On Friday night in Provo, Utah, Rachel Richardson took her place on the court for Duke University volleyball against BYU.
It’s something she’s done thousands of times in her volleyball career. Something she’s used to doing under the oftentimes relentless guise of competition and fans.
She’s faced hundreds of competitors in gyms across the country and heard all of the jeers that fans heckle opposing players with.
But on Friday night, one of those jeers ventured into territory that only individuals like Richardson can feel, be targeted with and be impacted by.
It’s a jeer that racist offenders purposely use to demean, harass, insult, humiliate and intimidate.
“Ni**er!”
That inflammatory word incites anger ad frustration and ignites a fury that only Black people can truly experience and understand.
And regardless of the feeling of some, or the conjugation of the last two letters, it is not a term of endearment.
It never was nor ever will be.
On Friday night, that was obvious. Yet apparently, it was only obvious to one person- Rachel Richardson, the Black Duke sophomore volleyball player targeted by the racist fan.
Out of the thousands in attendance at the Smith Fieldhouse at BYU, Robinson stood alone through every single racist taunt.
And no one said anything.
Not the fans, not the officials, not the coaches.
Not a soul did anything to deter the humiliation endured by Richardson.
So lacking support, she chose to ignore and tolerate the pain alone.
Continue reading over at First and Pen.
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