Naomi Osaka and her Efforts for Racial Equality: 7 Matches, 7 Masks
BY MATTHEW BARON ‘22
2020 has been a year of complicated issues: the Covid-19 pandemic, racial injustice, and the possibility of voter fraud in November’s election have dominated national news platforms. Amidst all this turmoil, Naomi Osaka, en route to winning her second U.S. Open title, used her platform as a world-famous tennis player to speak out about racial injustice and its victims. However, prior to the U.S. Open, Osaka staged a one day boycott of her semifinal match at the Western & Southern Open. Osaka’s boycott was similar to those we have seen in other major league sports such as the NBA and MLB. According to POPSUGAR Fitness, Osaka justified her decision by telling the press that “before [she] is an athlete, [she] is a black woman”. When walking out to and from court for each of her seven U.S. Open matches, Osaka honored victims of racial injustice in America by wearing their names on her mask in interviews, according to Mashable.
In match 1, Osaka honored Breonna Taylor, a 26 year old black woman from Louisville, Kentucky. Taylor was wrongfully murdered by Louisville police earlier this year, but the city has yet to open an investigation on her killing.
In match 2, Osaka honored Elijah McClain, a 23 year old black male from Aurora, Colorado. McClain was choked by police in 2019, after they struggled to handcuff him, according to New York Times.
In match 3, Osaka honored Ahmaud Arbery, a 25 year old black man from Brunswick, Georgia. As Arbery was peacefully jogging through his neighborhood, he was chased down and eventually shot by two white men.
In match 4, Osaka honored Trayvon Martin, a 17 year old black boy from Miami Gardens, Florida. In 2012, Martin visited his relatives who lived in a Floridian gated community. During his visit, he was shot by a neighborhood watch member, according to CNN.
In match 5, Osaka honored George Floyd, a 46 year old black man from Fayetteville, North Carolina. Floyd was choked by a Minneapolis police officer. After Floyd’s death, many protests and demands for racial equality broke out in America. These protests inspired many athletes to speak out about racial inequality.
In match 6, Osaka honored Philando Castile, a 32 year old black man from St Louis, Missouri . Castile was wrongfully shot by police in 2016 in Falcon Heights, Minnesota. The officer who shot Philando was found not guilty, drawing protests, according to Vox.
In match 7, Osaka honored Tamir Rice, a 12 year old black boy from Cleveland, Ohio. In 2012, Rice had gone to a park and had been playing with a toy gun. Cleveland Police showed up to the scene claiming to think Rice was holding a real gun and shot Rice.
Despite Osaka’s continued success on the court, social change remained Naomi Osaka’s top priority. Osaka used her platform to speak for what is right: She demanded immediate justice not only for the seven victims of racial injustice she honored before and after her matches, but also for everyone who is oppressed by America’s systematic racism. And by doing so, Osaka dominated the news cycle in her own right, inspiring millions of viewers to hold necessary dialogue about racial issues. The effect of Osaka’s masks demonstrates the transcendent influence of athletes and an exemplary use of this platform.