WNBA player Liz Camboge calls coach “little white man” after he lambasted her weight
Racism Score: 1.4
Death, taxes, and the supply and demand of racism are certain in life.
Invoking race into a story is the best way to gain attention. Some stories need the racial element to understand the context of the situation. Other stories depend on race to enhance clicks.
The WNBA is a benefactor in their quest to combat racism. After successfully ousting Kelly Loeffler, players are more empowered than ever to cite race when the opportunity presents itself.
Australian basketball star and WNBA player, Liz Cambage is a prime example. Cambage is half Black (Nigerian) and half white (Australian). She was raised by her white mother in Melbourne. When she was a teenager, she tried to hide her Blackness. After she turned 16, she embraced her Black side.
Why is her racial background important? Because Cambage is a Black queen, a social justice warrior activist and this Black queen will not be disrespected…especially by a little white man!
Let us set the stage.
During a WNBA game, an opposing coach apparently was trying to work the referees to get calls in his favor. Instead of sticking to the physical play, he boldly directed his ire at Cambage’s physique, “come on, she’s 300 pounds!”
Right, wrong, or indifferent, that comment is not the type of equality or equity WNBA players are seeking. Coaches can get away with body shaming in the NBA, the men’s league. Coaches cannot mention weight in the women’s league.
Even though some NBA players are constantly ridiculed for their weight (ex. James Harden), apparently it is a taboo talking point in the WNBA.
The comment was a high-risk, no-reward endeavor. Our focus is on Cambage’s Instagram comment afterwards.
“Something went down in today’s game and I need to speak on it. Because if there’s one thing about me, it’s that I will never let a man disrespect me ever! Ever. Ever. Especially a little white one.”
Elephant in the room. Is describing the coach as “little white one” racist? Well, given that she is half-white…no! Insensitive at best.
Like baseball’s unwritten rules, there are the racial unwritten rules society allows. The unwritten rule here is since the coach is white, society allows it. Twitter, Facebook, and Google make the rules.
We feel we have done this numerous times, yet we will do it again for any first-time readers.
What if the player was white and said, “a little Black one?” Easy, she would be tossed out of the WNBA, Black Twitter would have a meltdown, and the player would never be able to show their face in public again.
Could Cambage’s comment be considered racist? Sure. However, double standards exist, blame society!
