aturday Serena Williams showed the world a side of Southern California life that I’m really surprised anyone was unaware of, given how pervasive it once was in music videos. After she won the gold medal in the women’s singles match, she reveled in her success and the freedom that comes with being one of the world’s greatest athletes in history by getting out of Wimbledon character and into the thug life. She showed the world her crip-walk, prompting an announcer to say, ”I’m not sure I’ve ever seen that before.” She gloated while she did it, looking up at her sister Venus for affirmation, because well, when you’re showing off, you want to make sure that the people who matter to you most are looking. At least, that’s how I dance.
Before you get all C. Delores Tucker on me about that, let’s remember that a lot of America’s dance forms were created by outlaws. The bourgeoisie — while awesome, I’m sure — doesn’t exactly go around creating hip global dance forms in its spare time. Take breakdancing — which has become so mainstream that it appears in commercials for Fortune 500 brands — for example. It didn’t come from “The Cosby Show,” people. It came from New York’s ghettos and was heavily influenced by South Bronx gangs.
Let’s also remember, as Clifton Yates said over at TheRoot.com, the Crips aren’t the only outlaws who’ve exerted cultural influence over Olympics viewers. So has Hitler, who started the practice of bringing in the torch.
The man responsible for one of the most horrific and destructive acts of genocide in human history created a tradition that to this day is still one of the most televised events on the globe.
I’m able to separate a dance created by a gang from a reign of terror created by a gang, just as I am able to separate a torch ceremony created by a Nazi from a concentration camp created by a Nazi.
I assume that the commentators who are feigning outrage over Serena’s ‘excessive endzone celebration’ are able to do this also. What I think really bothers them is seeing Serena find new ways to refuse to submit 100 percent to the cultural norms of Wimbledon. Crip-walking in that setting is an act of rebellion. Her performance said once again, “I don’t give a damn what you think about me. I set my own standards.”
I learned to crip-walk the way I learned most other cool California-isms, after moving there for college and living there for 11 years. I don’t remember who showed me, but I remember the feeling of mastering the timing necessary to pull off the dance. A few friends of mine did it when we were acting silly, but we also recognized that it was a dance that expressed pride, even hubris. It’s the perfect way to celebrate an achievement like running a Boston (winning all 13 books) on someone in spades.
It’s also a good way to show solidarity with the gang. Yes, solidarity.
I disagree with gangs’ short-sighted approach to making money and I think the violent ones should be locked up and when I have information for the police — I call them. (Stop snitching, my ass.) But I also get how the conditions of oppression that our communities have been subjected to create gangs.
I have been fortunate enough to receive what only a small minority of children in America do — a first-rate education that has given me options — but I don’t hate the people who haven’t. I’m still holding out the hope of Malcolm X and the Black Panthers that our street gangs can be politicized and become partners in the black liberation struggle. Meanwhile, I extend the olive branch and pay them homage with a bit of crip-walk.
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Kelly, although a little late, I want to compliment you on your perspective on Serena’s victory dance. Father Williams put more work and sacrifice into training his daughters to become world champions, and whatever they decide to do after an AWESOME victory [I watched the match from start to finish!] that is decent is also acceptable. Our people spend WAY too much time discussing MINUTIAE, rather than dealing with the issues that are tearing our communities asunder. God Bless and keep writing. That Pulitzer is within striking distance for you.
Serena grew up in Compton. She didn’t just see them crip walking in a video. She had ample opportunity to see it in person. She was doing it for all the people who society has seemed to forget to leave behind. Just like the raised fist or afro pick in an atheltes hair. We have ways of saying hello to our own. This has nothing to do with gang affiliations it about black pride. The kids who could leave their troubles behind even for a few moment caught up in fell and sway of music the beat the dance while poverty and struggle brew all around them. Dance to say we are still alive.
She didn’t grow up as a middle class black woman. She has always been a rebel. Wearing the beads in their hair could be classified as an act of rebellion. Some black folks that was low class.
I was shocked when she did it. I know that it was primarily motivated by exuberance but she needed to think. Justify and excuse the behavior if you feel you must but it was inappropriate in more than one way. As black people, we’re quick to take our brethren to task over silliness (see: Gabby Douglas) but we’re also very quick to absolve when we have the right to expect better (see: Chris Brown, R. Kelly, Michael Vick et. al.) And while Serena’s transgression wasn’t on par with the other people I just mentioned- by a long shot- she was wrong. She was glorifying gang culture on a global stage. Don’t turn yourself into a pretzel trying to contextualize what she did a historical setting. She was Crip Walking at the All England Club, simple as that and she knows better.
“… I’m still holding out the hope of Malcolm X and the Black Panthers that our street gangs can be politicized and become partners in the black liberation struggle. Meanwhile, I extend the olive branch and pay them homage with a bit of crip-walk.”
Sister Virella: Absolutely on time and on point with this entire message. Now to work on some of our ole school and younger Brethren and Sistren, in NABJ AND the Black Press, to see and act on uniting all classes in our Black Liberation struggle. Young bloods here in Denver and around the country, are killing each other and us while really crying out for guidance and leadership in a struggle they know must be waged. It’s long past Nation
Time. Crip Walk or Mambo, we need to keep on dancin’ up on Black Liberation, whether it’s the Williams’ Olympic Gold or a Virella Pulitzer. Stay strong Sister. U R doing powerful and much-needed Kazi.
Thank you. I’m touched and appreciate the encouragement. If you have a blog, please do leave the URL so that others may visit it.