By Gary Norris Gray, Staff Reporter

Racism has come full force around the world as the Australian Press Council ruled that the U.S. Open Finals cartoon was o.k. It was ok to make Serena Williams look like an oversized kid stomping on the ground having a childlike fit. It was o.k. to make Williams twice her size, making fun of her body i.e. publicly body shaming. This should not be acceptable but it was.

The Council stated the cartoon was not offensive but outrageous and will not charge the author. The cartoon did not breach ethical media standards. REALLY.  Here are a few questions, # 1 how can this cartoon be outrageous and not offensive at the same time? #2, What are the media’s ethical standards and of which culture do we judge these standards?

Let a Black writer draw a cartoon like this about a white athlete and see what happens. He/she would be looking for another job within hours. This is the new face of racism.

The Council also failed to mention that the cartoon figure of Naomi Osaka had blond hair and white skin but that’s o.k. too because of who is telling the story. As my friend, Art George stated, “Get the facts right.”

In this case, it was all wrong. Ms. Osaka is mixed cultured and of a darker hue.

Most tennis fans know that Osaka has Japanese and Haitian parents meaning she is Black and Asian. The tennis world wanted Osaka to take over the tennis scene from the dominate record-breaking Williams, a change of pace to a calm Osaka. It is very interesting that Ms. Osaka plays tennis the same way Ms. Williams did 19 years ago but the media will never say this.

Black athletes are dealing with racial issues in sports each day. Last year at the end of the (WTA) World Tennis Tour in New York City Serena Williams had to defend herself, AGAIN.

When Ms. Williams verbally protested to an umpires chair decision in the third set docking her a point, then docking her a game for her coach, coaching from the stands. It might have caused Williams to lose the match and a chance to tie Hall of Fame tennis star Margaret Smith Court with 24 majors.

The Council finally stated that it had concerns about the way Williams looked in the cartoon, GO TELL, but it was the author’s license. FREE SPEECH and that is why America, we are at the crossroads about the issue of race in sports, politics, and entertainment.

Instead of praising Ms. Williams for playing tennis as a new mother at 35 years old the media decided to trash her.

White people will not check themselves or call out other Caucasians when they are incorrect. These same media hounds will call out the Black authors, Black press, Black athletes, and Black politicians immediately. This is the hypocrisy of the United States when it comes to the issue of race. This is shameful, but this is where we are in America with President Trump in the White House fanning the flames of racial discourse.

It never stops year after year, decade after decade, the media continues to be critical of promenade “A” personality Black men and women.

For example:

• They rip forward LeBron James for not winning in Los Angeles with the Lakers
• They rip center Anthony Davis for not wanting to play in New Orleans with the Pelicans.
• They bash outfielder Yasiel Puig of the Cincinnati Reds for not playing defense.
• They bash golfer Tiger Woods for not winning after coming close to breaking the record for Majors
• They bash also Serena Williams for losing the last three majors, the only woman near Ms. Court’s record,

Now folks are critical of actor Will Smith for playing Richard Williams in the new movie portraying the father of the professional tennis William Sisters. NOT BLACK ENOUGH. Come on, really.

These Black athletes would not have gotten there without that same “A” personality.

Our country should be celebrating the records of LeBron James for playing in eight finals in the NBA. That has not been done since the 1960 Boston Celtics. We should celebrate Eldrick Tiger Woods winning 14 Majors and within 4 of the golf legend Jack Nicklaus.

We should admire Serena Williams just one Major behind the legend Margaret Smith Court. America should be proud of Anthony Davis and Yasiel Puig putting young energy and possible future history being a positive example for other young black athletes.

America grow up, please.

Gary Norris Gray – Writer, Author, Historian, Gibbs Magazine-Oakland, California and New England Informer- Boston, Mass. THE GRAYLINE:- The Analects of A Black Disabled Man, The Gray Leopard Cove, Soul Tree Radio In The Raw, and The Batchelor Pad Network, Disabled Community Activist. Email Glcgray@gmail.com

©Copyrighted Gary Norris Gray @ Gray Leopard Prod