In this October 2019 photo, Naomi Osaka speaks at a news conference in Shenzhen, China. Photo: REUTERS file
tennis

Naomi Osaka in no mood to back down on support for Black Lives Matter

33 Comments
By Jack Tarrant

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© Thomson Reuters 2020.

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

33 Comments
Login to comment

Good for her.

If anyone wants to donate to the BLM movement, "The Daily Show" has a portal here:

http://www.cc.com/shows/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah/donate

(Note: - The first option in the list of three, doesn't seem to accept non-US addresses, but the other two are fine).

-2 ( +15 / -17 )

Go Naomi! I am with you.

15 ( +24 / -9 )

BLM is far from perfect, but they've gotten attention in ways the NAACP and NUL haven't.

I'm cutting BLM some slack since organizations and movements like they've started don't get to choose all the best representatives to be caught on video. The majority of their members ARE good representatives. My state had very long lines for an election yesterday. Hopefully, people will vote just as much in the fall using absentee ballots to remove the hassle of standing in a 2 hr line.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

There’s no reason a Japanese athlete can’t throw her support behind the BLM movement! Leave her alone!

6 ( +13 / -7 )

Naomi Osaka, the world's highest paid sportswoman, says the voices of prominent athletes can be more influential than those of politicians and is determined that hers will be heard on the subject of racial injustice.

In all honestly if this was the case then Donald Trump would not be seated in the P.O.T.U.S. big chair.

Donald Trump would be sweeping the road.

Defining Racial Discrimination in law, at the same time protecting freedom of expression, and human rights in relation to public debate/discussion represents a legal quagmire for the Judiciary.

Now add in religion, social justice, and the inevitable political ideology.

What remains is truly a Pandora Box with a wobbly lid.

Then factoring in the hypocrisy associated with social media celebrity entitlement.

Public disorder, lawlessness, chaos and anarchy prevails. Statues are topped and history is whitewashed away in a mistaken attempt to rectify past injustice.

One aspect that the Government and People of japan must cherish is a constitution devolved to peaceful coexistence.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Actually Naomi Osaka is under fire for calling out on racism in Japan more than her support for BLM in the US.

https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Japanese-tennis-player-Naomi-Osaka-speaks-out-for-15323944.php

Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka speaks out for Black Lives Matter, faces backlash

Osaka began speaking out against racial injustice in the United States on Twitter last week, before encouraging people in Japan to join a march in support of Black Lives Matter in the western city of Osaka on Sunday.

Her comments sparked a flood of angry response, with some people arguing that the protest could spark a rise in covid-19 infections, and others arguing that racism was not a problem in Japan, or even that the demonstrations were organized by left-wing activists with an agenda.

"Naomi Osaka does not seem to be the pride of Japan," one person tweeted. "This is my own personal view after all, but I now recognize her as a terrorist. I do not want her to get involved in tennis, which is played by gentlemen."

Osaka was undaunted, however, reminding her followers how two Japanese comedians were forced to apologize last year after saying she was "too sunburned" and "needed some bleach."

10 ( +13 / -3 )

Didn't think she had it in her but I am happy to be proven wrong. I thought she was going to have to tow the (largely phony) quiet unassuming Japanese character so as to keep her sponsors here happy. This has made me an even bigger fan now!

6 ( +8 / -2 )

WobotToday 09:07 am JST

It's good she's taking a stand and I also think black lives matter, but I don't support Black Lives Matter because they advocate for all sorts of like dismantling the nuclear family (read their website, it's on there). Also the 'antiracism' isn't just being against racism and is a whole other value system that a lot of black people don't agree with. Here are two videos I'd like you to watch before you downvote me:

https://youtu.be/mT2rlJe9cuU

https://youtu.be/HBWJC7LWq7I

I'm not sure Ms Osaka has actually looked into what BLM stands for... have you?

Do you mean this?

We make our spaces family-friendly and enable parents to fully participate with their children. We dismantle the patriarchal practice that requires mothers to work “double shifts” so that they can mother in private even as they participate in public justice work.

We disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure requirement by supporting each other as extended families and “villages” that collectively care for one another, especially our children, to the degree that mothers, parents, and children are comfortable.

If so, then I support it wholeheartedly, because what they are actually saying here is that you don't need to be a mom, dad, and 2.5 children in order to be a family, and that it takes a village to raise children. The word "disrupt" is important here, because the reason they use that word that rather than "dismantle" as you claimed is that what they are putting forth is the idea that while there is nothing wrong with the nuclear family, it also should not be held up as an ideal against all other families should be judged and found wanting and insufficient.

At this link: https://youtu.be/HBWJC7LWq7I

Is a man saying that the children of immigrants who are black are more intelligent and hardworking than black Americans. That's just plain false, not to mention completely racist.

At this link: https://youtu.be/mT2rlJe9cuUIs

Is a man is comparing the death of Tamir Rice, an 11 year old who was playing in the park with a toy gun, to the death of Daniel Shaver, a 26 year old white man who had shot out of the window of a hotel room with a pellet gun. He posits that these cases are comparable. This is extremely disingenuous, and purposefully misleading -I think he was depending on people's tendency not to check the facts. He also ignores that we know the police also shoot and kill unarmed white men - the point is that black people are killed by police disproportionately.

All of these arguments have in fact been gone over again and again by various organizations, community groups, and individual writers and activists. I'm sorry that you either did not pay attention to them. Maybe you are the one who needs to read more deeply?

