Spencer’s (2004) article “Sister Act VI: Venus and Serena Williams at Indian Wells: ‘Sincere Fictions’ and White Racism” touches on many facets of racism in today’s society, and how they tie into the controversy at Indian Wells in 2001. One of the most notable concepts that Spencer (2004) discusses is the notion of the “sincere fictions” that are created by whites to justify racist behavior or beliefs. In the article, Spencer (2004) uses Martina Hingis’ comment that the Williams sisters receive sponsorships due to their race as an example of a sincere fiction. In this, Hingis “obscures the reality that people of color have historically been excluded from tennis and that White racism continues to operate in the new millennium (Spencer, 2004 p. 128).”
This kind of racism is perhaps the most prevalent that I have seen in my experiences. It has always seemed to me that many whites (at least in my generation) operate under the belief that racism was something that happened before their lifetime, therefore, beliefs or institutions (such as Affirmative Action) that promote the advancement of non-whites are racist themselves, and do nothing to ease racial tensions. Of course, this belief system ignores the fact that people who lived under Jim Crow laws are still alive. It also ignores the vast history of white racism in this country and society. Furthermore, it ignores the blatant inequities between whites and non-whites in this country today. These sincere fictions allow people to distance themselves from the greater picture and see only what they want to see, thus perpetuating racist beliefs. If society is going to move forward and distance itself from racist constructs, driving home the importance of the history of racism as well as where it exists today is vastly important.
I appreciate your observations about how those in your generation may view racism now. The following statements really resonated with me when you wrote: "this belief system ignores the fact that people who lived under Jim Crow laws are still alive. It also ignores the vast history of white racism in this country and society. Furthermore, it ignores the blatant inequities between whites and non-whites in this country today."
ReplyDeleteToday is the final of the Indian Wells tournament and it is difficult for me to not think about what happened 10 years ago. I still wish that those who ran the tournament then would acknowledge that what happened was wrong.
Racism has been and will continue to be a work in progress. It is difficult to change opinions of people who have been raised in a family environment where racism has been practiced whether it be blatant or subtle. Racism in tennis has been the worst because it is known as a country club sport and not long ago at all African Americans were not even permitted into country clubs. The Williams sisters in my opinion have opened doors for the African American population and broken some barriers of racial stigmas.
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