect of the office of the President. History shows no other president being depicted with bones through his nose, or treated with such egregious levels of disrespect by its own citizenry. The parallels are clear. You didn’t have to like President Obama or his policies, but the position supersedes both and should be accorded the appropriate level of respect.
Along those lines, you don’t have to like Serena Williams or how she plays the game…but as one of the greatest of all time, we should be clear she’s more than earned the right to be treated with the same level of respect of those who are not African-American and have come before her. We can debate the motivations of Wozniacki but it is inarguable as to the fact that no other female tennis legend has endured such consistent ridicule over the course of her career, including not yet limited to Wozniacki’s indefensible display for the sake of a laugh.
We shouldn’t necessarily be angry at Wozniacki’s behavior, but moments like these should always be examined through the appropriate historical prism and not in a vacuum.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uTTWnoW5Mk]
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4 responses to “Caroline Wozniacki – Examine Prank in Correct Historical Context not Vacuum”
The aforementioned by mo Kelly. There has been much discussion as to whether a blatant act of racism. Needs to be better understood and or re-defined as to what racism is…and is not. Few will ever have a good handle on its definition. Racism does have prerequisites. To which only the perpetrators knows his or her true intent. It’s true we don’t live in a Prism and not in a vacuum. But just like its connection to how many have perceived the treatment of President disregarding the need and respect of the office of the president. Many will continue to act out this misappropriated caricature of Racism and ignorance and not understand or care that they are inextricably linked. judging my the last election minus the forty seven percent that showed respect for the previous four years for the office of the presidency. seems to me our job at hand is to weed out that other fifty three percent that just might share the litany of examples of how historically the notion of the beauty of Black women her counter part. That has been denigrated by the larger mainstream media. Represented here the same, by Caroline Wozniacki for the better or worse of our future.
Let me tell you that from the day people knew Martina Navratilova was gay there have already been so many bad jokes on the internet. Spectators in the stand boed her and she did not get the endorsements she deserved as an exceptional tennisplayer.
Where were you all to defend her, nothing but deafening silence also her fellow players were not too great in defending her. We can always say well it were the seventies and eighties and now people are so worried over a joke of Serena.
I can tell you in my country Martina would not have been discriminated in the wsy you did in the USA.
You are not comparing apples to apples. We are talking about fellow competitors. We are not talking about “jokes on the internet.” #1, there wasn’t any internet during the majority of her career. #2, the internet doesn’t have a code of conduct.
But there was NEVER an example of a fellow tennis player disrespecting her in such a manner ON THE COURT.
NEVER.
And if you want to go to “jokes on the internet” there STILL is no comparison between how Serena has been treated and how Martina has been treated “on the internet.” Not…even…close.