Will #CrossFit boxes address their refusal to be anti-racist?
It’s impossible to ignore systemic racism and police brutality especially right now — unless you choose to. And while most of us took to instagram to share our solidarity online via #blackouttuesday, the sentiment wasn’t shared by all. This is not about those who chose to protest against the use of blackout posts to prevent silencing Black Lives Matter, but about outright refusal to post about racism. A Crossfit box I used to go to in Hackney chose not to comment or speak up — a big statement, considering it’s a stones-throw away from where Rashan Charles died under police custody in 2017. It also sits in one of the most diverse, divided and disadvantaged boroughs in London where stop and search has been used to disproportionately target young Black and Asian men.
Let’s face it, CrossFit has a reputation for being non-inclusive but it’s been something people have continuously swept under the carpet. Not all boxes are bad and over the last few days certain boxes have put out strong messaging around anti-racism. Some have even openly spoken up about the abuse they’ve received from CrossFit HQ, when asking for them to support #BlackLivesMatter. So it’s no real shock that I was accused of trying to ruin the CrossFit brand at the box I mentioned earlier when I suggested they speak up about anti-blackness. Clearly this is part of yet another systemic problem, where racism is perpetuated and reinforced across many levels.
I’ve casually attended this box since 2016, and upon reflection and discusson with friends while they’ve promoted LGBTQ+ issues, they’ve never mentioned#BLM. They’ve supported community projects with young people in the local community which is positive, but I’m a firm believer that while work without noise is done, the wider societal message is obscured. I also think good work done with bad values is questionable and it’s only now I see the true values upheld by the owners— and it ain’t good. But crucially, this is a time when we need to unite and speak up about injustice, the very same injustice that is faced by many of the people who live moments away from where people celebrate their PBs with overpriced pizza, gourmet fried chicken and craft beer.
Before it all got heated, I decided to send the team a carefully worded DM to share my thoughts and offer some advice. I know people love receipts so here you go:
Their extremely generic response to me was also posted in their Facebook group in response to a white female ally publicly suggesting they speak up. I decided to support the post, once again politely and thoughtfully, because I know that too often, POC are painted out to be aggressive and hysterical. (In fact a good friend of mine was unjustly banned from her gym because she spoke up and called out the racist abuse she was subjected to). My responses were met with a stream of micro-aggressive messaging where I became public enemy number 1 for asking them to speak up and think about the wider context. While a few people stood up as allies, the owners of the box sat back and let members and a member of staff attack. These messages didn’t need to be overtly racist, but they certainly did cover the veiled area and below on the white supremacy pyramid:
- “you are bullying them into commenting, which is in part what racism is about” (Victim blaming and veiled racism)
- “It’s an inclusive place and that is completely unfair to say different” (cited by a white male — not believing experiences of POC)
- “You owe xxxx and the coaches a massive apology for this unfair and antagonistic comment” (Victim blaming)
- “Instead of starting with ‘I’m a bit disappointed..’ how about ‘hey guys I have an awesome idea. Why don’t we…” (Tone policing)
- “Does not posting a black square make you evil?” (Prioritising intentions over impact)
- “Do you really think it’s anything more than xxxx not know (SIC) how to use social media properly?” (Minimising)
- “Is the decision to try and publicly shame us without knowing what we have done the correct way to proceed?” (Victim blaming)
It’s highly problematic, that as usual, people who talk about race are projected as a problem rather racism itself being the problem. The discomfort and defensiveness with white fragility is a clever tactic. Ok let’s say, seemingly clever to racists, but unfortunately, I’m no newbie to experiencing racism or the gaslighting that comes with it. So while I see through it all, I can’t ignore the wider problem this represents for accountability within the CrossFit community at all levels — members, box leaders and CrossFit HQ.
Honestly, I’ve only experienced a couple of boxes as I’ve found them to be overall non-inclusive spaces, as have my other Black and Asian female friends. But I know that the lack of speaking up online about Black Lives Matter is not just an issue for the gym I’m referring to. Other boxes in gentrified areas like Peckham, Shoreditch, Aldgate and Vauxhall have also stayed silent until now, showing a real disconnect. These boxes occupy spaces in areas with significant diverse and black communities, but refuse to comment on social equality issues that affect those very neighbours who’ve lived in these areas for much longer than they have.
I feel strongly that through gentrification, many people who have moved in to these areas don’t care about their neighbours or wider communities. The types that don’t care are privileged but crucially disconnected to anything around them beyond sourdough and how acidic a coffee tastes. These individuals don’t care about the systemic oppression and racism that black people experience, unless it’s in a bid to pose as a white saviour. They certainly don’t feel it’s their responsibility to speak up on issues of injustice, and instead of becoming an ally, use diverting tactics that actively silence real pain, trauma and 500+ years of abhorrent oppression. These are the very people telling me to apologise for asking a local business to say that black lives matter.
You may think that it’s not the role of a box to speak up, or to try and challenge societal issues, but I disagree. For as long as you have a platform, a community and a voice that’s respected — you must use it for social good, not just profit. Especially if your group sits within a longer-standing community that it has no real links to beyond proximity. It’s vital for white people to recognise that the systemic nature of racism favours them and allows their voice to travel further & permeate deeper than those who are more marginalised. It’s also crucial for non-black POC to recognise any privileges & platforms that they can utilise as allies against anti-blackness.
The only problem is that allyship requires listening, dedicating time to become more educated on these issues, acknowledging privilege and taking action by protesting, amplifying black voices, donating and speaking up to challenge others even when it’s straight-up uncomfortable. Unfortunately the box I reached out to decided to scapegoat me the moment it felt uncomfortable and actually highlighted how non-inclusive and toxic a space it is for a WOC. I truly hope that they can change this and my final message to them implored them to NEVER treat anyone else who speaks up in the fashion that they treated me.
The reality is that uncomfortable conversations are just that, uncomfortable and believe me I’ve had many with friends, family, ex-colleagues and even other gyms. But as far as I can see with CrossFit, box owners and HQ, either they do not see it worth being an ally, or find the cost of being anti-racist too much to commit to, but for me, silence is far too costly.
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” Martin Luther King Jr
