Posted on 03/08/2023 6:19:50 AM PST by SJackson
The New York Times, that intrepid warrior for anything and everything that the Left is hysterical about, on Friday published a lengthy piece about a source of systemic racism that no one has ever noticed before: It seems that equestrian helmets are racist because they don’t accommodate the dreadlocks that some black horse riders wear. One black rider’s mother lamented: “Mostly everything in this sport isn’t designed for us.” Well, that’s got to change, and these Jackie Robinsons of the Coiffure, with the Times’ generous help, are leading the way to the Equestrian Helmet Justice that our society so desperately needs.
Chanel Robbins, the Times tells us solemnly, “has been riding horses most of her life, ever since her grandmother traded a cow from their family’s farm in Ontario for a pony when she was 7.” Horse riding “offered an escape from thoughts that weighed on her,” which included the fact that “she was the only Black girl in the neighborhood.” But when she grew dreadlocks, her helmet didn’t fit anymore, and that, as you must know by now, is racist.
Fighting back tears (really, the Times actually said she was), Robbins said: “I finally freaking feel like myself, and now society is asking me to change. I just want to be able to ride.” How dare Whitey do this! Is there nothing to which he will not stoop? Poor Chanel Robbins can only find relief on the back of a horse from the systemic racism that confronts her every hour in Amerikkka, but now Whitey has taken even that away!
The Times generously ascribes this not to malice, but to callous indifference: “Black equestrians have long felt virtually invisible in a sport that remains overwhelmingly white. For those with natural hair, which for many is a declaration of pride and Black identity, finding a helmet that fits properly can be nearly impossible, creating yet another barrier to full inclusion.” Big Helmet (ah, but not big enough) is just as indifferent to their plight as Whitey in general: “Some are now lobbying for change, mindful that horseback riding is among the leading causes of sports-related traumatic brain injury. The helmet companies say there isn’t a simple fix.”
Well, yeah. What are the helmet companies going to do, make the helmets three feet wide? This most first-world of all first-world problems brings Oscar Gamble to mind. Baseball fans of a certain age will remember Mr. Gamble, who played major league baseball in the 1970s while sporting an Afro of truly awe-inspiring proportions. In my neighborhood, baseball cards featuring Oscar Gamble with his baseball cap stuck on the massive thing, making his head and hair look like three planets of roughly similar size orbiting in close proximity to one another, were a coveted commodity. Many marveled at his hair, some dared to laugh, but Gamble himself took it all in stride. Never once did he demand that the people who manufactured baseball caps fashion one large enough to go around his huge hair. The white kids who played baseball in the 1970s often had long hair also, and got used to having it mashed uncomfortably under the cap. In life, sometimes one must put up with a bit of discomfort, or sacrifice one desired item in order to obtain another. But that was before everything, and I do mean everything, became racist.
And so now the Times tells us that Caitlin Gooch, “who wears her hair in locs that fall to her mid-back,” takes her riding helmet along when she gets her hair done, “to ensure it will still fit.” That’s perfectly reasonable and sensible. If someone wants some extravagant hairstyle, it might cause difficulties in other areas. Sometimes one must choose between the two. But Gooch “started teaching riding lessons” and “found herself having to tell children they couldn’t ride if there was no helmet that properly fit them.” This was, once again, perfectly reasonable, but apparently it’s a new and heinously racist offense in the Times’ dizzy and ugly world.
And so the Times contacted “several prominent equestrian helmet manufacturers,” only to be told that these insensitive and no doubt white-owned corporations “were not aware that many Black riders struggled with helmet fit. Others said they recognized that it was an issue and were working to address it, while cautioning that bringing a new helmet to market is a costly undertaking that can take years.” But Helmet Justice can’t wait: the Times “spoke with nearly a dozen Black riders, several of whom described searches for properly fitting helmets that dragged on for months or even years. Some said they had been turned away from equestrian stores by employees who said they couldn’t help them. A few said they had manipulated helmets by stuffing them or cutting the lining.” Oh, the humanity!
