At ShiftED, we’ve been rooting for everybody Black during the Olympics. Now that the games have come to a close, what was otherwise a beautiful celebration of athleticism and lifelong dreams being fulfilled has also been marked by blatant moments of anti-Black racism (see: Sha’Carri Richardson and Shelly-Ann Frayser-Price being prevented from going through the main entrance of the track before their events after an uncommunicated rule change, and Ayesha Curry being brought to tears after an encounter with French police).
What was first a decisive moment to see a podium of all Black women gymnasts decked out in Olympic medals has quickly been tainted by the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision to force Jordan Chiles to return her bronze medal in the floor exercise. It marks a rare moment in Olympic history where an athlete has to return a medal for a reason other than an unethical violation such as doping or cheating, and the committee contends that the U.S. missed the window to contest Chiles’ score by four seconds – even though the judges undervalued her difficulty score.
It begs the question: why did the final decision have to be the most extreme action possible?
Jordan Chiles’ medal being stripped is symbolic of the kind of anti-Black racism that Black women experience in their daily lives. We are penalized off of technicalities that others are less likely to be treated as harshly for. We’re punished without a second thought and regard for our mental or emotional well-being.
In the workplace, living and dying by the letter is a tenet of White Supremacy Culture that is used against Black women to keep us in place and maintain a hierarchy where Whiteness always prevails. White women, especially, are treated with a sensitivity and consideration that Black women are denied. In the world of White Supremacy Culture, rules are flexible and easy to overlook when a White woman is in the picture and must be strictly adhered to regardless of their human impact when it comes to Black women.
Stripping Jordan Chiles of her medal reveals a callousness that Black women are exposed to in every line of work.
Severe punishments for misunderstandings or things out of their control.
Penalties and chastising for mistakes, rather than using them as learning opportunities.
There is a Jordan Chiles in nearly every organization or corporation: a Black woman who is disciplined, incredibly skilled, and talented at what she does, yet has the rug pulled from underneath her even when she exceeds the standards for success there. Legality and technicalities are used as tools to regulate Black women away from opportunities for advancement.
While the United States appeals the decision, there are lessons we can learn in the interim:
Black Women Need Advocates at Work: Without advocates who will speak up on behalf of Black women who face injustices at work, harm is done without anyone caring or speaking up. Managers and colleagues who support Black women with action and not just sympathy are crucial. Jordan's having a coach who unabashedly advocates for her makes a difference.
Look for Evidence to Elevate Instead of Evidence to Penalize: So many workplace decisions that will tangibly impact the livelihood of Black women (such as promotions and raises) are made with a logic that asks why it should not be them instead of why it should. Flipping that logic on its head is crucial for creating workspaces that allow Black women to grow and thrive and feel supported and valued in their journeys to get there.
Create a Culture That Does Not Retaliate for Speaking Up: Often, it’s after a Black woman speaks up for herself at work that she is met with harsh responses. Learning to receive advocacy as a right and need for Black women and not as an adversarial action leaves space for more inclusive and equitable workplaces.
It’s heartbreaking to see Jordan experience a lifelong dream being snatched from her. And across the board, technicalities are used to strip Black women not just of their accomplishments but of their dignity and joy.
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