Friday Open Thread | Black Women Making Olympic History

Posted on August 12, 2016 by SouthernGirl2

About SouthernGirl2

A Native Texan who adores baby kittens, loves horses, rodeos, pomegranates, & collect Eagles. Enjoys politics, games shows, & dancing to all types of music. Loves discussing and learning about different cultures. A Phi Theta Kappa lifetime member with a passion for Social & Civil Justice.
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103 Responses to Friday Open Thread | Black Women Making Olympic History

  7. rikyrah says:
    August 12, 2016 at 9:32 pm

    Ledecky just DUSTED that field.
    She was racing against HERSELF.
    She was racing against HER OWN WORLD RECORD.
    She was amazing in that 800m freestyle.

    https://twitter.com/danavollmer/status/764285728650059776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

    Reply
  8. rikyrah says:
    August 12, 2016 at 9:28 pm

    5 things to know about Michelle Carter- OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST!!

    Carter Is the First American Woman to Medal in Shot Put Since the 1960 Rome Olympics
    She’s a Certified Makeup Artist & Sells Makeup on Her Website
    It Wasn’t Her Father Who Got Her Interested in Shot Put, but a Middle School Teacher
    Her First & Current Coach Is Her Father, Michael Carter (who threw shotput at the 1984 Olympics)
    She Runs a Sports-Confidence Camp Called ‘You Throw Girl’

    http://heavy.com/sports/2016/08/michelle-carter-michael-daughter-athletics-shot-put-who-is-bio-father-rio-olympics-shot-diva/

    Reply
  9. Ametia says:
    August 12, 2016 at 9:26 pm

    August 12 by Nick Eilerson
    Michelle Carter launches mammoth final throw to become first American woman to win gold in shot put

    Michelle Carter stunned the shot put competition with a massive final throw to become the first American woman to win gold in that event. Her sixth and final throw of 20.62 meters — an American record — vaulted her ahead of two-time defending gold medalist Valerie Adams in the first medal field event of the Rio Games.

    Carter launched her first throw of Friday night’s finals 19.12 meters, then heaved her second attempt 19.82 meters.

    But Carter saved her best for last, surging ahead of the 32-year-old Kiwi’s top mark of 20.42. Adams, a four-time world champion, is the older sister of Oklahoma City Thunder star Steven Adams.

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/olympics/2016/live-updates/rio-games/scores-and-latest-news/michelle-carter-launches-mammoth-final-throw-to-become-first-american-woman-to-win-gold-in-shot-put/

    Reply
  12. yahtzeebutterfly says:
    August 12, 2016 at 7:41 pm

    https://twitter.com/3ChicsPolitico/status/764255364162334720

    I recommend physician Gilbert Moore’s book Blood, Beaches, and Ballots which chronicles this harrowing day and the events leading up to it.

    Here is an excerpt from the publisher’s description of the book:

    This book, the first to focus on the integration of the Gulf Coast, is Dr. Gilbert R. Mason’s eyewitness account of harrowing episodes that occurred there during the civil rights movement. Newly opened by court order, documents from the Mississippi Sovereignty Commission’s secret files enhance this riveting memoir written by a major civil rights figure in Mississippi. He joined his friends and allies Aaron Henry and the martyred Medgar Evers to combat injustices in one of the nation’s most notorious bastions of segregation.

    In Mississippi, the civil rights struggle began in May 1959 with “wade-ins.” In open and conscious defiance of segregation laws, Mason led nine black Biloxians onto a restricted spot along the twenty-six-mile beach. A year later more wade-ins on beaches reserved for whites set off the bloodiest race riot in the state’s history and led the U.S. Justice Department to initiate the first-ever federal court challenge of Mississippi’s segregationist laws and practices. Simultaneously, Mason and local activists began their work on the state’s first school desegregation suit. As the coordinator of the strategy, he faced threats to his life.

