(Voice of Paul) – Have you ever wondered why there are so many African-origin athletes representing Caucasian countries? The most glaring was the French football World Cup team, the whole 11-man squad was Africans! One funny thing with this reality is that a number of people might be looking at the same thing but seeing different things – to see beyond the surface or the literal meaning of something should be considered a blessing.
When I watched some of the highlights of the Olympics, we realized how a number of ancestrally African people both male and female represented originally Caucasian countries. A prime example is Rasheedat who won four Gold medals for Ireland, even though her name, her parents and her physical characteristics shows she is African. Did you wonder why Caucasians give up sports roles to African people? This is also true when you look at the United States Basketball games, their gymnasts talk about Simon Biles, you would hardly see Caucasians competing in sports but guess what, they are the ones in Business, Politics, Sciences, Innovations, and technology but they deliberately left the sports function to their African counterparts. In my opinion, there are two major reasons:
Africans have strong physical attributes that make us have more endurance. Some current world athletes are testaments to this; Usain Bolt, Sha’ Carri Richardson, and Eliud Kipchoge. The other reason why I felt this is happening might turn out not to be a good reason at all, and it is because since Africans are arguably more stronger, the elites who run the world decide to leave this role for African people and rather focus on other areas like Business, Energy, innovation, and technology. This disproportionate representation implies that kids who see these African athletes would most likely want to be like them.
However, If we look at the Fortune 500 companies in the world, only 1.4% are headed by someone who identifies as Black. Statistically, we can call this number insignificant. If the statistics are showing a fair game of 40% of Caucasians, 30% of Black, and 30% of Hispanics, that would be somewhat acceptable but comparing 1.4% to 100% is troubling.
Even though our people have the physical capabilities to excel in all different kinds of sports, we also have equal capabilities to excel in businesses, technology, and innovation and not just be locked in on sports alone. As a Pan-Africanist, it is high time parents with Black children starts divesting their children’s interests into various aspects of life and not just sports even though, yes, the kids will succeed but we own these children the explanation that they can achieve whatever they set their minds to.
