Naomi Osaka and the French Open

Naomi Osaka withdrawing from the French Open is completely the fault of the press and commentators, especially Martina Navratilova who has mentioned Naomi not wanting to attend press conferences almost nonstop during her commentating. She didn’t want to attend press conferences to protect her mental health, so what? The press and commentators made a mountain out of this molehill when they didn’t need to.

If Ash Barty had said she didn’t want to attend press conferences, it would’ve been mentioned at most three times and that would’ve been the end of it. The fact that the tournament threatened to expel Osaka shows how much people can’t stand a Black woman exercising her power and making a strong choice.

The same can be said for the way people reacted to Lori Lightfoot only wanting to talk to Black and Brown members of the press. People can’t stand not having unfettered access to a Black woman. They think, “Who the fuck does this Black woman think she is to set such a boundary?!” Who the fuck are we not to?!

We’ve been treated like trash since we were brought to this country against our will. I’ve loved women’s tennis since I was a child. I played tennis in high school. But as a Black woman, I am so tired of the racism and sexism in the sport. It needs to end. NOW.

I am sending my love and eternal support to Naomi Osaka. I hope she is able to get the support to improve her mental health that she needs.