    Reply
    • yahtzeebutterfly says:
      August 12, 2016 at 7:49 pm

      From Wikipedia:

      The “Bloody Wade-in” :

      “The third protest occurred a week later, on April 24, 1960 with 125 gathering before violence erupted in what has become known as “Bloody Sunday” or “The Bloody Wade-in.” The New York Times called this event “The worst racial riot in Mississippi history.” Shots were fired, rocks were thrown, and there was fighting in the streets over the entire weekend. Ten people were shot and a large number were injured in fights. Gilbert Mason was arrested and convicted of disturbing the peace for his role in the protest.[6] Biloxi police recruited a mob of white citizens and took no action to prevent their violence against protesters. Mason’s office was firebombed later that night.

      “On May 17, 1960, the U.S. Justice Department sued the city of Biloxi for denying African-Americans access to the publicly funded beaches. The city delayed the hearing to such an extent that Biloxi black leaders decided to stage another protest in 1963 in order to allow them to file suit in the Harrison County courts.”

      The final protest (This is the one that you tweeted out, SG2)

      “The final protest occurred on June 23, 1963, following the assassination of Medgar Evers. Evers had been a popular supporter of the Biloxi Wade-Ins and had written a letter to Mason proclaiming that “if we are to receive a beating, let’s receive it because we have done something, not because we have done nothing.” The protest had been postponed for two weeks to allow participants time to mourn Evers’s murder and protesters placed black flags in the sand in his memory during the demonstration. Biloxi police arrested 71 protestors, of whom 68 were black. Over 2000 white residents held a counterprotest, in which Gilbert Mason’s car was vandalized and finally overturned.

      “It was not until 1967 that the Justice Department won its case, and in 1968 the entire beachfront was opened to all races for the first time.”

      Reply
  16. rikyrah says:
    August 12, 2016 at 6:48 pm

    YES

    “I’m not the next Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps. I’m the first Simone Biles.” – Simone Biles

    Reply
  17. rikyrah says:
    August 12, 2016 at 6:45 pm

    When the scientists try and explain your greatness…

    https://youtu.be/9HO0zsigh30

    Reply
  19. rikyrah says:
    August 12, 2016 at 6:41 pm

    I didn’t know the Ravens stopped the game to watch Phelps.

    https://twitter.com/Ravens/status/763923139684216832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

    Reply
  21. rikyrah says:
    August 12, 2016 at 6:36 pm

    VSB weighs in:

    THE SIMONES SPRINKLED #BLACKGIRLMAGIC IN RIO LAST NIGHT LIKE BAWSES
    Panama Jackson, 8/12/16

    You know by now. Simone Biles rolled into Rio and put 100 percent into every line she dropped. Simone Manuel went out there and didn’t know she swooped into the history books by winning the women’s 100m freestyle in swimming. They are some bad women. I’ll bet if you go into their purses and pull out their ID cards, they both say “Bad Motherfucker” on them. I’d put money on it.
    They were out in Rio sprinkling #blackgirlmagic everywhere and kicking ass and taking names, especially in the case of Simone Biles. In fact, let’s talk about Simone Biles.

    Bruh.

    Simone must have had on a Superwoman t-shirt under her leotard. It’s one thing to win the individual gold in the all-around competition. That’s awesome. But she won so hard it was like Tiger Woods during his heyday when everybody else mostly showed up to play for #2. We all heard the stats that her margin of victory was so large it was bigger than the combined gap between 1st and 2nd place from like 1980 through 2012. And was even huge for the modified rules since 2006. All that minutiae is unnecessary; she whipped ass, took names, then whipped ass again. The girl is so bad she has a move that’s referred to as HER move, The Biles.
    I watched one of those videos that breaks down the physics of doing the things that gymnasts do. Those videos are awesome. But when you have actual scientists saying that the physics of what she’s doing is confusing? #cmonson

    ……………………

    And speaking of Blackness, Simone Manuel becoming the first Black woman to win an individual competition in swimming? Fam. We’re out here breaking 1960s barriers and shit. On some Disney-movie Pride THIS IS OUR HOUSE, COACH! steez. The fact that she didn’t even realize it at first made it even better. The tears were real. The appreciation was real, and the fact that she knows what it means is even more realer than the previous reals. I’m just proud. I don’t believe anybody thought that she was going to medal, let alone win, so the fact that she did is pure joy running through my heart. My heart doesn’t pump Kool-aid, it pumps for The Simones.

