Four years ago, Gabby Douglas became the first African-American to earn an individual, all-around Olympic title. This week, her team won gold in Rio. And yet, despite the fact that she's brought home three gold medals, the internet continues to focus on one thing that has nothing to do with her athletic ability: her hair.
If you're getting a case of déjà vu, there's a good reason. In London in 2012, Douglas' hair was a huge topic of conversation, despite her history-making performance. Back then, words like "unkempt" and "disheveled" were used, but this year the focus seems to be on her edges. The worst part about the criticism might be the fact that a majority of the comments are coming from the Black community — the same people who know, firsthand, just how complicated and touchy the subject of hair can be for women.
Douglas addressed the haters four years ago, classily stating: “What’s wrong with my hair? I’m like, I just made history and people are focused on my hair? It can be bald or short; it doesn’t matter about [my] hair.” She continued: “Nothing is going to change. I’m going to wear my hair like this during beam and bar finals. You might as well stop talking about it.”
But if we know anything about the internet, it's that people offer a lot of opinions on things they know nothing about. Luckily, a few Twitter users swiftly came to the gymnast's defense, and were quick to remind the critics that the focus should be on Douglas' talents and not what's happening atop her head. Let's all keep that in mind as she continues to kill it, shall we?
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Folks talmbout Gabby Douglas' hair. SHE IS FLIPPING AROUND. How is her hair supposed to be perfect? Yours ain't and you ain't doing that. ?
— Awesomely Luvvie (@Luvvie) August 9, 2016
Matter of fact anyone dragging Gabby Douglas hair we want to see you flip on a balance beam RIGHT now. We'll wait. pic.twitter.com/J1DflllRxv
— Coco Bandicoot™ (@ShesSweetVenom) August 10, 2016
Gabby Douglas: *defies physics*
— Simone Thighles (@holadamilola) August 10, 2016
You People: but sis why isn't your hair "done" pic.twitter.com/vqWIL8d8qE
Our community is being systematically oppressed & eliminated and you want to come for #GabbyDouglas hair? Shame on you. Do better ??
— Terri Lomax (@TerriLomax) August 9, 2016
If you were mad about Gabby's hair in 2012...& you're mad about it AGAIN in 2016...that's not her lack of growth, but yours. #GabbyDouglas
— Ocielia Gibson (@Ocielia) August 9, 2016