Marketability is whiteness.
To me, it isn’t about who is marketable or more marketable.
In this white-run world, marketable=white. That’s it. And whoever holds the reigns on control will always look out for their own.
No matter if the sport league’s (WNBA) majority demographic is Black (~70%) and those Black women are over-proficient & having historical seasons consistently.
Currently, there’s not 1 Black player with a shoe deal but 3 white players have deals and only 1 of those 3 has a championship on their resume. Only this year we can officially say that A’ja Wilson has changed that. Literally only a week ago does this change this fact.
I don’t even feel it’s the unwritten rule anymore of Black people have to be twice or ten times better (or work harder) as their white peers. We’ve excelled in that and it’s been proven time and time again with numbers, titles, rings, gold medals, record-setting, awards and all the accolades to show.
From athletes to recording artists and all other professions (in careers and entertainment. everyday civilians and celebs). We witnessed it with Serena Williams, Beyoncé and many others. Being at the top and performing at and beyond the top level and exceeding as a Black woman doesn’t translate to successfully getting recognized with tangibles despite that being what merit is.
It’s just the simple fact that white girls and white women are the(ir) (visible) preference and the(ir) standard. It’s not about “desirability” or “pretty privilege” (which is another topic because that’s subjective, absurd and steeped in racism. another topic) as even some are now attempting to insert. When all else fails and when skills and talent can’t be compared, move the goalposts or resort to some other irrelevant assessments. Because attempts to try to factor in stats and the stats then disprove their argument, then what else can be an excuse? The only privilege it is is white privilege.
Black exceptionality, winners, first-placers and over-performers will be on the same level as white mediocrity, losers, second-placers, and under-performers. Sadly it’s the reality.
