(Originally published on May 8, 2014.)
It’s simple. Body shaming is not okay. Ever. In any city. I could not believe my ears when I was waiting for my beloved San Antonio Spurs to play Portland in the NBA Playoffs. Right before the game our television was tuned to TNT and I heard Charles Barkley was at it again. He had some offensive remarks about the women of San Antonio – he was body shaming. Oh, Chuck.
You can listen to Barkley’s comments in the video above and watch Mayor Julián Castro‘s response to Barkley’s similar comments in 2012 below:
My anger isn’t so much that it was directed at San Antonio but it was directed at women. His remarks were ignorant and unnecessary. When LA Clippers former owner Donald Sterling was caught saying racist remarks, Charles Barkley was among those demanding repercussions for his words.
An article in LA Times, quotes Barkley:
“You can’t have this guy making statements like that. You have to suspend him and fine him immediately,” Barkley went on to say that someone in a position of authority in the NBA, such as a team owner, cannot be allowed to make racist statements.
No room for racism but plenty of room for body shaming women? There’s room for neither. This wasn’t “just for fun.” This is shaming. Barkley and his buddies are reporting for the NBA on TNT. People are tuning in and listening. Someone behind a sports desk can not be allowed to make body shaming statements. Body shaming women is not okay. Period.
For the record, San Antonio is full of beautiful women of all shapes, sizes, ages, and colors. We support one another, too. Instead of harping on the ignorance of Barkley and the rest of the TNT Sports Desk – who instigated and laughed at his words – we will celebrate who we are.
We have already hosted events like TEDx San Antonio’s Redefining Beauty salon where we spent a day combating the negative images of women in the media. It was a day where we empowered one another and defined and celebrated our own unique beauty. Read more about the event in this article published on the Rivard Report.
So you know what? We are at it again, too. Along with my fellow proud SA women and bloggers, Tori Johnson and Michelle Cantu, we are calling on our San Antonio female community to raise your voice! Show everyone that we are more than a number on a scale. Show that you are a #PROUDSAWOMAN.
If you would like to join in, we encourage you to post your photo across social media with the hashtag #ProudSAWoman.
This story has been republished with permission from www.QueMeansWhat.com.
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