My Take: Angel Reese is a Hero

Let’s celebrate the “Bayou Barbie”

First and foremost, congratulations to the NCAA LSU Women’s Basketball team! They played hard all season, made it to the big dance, and fought their way to the finale to win it all. It was a well-earned victory.

Now, let me chine in on Angel Reese. Many people have had a lot to say about the so-called, “Bayou Barbie.” Reese, the star of the LSU team, helped her teammates win big at the NCAA finals. Her rival, Caitlin Clark of Iowa had also played phenomenally to bring her team to the final game. Both players had their respective fans cheering them on. But only one player was called “classless”, and a “fucking idiot.”

That player was Angel Reese.

Earlier in the playoffs, Clark had done the John Cena gesture, waving her hand in front of her face. This gesture meant that “you can’t see me.” Clark would do that to opposing teams when she scored on the court. This earned Clark the title, “the Great White Hope.” Many fans, mainly white ones, were eager to see Clark win the big prize.

But Angel Reese and LSU weren’t having it go down like that. And when Reese would score on the court, she also did the Cena gesture. But instead of receiving similar comments as Clark, Reese was labeled “ghetto.” And when it became clear towards the end of the game that LSU would win, Reese pointed to her ring finger behind a dejected-looking Clark which sparked more outrage.

Nevertheless, LSU beat Iowa to win the championship. Reese was celebrated by fans and supporters while trashed by sore losers and racists. Even some sports analysts criticized her “behavior” on the court. During the post-game press conference, Reese stated that she represents “all the little Black girls who look like me.” Reese did not care about the insults thrown her way. The bottom line was that she and her team had gotten the job done. They had won. Period.

In the aftermath, so many people were in their feelings that even the White House attempted to soothe feelings by also inviting Iowa to Washington D.C. Of course, this didn’t sit well with Reese and her supporters (I being one of them). A White House visit is only for winners of major sporting events. It’s not for runner-ups. Jill Biden had issued the invitation which Reese called “a joke.” I agree. Iowa came up short and can celebrate its runner-up status on its campus.

I am tired o white society trying to control the emotions of Black women. First, it was Angela Bassett’s disappointed expression at the Oscars that drew ire from the entertainment world and now it’s the sports world chastising Reese for her competitiveness. Black women’s emotions are not up for control or discussion. We have a right to express and react to situations as we choose. White society needs to stop being in their feelings about our feelings.

As Issa Rae stated,” I’m rooting for everybody Black.” Period.

#teamAngelaBassett #teamAngelReese