"What's one thing you want your white coach to know?" Anonymous Rowers Respond, Pt. 1

Rowing in Color

#007 - At the end of March, we asked podcast listeners to send us responses to the following question: what's one thing you want your white coach to know? Because rowing is a pricy sport that also requires access to bodies of water, it inherently has socio-economic barriers that make the sport inaccessible to those who aren't able to access bodies of water or afford the sports' costs. As an unfortunate result, there aren't many rowers of color, and even fewer coaches of color. With the growing number of rowers of color in the sport, we thought it was important to ask this question.
And well, let me tell you, we got some responses. This extended episode features just five of the many responses that we received, along with Denise and Patricia's reactions and thoughts to the responses. Here are the time stamps for each anonymous response:

• 00:57 Anonymous Voice #1
• 13:50 Anonymous Voice #2
• 29:59 Anonymous Voice #3
• 39:06 Anonymous Voice #4
• 57:32 Anonymous Voice #5

We hope you'll help us continue this important conversation as we simultaneously launch this Facebook group for the Rowing in Color Community. This wasn't an easy question to ask, but we're not here for "easy." And let's be honest, it is a question that needs to be asked if anyone is serious about diversifying the sport. We recognize the good intention of white folks who are dedicated to diversifying the sport -- let us make that very very clear. With that we still have the freedom to explore the racial dynamics (and the positional authority) that well-intentioned white coaches have when trying to diversify their team. Because despite the best intentions, actions do not always reflect intentions. We hope that the discussion in this podcast helps us all -- no matter our skin color -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

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We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe and enjoy.