    Reply
  26. rikyrah says:
    August 12, 2016 at 6:27 pm

    Gazebo where Tamir Rice was shot to be deconstructed soon, sent to Chicago museum

    CLEVELAND, Ohio – The gazebo where 12-year-old Tamir Rice was fatally shot by Cleveland police in 2014 appears to be headed for a museum in Chicago.

    Cleveland City Council on Wednesday night adopted legislation authorizing the city to accept donations from the Ozanne Construction Company and Independence Construction for services to deconstruct and remove the gazebo — which stands as a grim reminder of the tragedy outside the Cudell Recreation Center on the city’s West Side.

    Councilman Matt Zone said during a Committee of the Whole hearing Wednesday that the gazebo will be transferred to the Tamir Rice Foundation and stored in donated space for up to six months. Then, the foundation is expected to send it to Chicago to be displayed at a new museum called the Stony Island Arts Bank, Zone said.

    Zone said he expects deconstruction to take place by early September. And eventually, a stone memorial to Tamir will be installed, he said. Zone added that former City Councilman Jay Westbrook was instrumental in lining up the donated services involved in the effort.

    The gazebo’s fate was the subject of minor controversy earlier this year.

    In May, poor communication from the Smithsonian’s Museum of African American History and Culture created a false impression that the national museum wanted to preserve the gazebo.

    The museum’s Senior History Curator William Pretzer told Cleveland Law Director Barbara Langhenry in an email that he was writing on behalf of the museum to request a delay of the demolition, which originally had been slated for that week.

    “Our museum is in talks with Black Lives Matter concerning options for preservation of the gazebo, given its importance to African-American history,” Pretzer wrote. “It is our understanding that the Rice family is supportive of this concept. We will need about 60 days to finalize our discussions regarding this matter.”

    In response to Pretzer’s correspondence, Langhenry said the city would delay demolition of the gazebo for 30 days “to allow the discussion to continue.”

    A museum spokeswoman later walked back Pretzer’s comments and said the museum was only trying to help Black Lives Matter, which had expressed interest in the preservation of the gazebo.

    Tamir was shot Nov. 22, 2014, as police officers Timothy Loehmann and Frank Garmback responded to a 911 call about a “guy” with a gun in the park. Tamir turned out to have been in possession of a pellet gun.

    A grand jury declined to indict the officers in December in connection to the shooting. The family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city, which resulted in a $6 million settlement in April. An internal review of the events surrounding Tamir’s death is ongoing.

    Reply
  33. Liza says:
    August 12, 2016 at 2:31 pm

    Baltimore….

    After Brown v Board of Ed, a Federal judge upheld segregated pools in 1950s Baltimore because pools "were more sensitive than schools."— Isabel Wilkerson (@Isabelwilkerson) August 12, 2016

    //platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

    Reply
  34. rikyrah says:
    August 12, 2016 at 2:19 pm

    Newspaper apologizes for ‘insensitive’ Simone Manuel headline

    Simone Manuel made history on Thursday night in Rio when she tied Penny Oleksiak in the 100m freestyle to win a gold medal, becoming the first female African-American swimmer to win a gold for the U.S. in an individual event.

    The accomplishment by Manuel was incredible and significant, and it led to tons of celebration from American fans. The 20-year-old Stanford student also made headlines throughout the country, though one was not as kind as others.

    The San Jose Mercury News insulted Manuel by omitting her name from its headline and simply calling her an “African American”:

    The Northern California newspaper scrambled to try fixing things after receiving some backlash, but they screwed up the amended headline by forgetting the word “with.”

    On take three, they finally got it right. The new headline stated “Olympics: Stanford’s Simone Manuel and Michael Phelps make history.” The Mercury News also apologized for the original headline.

    We apologize for an insensitive headline earlier on a story about Simone Manuel and Michael Phelps’ medal wins. https://t.co/ykWvcddaKf
    — Mercury News (@mercnews) August 12, 2016
    The newspaper elaborated in an editor’s note on the article.

