It’s not often that the media coverage preceding a sporting event outstrips the media of the sporting event itself, but here we are.
By now nearly everyone in the sports world is aware of the incendiary comments in leaked audio made by ESPN reporter Rachel Nichols about fellow reporter Maria Taylor earning her position as host of the networks 2020 NBA Finals coverage as ESPN was “feeling pressure” to promote diversity.
Nichols is white. Taylor is Black.
Late Tuesday afternoon, it was announced that Nichols had been removed from her job as the ESPN lead sideline reporter during the 2021 NBA Finals between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns as the firestorm surrounding ESPN’s handling of the situation exploded onto the pages of The New York Times, with the paper of record chronicling the network’s disastrous history of relations with its numerous Black employees and on-air talent.
But I loathe to give any attention to Nichols complaints of tokenism or write a missive about ESPN’s racism or disgusting practices. Instead I would rather focus on two aspects of this story that have especially irked me.
According to the Times exposé, “Nichols said she reached out to Taylor to apologize through texts and phone calls. “Maria has chosen not to respond to these offers, which is completely fair and a decision I respect,” Nichols said.”
How infuriating.
Even as the transgressor of a hideous comment, in an act of ultimate Karenhood, Nichols places the onus of forgiveness upon the aggrieved Black woman she blatantly slandered with her words. It’s not enough that Taylor has work hard for what she’s accomplished, nay, as a Black woman she has had to work even harder o attain the success she’s due; she now, according to Nichols, has to make a decision to offer this privileged white woman forgiveness, as if Taylor has to provide her attacker clemency? If she refuses, which she damn well should, Nichols has provided the narrative that it’s on her (Taylor). Nothing says victimhood like committing a sinful act and blaming those you’ve wronged if they chose not to forgive you.
The blatant audacity.
Worse, Taylor, who has used her prestige as a rising star within the company has done nothing but give back to her fellow Black female reporters. After being named the host of the network’s flagship show concerning the NBA, NBA Countdown. Taylor gave Malika Andrews a bigger platform on the show, one that has seen Andrews thrive in her new spotlight. She pressured her bosses for LaChina Robinson as an analyst, leading to ESPN to promote her.
In addition, Taylor has “become increasingly comfortable with expressing her views within the company” per the Times story this weekend. She spoke out publicly as ESPN failed to have a single Black female voice on the network’s game coverage of the NCAA women’s Final Four. She spoke out about George Floyd, social justice, and the Black Lives Matter movement.
She is doing exactly what the conservative white power structure asks BIPOC individuals to do: lift yourselves up by your bootstraps. Work within the system, champion each other. “Don’t depend on us to make in-roads for you, that’s on you.”
Oh, but don’t do too much.
Don’t ruffle too many feathers.
It’s damned if you do, damned if you don’t. And that’s point. Within the white power structure and it’s unholy alliance with white supremacy and systemic racism, BIPOC people are expected go do all the work in lifting the community and campaign for the unseen and unheard voices themselves, just don’t step on anyone’s toes.
That’s what led ultimately to this latest brouhaha. Taylor started swinging a bigger stick, pressing ESPN for a more inclusive show, which in turn led to pushback and “instigated an internal tug of war” (Draper, 2021), and will likely lead to Taylor leaving the network in three weeks when her contract is up.
And while I should note, that this shit is exhausting, we must keep a well-worn axiom in the forefront of our minds in the fight for racial equality.