Apr 15, 2020
Recently, the Centers for Disease Control recommended that
everyone cover their faces each time they leave the house. The
reasoning is that covering noses and mouths to keep droplets in
will assist in flattening the curve. My social media feeds have
been covered with call-outs, shaming anyone who violates this
simple rule, especially runners. Why doesn't everyone just comply
already? It's the safe and unselfish thing to do!
People of color think about safety more than many
of us ever will. Face coverings don't make the (white) people
around them feel more safe, which in turn makes POCs LESS safe. The
further a body attached to a covered face diverges from
bystander perceptions of what a runner looks like, the greater the
danger that runner may face. It's a calculus people of color have
to make every time they leave their house, "does my outfit SCREAM
'athlete' loud enough that people will think I'm training instead
of running away?"
We subtly referenced this reality in our store with a
simple t-shirt that says, "THIS IS WHAT A RUNNER LOOKS LIKE!", but
that isn't enough to convince some people that a runner with dark
skin jogging before the sun comes up isn't casing the neighborhood.
Today, we have invited Sara and Misasha of the Dear White Women
podcast (subscribe to their newsletter here!) to
moderate a discussion with Sponsored Athlete Nikkia Young, ReBuild
Coach Lovey Roundtree Oliff, and our beloved Dalia Kinsey of
The School Nutrition Dietitian Podcast and the Body Liberation
RD Instagram account to discuss how our feelings are, and have
always been, directly tied to their safety.
We are not truly #inthistogether, which is why
conversations about different experiences are vital. To be
clear, these are three college-educated, skilled women with
considerable economic privilege; all three live in predominantly
white neighborhoods...some POCs face even more challenges. We
invite you to listen in spite of any discomfort you may feel, that
is where real, lasting change begins.
Follow Our
Guests!
Dear White Women
Nikkia R. Young, Sponsored Athlete of Fitness Protection
Program
The School Nutrition Dietitian Podcast
Lovey Oliff, ReBuild Coach, Fitness Protection Program
Click here to subscribe to our podcast, Running Life, and get more racing and training tips from the coaches!
Coach MK Fleming is the founder of Fitness Protection, LLC. Click HERE to download her most popular training plan, Tenacious AF, free!