    “The original headline on this story was insensitive and has been updated to acknowledge the historic gold medal wins by both Simone Manuel and Michael Phelps. We apologize for the original headline. The story has also been updated,” the note said.

    At least the newspaper apologized for the original headline, though there isn’t an excuse for making a mistake like that. Then again, we also couldn’t believe something like this could happen, and it did.

    Reply
    • Liza says:
      August 12, 2016 at 4:23 pm

      These apologies are just about meaningless, there are so many of them. Writing a proper headline is not rocket science. My advice, hire people who can do it, fire those who can’t.

      Reply
  35. Ametia says:
    August 12, 2016 at 2:01 pm

    EYES ON PRIZE, YA’LL

    Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild throws Hillary fundraiser
    By Richard Johnson
    August 11, 2016

    Hillary Clinton will be a guest of one of President Obama’s harshest critics, Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild, Aug. 20 on Martha’s Vineyard.

    The wife of British Sir Evelyn de Rothschild is hosting a dinner-party fundraiser for about 30 guests, who will pay up to $100,000 per couple.

    http://pagesix.com/2016/08/11/lady-lynn-forester-de-rothschild-throws-hillary-fundraiser/

    Reply
  37. Liza says:
    August 12, 2016 at 12:13 pm

    Northern Florida, circa 1960’s…

    https://twitter.com/jamilahking/status/764119156333486080

    Reply
    • SouthernGirl2 says:
      August 12, 2016 at 12:49 pm

      Jesus Christ!

      Reply
    • yahtzeebutterfly says:
      August 12, 2016 at 2:04 pm

      I have a copy of this wire photo which was sent to a Kansas newspaper.

      On the back of it is the clipping from the newspaper with this photo and the caption:

      A ST. AUGUSTINE, FLA., POLICE OFFICER jumped into the swimming pool there yesterday to clear out white and Negro integrationists who had jumped in to promote their cause. The officer is Henry Billitz. All of the swimmers were arrested.”

      Reply
      • Liza says:
        August 12, 2016 at 4:41 pm

        This picture and story makes me feel so sad. St. Augustine is just about 30 miles south of where I grew up in Jacksonville. Back then, it was a quaint little historic town, not much going on there except tourism. But the coastal area, St. Augustine Beach, was a Florida beach town like all the rest.

        I didn’t know this happened. There was so much going on back then that we are still learning the depth and breadth of it all.

        In Jacksonville, black folks lived mainly in the northwest part of the city, some lived on the outskirts of the downtown area. When I lived in Jax, it was more common than not for a black kid growing up there to never see the ocean.

        Reply
      • yahtzeebutterfly says:
        August 12, 2016 at 4:59 pm

        I hear you, Liza. So sad. So heartbreaking.

        I, too, am always learning more and more about these past events.

        Black individuals in the civil rights movement attempted to desegregate the beach in St. Augustine that same summer.

        These photos with their captions are from an Atlantic magazine article from May 28, 2014 titled “1964 Civil Rights Battles” :
        http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/64civil052814/s_c31_40625035.jpg
        “A group of white segregationists attack a group of blacks as they began to swim at the St. Augustine Beach, Florida, on June 25, 1964. Police moved in and broke up the fighting. (AP Photo)”

        http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/64civil052814/s_c32_40623073.jpg
        “A woman falls to the beach after she was attacked by three white women segregationists, when she attempted a wade-in with several African American and white desegregationist demonstrators at St. Augustine Beach, Florida, on June 23, 1964. (AP Photo/JK)”

        Reply
  39. rikyrah says:
    August 12, 2016 at 11:49 am
    Reply
    • Ametia says:
      August 12, 2016 at 11:41 am

      Yes, NBC was sulking right along with the white wimmens. Even when Aly Raisman was in full support of Simone Biles, holding her hands, and congratulating her, they were still commenting on Raisman’s disappointment. Of course this was a competition, and she wanted to win the Gold, but they kept making the winning gold medal moment for Biles about Raisman and that Russian gymnast.

