Lolo Jones slighted by teammates Dawn Harper & Kellie Wells
Streetgangs.com Staff
August 17, 2012 | 4:59 p.m. PST
The issue among blacks and how others interact with them based on light and dark complexion goes back to the slave plantation of the deep south in the United States. President Barack Obama, arguable was elected because he is a black man of mixed racial ancestry giving him a lighter hue which historically has privileged many Blacks.
Langston Hughs, eloquently wrote about this in his 1934 book, The Ways of White Folks, where Blacks with fair skin, sometimes opted to life as a white person “passing” because it provided a privilege that living black did not.
Unfortunately, 100 meter hurdles track athletes, Dawn Harper and Kellie Wells, who won the silver and bronze medals in the 2012 Olympics in London, have been caught in this color divide.
Harper and Wells spoke with NBC’s Michelle Beadle after they won and it was clear that the two women resented the attention Lolo Jones, a mixed race lighter skinned teammate received, going back to 2008 when Harper won the gold medal in the same event.
Harper specifically expressed that her accomplishments were not recognized, which translates to, they are not receiving endorsement deals and getting the television time as Jones has been receiving.
Dawn Harper
Tommy Sotomayor provides his perspective on this issue and blasts the two winners as being classless for their jealousy of Jones in the video below.
In the following video below you can see that Dawn Harper is not happy with the lack of recognition she received after winning a gold medal winner in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. When Jones is talking, look at her Harper’s face and you can tell that she does not like her, and this was before the London games.
Look at the difference of how Lolo Jones and Kellie Wells act after winning their races. Who do you want selling your product and who do you think is more prime for those six figure endorsement deals?
Wells’ emotional outburst after the race shows a level of unpredictability that corporations are reluctant to deal with. Her word choices during the interview did not help her to become a household name. “I got my revenge today” is not how you land sponsorships and they don’t want a “woman of many words” if you are going to sell their products. On the other hand, Jones show more graciousness in her win and comes off more likeable, but coming in 4th place was not the plan.
If you were curious who actually won the race, speedster, Sally Pearson from Australia won the gold.
1. Sally Pearson 12.35 (OR)
2. Dawn Harper 12.37
3. Kellie Wells 12.48
4. Lolo Jones 12.58
5. Nevin Yanit 12.58
6. Phylicia George 12.65
7. Jessica Zelinka 12.69
8. Beate Schrott 13.07
Sally Pearson
Tags: 100 meter hurdles, 2012 Olympics, black skin, colorism, Dawn Harper, extensive lolo coverage, extensive media coverage, Harper and Wells hurt, Kellie Wells, light skin dark skin, Lolo Jones, lolo jones criticism, Lolo Jones shocked, London games, Olympics, prettier, racism, track, track & field, USA Track and Field
Posted by StreetGangs.Com Staff
on Aug 17 2012. Filed under Features, Race.
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If Lolo didnt stumble in Beijing in 2008, Dawn Harper would not have a Gold medal, and the way Lolo handled that after was graceful. These chicks man!
Lolo never through her teammates under the bus, never.
Lolo need to win gold in Rio in 2016 and shut all these bitches up. No one cares about her story because she has a nasty attitude
lolo needs to get laid before her next olympics. losen her up a bit
Lmao… Who wrote this Bull? Anyway unless your Blk how can you understand this situation? Yes some light skin ppl think their better than dark skin blks nd who can argue that the media only show mix or light skin blks before the do darkies.. to hell with that filthy MUTT..
do not get mad because were closer to god that would mean whites asians etc.
actions speak louder then words take a look around the world at whites and other minority people status levels and smarts