As a BIWoC who works in sports media, I am expunging *three* words from my vocabulary: "unity" and "division" and "diversity".

Allow me to explain.

Sports don't "unite". Sports have the power to *connect* people. If privileged don't work to detach themselves from white supremacy and other systems of oppression they benefit from, they can't be united with marginalized people. Ever.

"Division" is a lazy way to say "racist hierarchies". Racism doesn't create "division". It creates brutal systems by which people are disenfranchised and killed. "Division" is used so white folks and non-Black and non-Indigenous PoC don't feel bad.
Use appropriate language.

"Diversity" has been co-opted by white feminists and so I'm sending it straight to the bin. A "diverse" panel is not 3 white men and 1-2 woman. That is a country club dinner party.
RACIAL diversity is a thing. But using the word "racial" makes people uncomfortable.

*3 white men and 1 or 2 white women.
Clearly, I've never been to a Country Club. I did go to the Granite Club in Toronto once and ended up befriending an Afghan janitor. He was lovely. He had never seen a woman in hijab there before in the 15 yrs he worked there. This was 1999.

I'm a scribe. At the heart of my sportd activism is words. I want them to be as effective as possible.
Using words like "Indigenous genocide" and "systems of anti-Blackness" is critical. Sugar coating and white washing history and the present is unhelpful. And frankly, tiresome.

I'm heartened by the efforts and sincerity of folks in sports and sports media. But I remain wary. It becomes very clear when people don't have the language or understanding of these subjects. It isn't reporting or objectivity. It is lack of qualification in life experience.

. @jessewente shared something I can not stop thinking about in relation to media and it easily applies to sports media. It needs to be understood and taught (by BIPoC) in all Journalism programs.

You won't hear me write about race or gender, or any of the schmorgasbaord of systemic inequalities in sports & media by using "unite" "divisions" or "diversity".
I haven't tossed away "tensions" because I'm a journo and we love tension. Plus, discomfort is necessary to unlearn.

Have a lovely day today! Inspired by @bodybreak is a new greeting:
"Keep fit, have fun and destroy and dismantle all forms of racism!"