The Times article ends on a melancholy note; Whitey isn’t going to end this Bull-Connoring of equestrian helmets anytime soon. Chauntel Smith, co-founder of CREW Urban Youth Equestrians, says putting on a helmet “is like reopening a wound every time.” Another black rider adds: “It certainly doesn’t make me feel included.” Well, that’s going to change now, and pronto. Maybe every equestrian helmet will be made to be several sizes too large, so that just in case the rider has dreadlocks, he will experience Helmet Justice. The rest of us, especially those systemically racist white riders, will have to be content with head injuries.
People obsessed with race are properly identified — and should be treated as — racists.
One black rider’s mother lamented: “Mostly everything in this sport isn’t designed for us.
Duh sports is about the game not the people who are in it (sept tranies and race baiters) sez game inventor.
That was disgusting. What is wrong with you?
to shovel horse manure.
Not very nice, and racist. Most TB and Horseshow grooms are Mexican these days, saw three older (50-80 year olds) black males as farm workers in the last decade. Saw more than 200 Mexican men and perhaps fifty Mexican women during the same time frame. Rare from other Central America.
Maybe a dozen white girl grooms, and never seen an Asian working on a horse farm.and one good blacksmith, Chan from India.
Oh, and a guy from Brazil working on a Paso Fino, only spoke Portuguese, so the Crazy Karen owner just yelled at him all the time. Surely she was thinking that louder was easier than translating her rude English and crude Spanish
True dat.
FYI, horses don’t care what color any people are. The are concerned with being able to see your eyes, and what good things you smell like. Carrots and apples are pretty good odors.
You are a nice person. A good pony would love you.
Thank you. Sadly we have no ponies, but our six dogs and cats seem to like it here.
I have been riding horses since I was 12-—NOW 83.
I have owned 13 or more horses in my lifetime.
I have ridden many horses I didn’t own.
I have competed in long distance events on horseback since 1985.
I rode the Pony Express Trail 22 years ago with others-—2000 miles—50 miles a day—5 days a week—2000 miles—8 weeks.
I have OVER 5,000 miles of completions in such events-—93% completion rate.
In 1987, I borrowed other horses to compete. Rode 1005 miles of completed events-—and FINISHED EVERY ONE I STARTED.
I have trained & conditioned my own horses for such events.
I have bred 6 foals in the past & raised & trained them, also.
I NEVER HAVE USED A HELMET-—Wear tri-focals & the helmet strap makes my glasses bounce around. SO—No helmet.
I have NEVER heard such a mouthful of tripe from anyone-—even the perpetually unhappy crowd.
She can quit riding or quit bitching or CUT her hair.
IN all those years-—riding AND crewing for others-—I ONLY SAW ONE RIDER who was black.
What is next?
Black football tackles who cannot get a job as a jockey???
My step sister did hunt competition. Her helmet was a requirement.
Other than the helmet, the saddle, and the reins, what else is there? The horseshoes and the blinders (if present) go on the horse, not the rider.
I rode a horse once a long time ago.
It’s a horse dumbass; why the hell are you wearing a helmet?
If you can’t stay in the saddle stay the hell out of the stable!
You ain’t in RODEO, so stay in your electric car!
Agree they don’t get it
Stupid rule for a stupid sport, the only thing on my head I ever needed was a Stetson Midland in sable color or while in the service a USMC M-1 helmet.
There’s a time and place for helmets, regular riding isn’t one of them.
Well, you dumb bitch, it wouldn’t fit on a white guy with dreads either. Idiot.
The CROWN Act
https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2116/text
Text contains no reference to “safety” as a reason to ban certain black hairstyles in the workplace.
Michael Jackson’s hair catches on fire, from all the grease he put in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsxJp-1Jj9k
Damn dude, relax.
People don’t have to do what you tell them, how you want it, when you want it.
Christopher Reeves will not stand for this!
I imagine the big mouth Crownanators will demand that the employers have baggage equipment developed so it is safe to be used by Crownsters and won’t “scalp” them when it grabs their crowns. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
Sounds like an opportunity. Design and arrange for someone to make them and sell them on Amazon. It’s not my job to make helmets so I don’t know how hard it is.
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