In recent weeks, there has been an overwhelming amount of silly chatter pertaining to Sha’Carri Richardson, the 21-year-old female track star that tested positive for THC, a chemical in marijuana, and was disqualified from the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Some think her punishment is well deserved and others believe the punishment is too harsh–citing that olympic criteria should be reviewed or changed to allow Richardson to compete.
While I too would love to see Richardson “crush” the competition, I can’t help but be frustrated by the confusing comments. The bible might refer to this as “double minded”. We can’t decide what we want or what is right or wrong. Ah, ha…finally! This is why the world is in so much turmoil?! Sorry, I digressed.
On one hand I am reflecting on general comments often made about 20 somethings or just younger generations in general. We have many preconceived notions about each generation but when it comes to Millennials (25-40 yr olds) and Z’s (younger than 24) they have been labeled as the most irresponsible. It is said that “they lack drive and the old school values’ ‘. So here is my confusion. Sha’Carri Richardson did exactly the opposite of what we say young people do. She didn’t make up an excuse. She did recite the difficulties and complexities of her life and how those things impacted her decision. Plain and simple…Life circumstances SUCK sometimes and we have to find a way to cope! Sha’Carri told the media that she was under a lot of pressure, and she needed to relax after finding out her biological mother passed away. It could not have been more simple. By the way, she didn’t owe that to anyone except herself (IJS). She was sincerely disappointed in herself, and took the weight of her misjudgments very seriously. It was straightforward. Finally, we have a Z’er to show us the level of response and maturity we want them to display. She understands that as an elite athlete, she should not be indulging in the use of marijuana, but she is human–not superhuman. We should be applauding her for her honesty and holding her up as an example to others her age (and some older).
So, I ask the question, why are some of us having a problem with this straightforward situation? Why do we need to add drama? Somebody please explain how this morphed into a racial issue? Why do we ask them to be responsive and responsible but then make up reasons to erode the effort? Richardson and Michael Phelps, really? The two situations are completely different. A picture of Michael Phelps, arguably the best Olympic swimmer of all time, indulging in the use of marijuana from a bong surfaced after he had already participated in the Olympics. He admitted that the picture was prior to the Olympics, but it was not released to the media until the Olympics were over. Phelps endured a 3-month suspension and went back to training. Richardson was smoking during the Olympic trials (DUH!) and was given a 30-day suspension. She was supposed to have 3 months but agreed to take a drug course to reduce the time. Her suspension runs directly into the Olympic genesis. Yes, Phelps happens to be white, and yes Richardson happens to be black, but there is no need to reach for the race card. This is how we errode issues that are really about race. This is a human issue, an emotional help issue, life issue or perhaps a lack of community support issue.
Sha’Carri is a young lady and a high-performance athlete. We need to remind ourselves that she is still a kid, someone’s child, a sibling, a family member, a friend. She is still trying to find her way in this unforgiving world and like any young person her age, the load of life is heavy. She is still in the trial-and-error phase. The spotlight she stands in only makes her plate heavier to carry. 21 is the age of the child/adult conflict–where the law says you’re an adult but behavior is often contrary. There is a real struggle for some to transition and release childhood or childlike tendencies. Sha’Carri Richardson should be a reminder to check on our young people. A smile on their faces could easily be a façade.
Sha’Carri has accepted the fact that she won’t be able to participate in the 2021 Tokyo games. She said,“this is the last time I will be missing the Olympics.” I say applaud her. She made no excuses, she wasn’t double minded or confused about her infraction. She bravely looked the world in the eye, stood tall and owned her mistake. That is the sign of a true champion and maturity. Keep your eyes on Sha’Carri Richardson because she is coming back stronger and more determined. This is one small setback leading to the setup of a future Olympic legacy.
If you or anyone you know is in need of grief or drug counseling, please call the 24/7, 365 days a year, National helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
Photo credit: NBC News