Serena Williams has responded to Ilie Nastase’s racial comments about her, saying ‘Barriers still need to be broken down’
Serena Williams has responded to controversial tennis Fed Cup coach Ilie Nastase after the Romanian said that her unborn baby would be ‘Chocolate with Milk’. Today on Instagram the classy 23 grand slam champion responded, this is what she said in full:
“It disappoints me to know we live in a society where people like Ilie Nastase can make such racist comments, This world has come so far but yet we have so much further to go. This or anything else will not stop me from pouring love, light and positivity into everything that I do. I will continue to take a lead and stand up for what’s right. I am not afraid like you. You see, I am no coward. Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom? You may shoot me with your words… you may try to kill me with your hatefulness, but still like the air, I rise. We have broken down so many barriers – however there are a plethora more to go. This or anything else will not stop me from pouring love, light and positivity into everything that I do. I will continue to take a lead and stand up for what is right… I humbly thank the ITF for any consideration given to the facts in this case. They will have my full support. Serena.”
Analysis
Most of the world’s problems currently relate back to tennis it seems lately. A 70 year old racist man picking on a highly successful different coloured woman just because of her skin is a problem we should not be having to deal with in the 21st century. In a world where technology changes but we as humans have not moved on from ideologies that should have been left in the past. In a world where it still matters what ethnicity and gender you are to fit into an ideal world, in some people’s case.
In a world, where one of the most powerful men in the world’s success is some people’s downfall. In a world, where one referendum changes the landscape of how immigrants are treated in a country. Also in a world all of the world’s problems relate back to sport or tennis I never some way. It is completely unsettling as a Polish born Brit, who believes in equality and that racism and sexism should be left in the past. It is also unsetttiling to hear that most of the world’s problems relate to tennis.
The ITF need to make an example out of Nastase as it could send a big message to the world that these comments are not made for the 21st century and should be left in the past. He should no longer be involved in tennis otherwise how is anyone supposed to move on with the times.
Serena is right, barriers still need to be broken and even though the likes of Billie Jean King and Arthur Ashe brought down the barriers for tennis equality, men like Nastase are lifting them back up again, so we need to stop men like this from falling back into the dark past.
It’s time for tennis to show that Love Trumps Hate.
