When a country doesn't respect Black lives, maybe it doesn't deserve to be entertained by Black athletes.
Jemele HillRead
It's something most people of color and most women have been burdened with their whole lives, having to suppress your natural emotion to make everybody else feel comfortable. Repeatedly having to do that takes its toll.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the emotional burden placed on marginalized groups to conform to others' comfort.
Jemele Hill's quote speaks to the societal pressure that people of color and women often face to suppress their emotions in order to create comfort for others. This suppression can be exhausting and harmful, impacting their mental health and well-being. By acknowledging this challenge, Hill emphasizes the importance of recognizing and validating the emotions of those who have historically been marginalized.
Themes
EmotionsComfortBurdenMarginalizationAuthenticity
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about workplace dynamics, this quote can illustrate the emotional labor often expected from women and people of color.
More from Jemele Hill
All quotes →Race impacts 90 percent of our society - and I'm probably undershooting that figure. I find this fascinating and like to address it when pertinent.
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Yes, I do realize that men in sports media also face criticism and backlash, but the vitriol that is directed at women, especially women of color, is far more severe.
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America hasn't been able to grapple with the uncomfortable reality that police brutality is encoded in this country's DNA.
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There's a long history and a pattern of Black athletes - and Black people, period - being told to shut up and accept whatever it is they're given.
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The thirst for liberation and equality can never come at the expense of dehumanizing other marginalized groups - especially at a time when hate crimes against Jews have increased significantly.
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