1 ( +10 / -9 )

We disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure requirement by supporting each other as extended families and “villages” that collectively care for one another,

This is the kind of stuff said by the same sorts who named North Korea a Democratic Republic.

Disrupting the family is the goal of all cults and fascist/authoritarian states. That "extended family" and "village" they promise refers to a massive state apparatus that will crush all dissent. You think a soldier, politician or bureaucrat will care for your children like family? The language appeals to fantasies of back to nature living and idealized romantic images of village life, but delivers absolute state control and inhumanity.

Of course, the nuclear family is not ideal. Extended families may be better, but they are not possible in a modern economy. What they call extended family here is the state. You know, like a Big Brother kind of family. How anyone can read this stuff and not get chills is beyond me.

-1 ( +10 / -11 )

Back on topic please.

The big problem here is that those who support BLM are saying "You are either with BLM or against them". There is no room for criticism of the movement. If that is the case, it has to be assumed that celebrities who support BLM endorse their aims.

BLM in the UK have stated that they want to "abolish the police" and "dismantle capitalism". This is from their official page:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/ukblm-fund

This is also what they have stated in the US.

Does Naomi also support these objectives?

0 ( +8 / -8 )

The big problem here is that those who support BLM are saying "You are either with BLM or against them". There is no room for criticism of the movement. If that is the case, it has to be assumed that celebrities who support BLM endorse their aims.

Their aims are for unarmed black people to not be killed by the police unreasonably.

What's wrong with those aims?

3 ( +11 / -8 )

Anyone who is able to put themselves in Naomi's shoes can easily understand why she might want to support BLM. It is her over-heated knee-jerk critics who need to back down and chill.

4 ( +9 / -5 )

Naomi is apparently unaware that BLM members demand white people kneel and apologize for their "white privilege." As if other lives besides black lives don't matter. The very name of their organization is racist.

The 22-year-old Osaka, who has Japanese and Haitian parents but grew up and lives mostly in the United States

I wonder why that is? Could it be that life in the U.S. is better?

2 ( +10 / -8 )

Anyone who is able to put themselves in Naomi's shoes can easily understand why she might want to support BLM.

I would like to learn! please explain.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Naomi, pls take action in japan too. I have lived here for 31 years and there are bad japanese people who are using sileny iijime ways to treat foreigners working and living here. Gambatte Naomi Chan.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Their aims are for unarmed black people to not be killed by the police unreasonably.

What's wrong with those aims?

Unarmed black people to not be killed by the police unreasonably. - Reasonable

Abolish the police. - Unreasonable

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Their aims are for unarmed black people to not be killed by the police unreasonably.

What's wrong with those aims?

It's inherently unreasonable to demand that this number be zero. Gross errors of judgement by human police officers can never be fully eradicated in a country of 300 million people. It's statistically impossible given the number of police interactions. Thousands of African Americans are killed each year by the medical malpractice of white doctors but nobody is calling for hospitals to be defunded or abolished,... at least not yet.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Well, her grandparents kicked out her mother from the house when she married a black guy, so probably she knows one thing or two about racism

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Naomi Osaka, the world's highest paid sportswoman, says the voices of prominent athletes can be more influential than those of politicians and is determined that hers will be heard on the subject of racial injustice.

Well...good. So Naomi will champion the cause too of the Native Americans and the Ainu in Japan (not to say discrimination in Haiti too)? No doubt her popularity will soar...although not, perhaps, among her sponsors. Good to see she has overcome her shyness.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Black Lives Matter

Let me tell you about Black Lives Matter. It's a far left, grifting organization that only wants money. They want you to kneel down and suck their ass and beg for forgiveness and wash their feet with money. These people don't even come from the inner city, half of their organizers are white, from the gated community suburbs.

You think they care about the inner city and disadvantaged youth? I don't see them feeding the hungry kids. They don't do anything except rabble-rouse and brow-beat Congress for money.

If you want racial justice, start by kicking out the Dem mayors and city council members who don't know what they're doing and appropriate the tax money properly.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

You think they care about the inner city and disadvantaged youth? I don't see them feeding the hungry kids. They don't do anything except rabble-rouse and brow-beat Congress for money.

If you want racial justice, start by kicking out the Dem mayors and city council members who don't know what they're doing and appropriate the tax money properly.

It’s eye opening when white Americans tell black people that they are protesting wrong or are protesting the wrong thing.

It’s clear insight as to why racism is such a problem in the US. And why it can’t be fixed.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Well, her grandparents kicked out her mother from the house when she married a black guy, so probably she knows one thing or two about racism

No. Racism can only be experienced by people of color. Second-hand experiences do not count.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

No. Racism can only be experienced by people of color.

That's a pretty silly assertion.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

That's a pretty silly assertion.

But it’s exactly what many minorities would have believe.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

But it’s exactly what many minorities would have believe.

You give all silly opinions equal validity?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Out here they say 'silence is violence'. Challengers and winners in sports and games are yet to do justice to their enormous potential.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

You give all silly opinions equal validity?

Of course not. That's why I'm pointing it out. Thinking that racism can only be experienced by people of color is silly.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Of course not. That's why I'm pointing it out.

Um, your quote was:

No. Racism can only be experienced by people of color.

You were stating it.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

You were stating it.

Yes. To illustrate how nonsensical it it.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites