>> Let's talk about Serena Williams. >> The most disrespected person in America
is the black woman. >> Who's arguably the greatest athlete in
the history of sports. >> The most unprotected person in America
is the black woman. >> I don't have those types of goals of I
want this number.
I just have the goal of, I wanna play well at this tournament, I wanna win this tournament.
>> And for everything she's accomplished. >> The most neglected person in America is
the black woman. >> I had to really take all that energy, put
it in a paper bag, so to say, and throw it away.
>> She's still punished routinely for just being herself.
>> I just think it's a joke, it's like we want to turn Serena into this victim.
>> And yeah, of course, when a black athlete thrives, this jabroni must be the anti crowd
safe space. But it's the routine attacks on our character, It's the double standards,
the nonstop vitriol that peeves me.
Because no matter her accomplishments, it's an endless cycle from the media to the fans
and everyone in between that carry out this hatred over, and over, and over again.
>> American crowd booing an American family, and you have to say that it does smack of
a little bit of racism.
>> Let's go back to 2001 at Indian Wells, Venus Williams accompanied by her father to
watch her sister Serena play, recently pulled out of her semi match with an injury. The
crowd mercilessly booed, hurling per their father Richard Williams, racial slurs directed
at the family. And these are just a small sample of the abuse, the undercurrent of racism
was painful, confusing and unfair.
In a game I loved with all my heart, at one of my most cherished tournaments, I suddenly
felt unwelcome alone and afraid. Serena wrote in her time up as of the 2001 tournament.
>> What's crazy is that even after that first incident, these comments didn't stop
>> Sports Dr. Peter Larkins, seen here giving preferential treatment said, it is the African
American race, they just have these huge gluteal strength that contributes to Serena's wins.
Jennifer Capriati was clearly out of shape and overweight in Australia in 2003 with Serena.
That's her physique and genetics, he says >> Had a superstar, Serena Williams, breaking
her silence off the court, taking aim at the head of the Russian Tennis Federation, Shamil
Tarpishchev. Tarpishchev referred to Serena and sister Venus as the Williams brothers.
Later going on to say, quote, it's frightening when you look at them, but really you just
need to play against the ball >> Is the first rookie Beasley
>> Now their names are pretty disgusting. >> What did he just say?
>> But I want to try to call them out.
>> No, he didn't say that. >> Lorna Pollard, basketball number 3, I wanna
freedom. >> This is odd and appalling, where even the
person holding the camera is stopped in her tracks of filming to acknowledge what the
PA announcer uttered. In Oklahoma, a school district has gone on the defensive today apologizing
for the actions of a longtime announcer for a high school.
Behind the camera was Lorna Pollard, whose daughter plays on the basketball team for
Crooked Oak High in Oklahoma City, squaring off against Newkirk High.
>> Now their names are pretty disgusting. >> What did he just say?
>> But I want to try to call them out. >> No, he didn't say that.
>> Plan. >> Notice everyone's reaction from those in
the crowd to the competitors on the court turned towards the scores table. Were the
announcers located looking befuddled with what they just heard? In case the audio was
unclear, the announcer can be heard saying, now their names are pretty disgusting, but
I'm going to try to call them out.
Incredibly noteworthy, this game was for the district title. We're just kind of what, did
he really just say that? Said one of the players speaking with koco.com. That's the culture
for us now, overcoming adversity, she said. Of course, the home Newkirk crowd attempted
to defend their PA announcer.
ABC news reported, Pollard later posted the video to Facebook, stating that people at
Newkirk initially tried to defend him, but the man was old and he didn't mean it like
that. But that's exactly what he meant, Pollard wrote. There is no excuse for ignorance in
2020.