      SHAMEFUL reporting. They need to keep their mouths shut and air the competition fairly, but that would be too much like RIGHT

      Reply
  44. Ametia says:
    August 12, 2016 at 10:25 am
    Reply
  45. Ametia says:
    August 12, 2016 at 10:23 am

    We SEE YOU.

    They can air your competitions as LATE as they want.

    WE SEE YOU ALL

    Reply
  48. Ametia says:
    August 12, 2016 at 10:19 am

    Cover & celebrate the Simones. NBC’s lousy coverage of them was a slap in the face.

    Reply
    • Ametia says:
      August 12, 2016 at 10:21 am

      BEAUTIFUL!!!

      But those bitch ass media clowns will air nonsense about Gabby Douglas not placing hands on heart during national anthem. RI-DIC-U-LOUS!

      Reply
  50. Double D (@DubbleDhee) says:
    August 12, 2016 at 10:09 am

    Simone Manuel made barrier crack
    NBC put knife in her back
    Didn’t cover medal stand
    Told us Talk To The Hand
    This is just a big Phelps stack

    BlackGirlMagic came out of nowhere
    Gave old stereotypes a big stare
    They gave her no shot
    But she hit the jackpot
    Yet the networks did not even care

    Another Stanford alum of note
    Was called a thug and a joke
    Simone came through
    Didn’t get her due
    One more Black scholar handed their coat

    This may be a teachable moment
    Media was Simone’s opponent
    Careful who you trust
    Bones may be ground to dust
    Only cash makes them your proponent

    Was it something Simone said?
    Had no hijab on her head
    She gave inspiration
    NBC exploits a poor nation
    Hope they sleep well in their beds

    Reply
  51. yahtzeebutterfly says:
    August 12, 2016 at 9:46 am

    “Trump meets The Honeymooners”

    https://youtu.be/3XriXDtfqCg&rel=0

    Reply
    • Liza says:
      August 12, 2016 at 11:03 am

      From the article, “According to Smithsonian Magazine, in Las Vegas in the 1950s, Sammy Davis Jr. took a swim at a hotel and, “afterward, the manager drained the pool.” So yeah, Simone Manuel’s win is a big deal, and a highly emotional moment.”

      Reply
  53. Ametia says:
    August 12, 2016 at 9:12 am

    AMERICAN MADE

    1470976576794

    Reply
  55. rikyrah says:
    August 12, 2016 at 8:57 am

    Never forget.

    They drained an entire swimming pool because Dorothy Dandridge stuck her toe in it.

    That is why Simone Manuel is important

    — George M Johnson (@IamGMJohnson) August 12, 2016

    Reply
  59. Ametia says:
    August 12, 2016 at 8:54 am

    YEP TRUMP

    Reply
  60. sunshine616 says:
    August 12, 2016 at 6:48 am

    Another white man kills people, shoots at the cops, apprehended and arrested.
    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3735712/Grandson-shoots-grandmother-kills-husband.html

    Reply
  61. vitaminlover says:
    August 12, 2016 at 6:45 am

    Good morning, ladies. Yesssss to the lovely Olympians Simone Biles, Simone Manuel and Gabby Douglas!!!! All champions.

    Reply
  67. rikyrah says:
    August 12, 2016 at 6:16 am

    I’m tired this morning, but last night is why you watch the Olympics. To see HISTORY being made. I assure you that there were little Black girls watching last night …..some love gymnastics, some love swimming. And something sparked in them watching “The Simones”😊😀😆☺

    Bravo to them both for the history they made.

    Reply
    • Ametia says:
      August 12, 2016 at 7:47 am

      Yes, same here. NBC aired the gymnastics late, showcasing the swimming first.
      No one aw Simone Manuel coming to that finish line tying first with the Canadian swimmer.

      It was all Michael Phelps & Lochte. These announcers were pumping up the Australian sisters, during the 100m race. This is why I MUTE the TV.

      Reply
  68. rikyrah says:
    August 12, 2016 at 6:13 am

    Sending positive thoughts and prayers to SG2 and her family.

    Reply
  69. rikyrah says:
    August 12, 2016 at 6:12 am

    Good Morning 😊, Everyone 😆

    Reply

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