Day 80: Gabby Douglas Is Not Her Hair

Image courtesy of OK! Magazine site.

I was a bit appalled when I began to see an abundance of chatter online about Gabby Douglas' hair, especially in lieu of the history she'd just made at the London Olympics.  For crying out loud, Gabby Douglas is an Olympic gold medalist.  She became the first Black woman to win a gold medal in the All-Around Women's Gymnastics Final at the 2012 London Olympics, and all people can focus on is her hair?  I thought to myself—how small and superficial for people to focus on something so miniscule.  

Do people realize the amount of skill, talent, agility, diligence, and excellence that it took for Douglas to achieve this feat?  (Mind you, hair was not in the aforementioned list.)  I'm sure it was by no means an easy feat, but when you see Douglas on the floor—she makes it seem as if it's effortless.  She glides through the air like it's a natural thing—like it's her second home.  You cannot help but to root for her.  You cannot help but to get emotional, as she's beaten the odds.  Douglas is out on the floor giving her all and the only thing people can utter are comments about her hair... I'm overcome! 

Where is the pride?  Where is the feeling of faith and encouragement?  At only the age of 16, Douglas has many accomplishments to be proud of.  Her story is one that many can relate to.  By watching what she's done in London, there should be a sense of hope, inspiration, and motivation.  Douglas, like many, is an example of what happens when you are steadfast and relentless in working to achieve your dreams.  And in a field where so few who look like us achieve accomplishments such as these—this is a poignant, touching, remarkable moment.  A moment that we should all cherish dearly. 

Even Douglas can't fathom the focus on her hair and feels it should matter.  In a recent AP article featured on the Huffington Post site, Douglas said,

'"I don't think people should be worried about that...We're all champions and we're all winners. I just say that it's kind of, a stupid and crazy thought to think about my hair."'

I agree.  As India.Arie sang so insightfully, 

I am not my hair/I am not my skin/I am not your expectations (no)/I am not my hair/I am not my skin/I am the soul that lives within ~ "I Am Not My Hair," from Testimony, Vol. 1: Life & Relationship (2006).

Gabby Douglas is more than her hair.  She is a beautiful, intelligent, talented, and gifted young black woman who's made history.  But this is just the beginning of her story.  She's represented our race and our country so well at the Olympics.  And if that isn't enough—I guess nothing ever will be.