Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka, born to a Japanese mother, Tamaki Osaka, and a Haitian father, Léonard François. But she has lived in the United States since the age of three and does not intend to be silent on certain subjects outside the tennis courts. Which is not to displease much.
After the death of George Floyd, Naomi Osaka wanted athletes to talk about racism on social networks. And she did not hesitate to request the reinstatement of Colin Kaepernick by the National Football League (NFL), the American Football League. Because he had been excluded for having dared to put his knee on the ground in order to denounce this ambient racism. She multiplied interventions that contrasted with the attitudes of many athletes. She clearly supported the Black Lives Matter movement.
Thus, concerning police violence in the United States, she appeared with her mask during her participation in the US Open and by changing a new mask with the name of a black victim of the police or racist violence. Moved by the reception that this act had aroused in public opinion, she then declared: “It’s a bit surreal. It's extremely moving that they feel touched by what I do. For me, I feel like what I did is nothing. That I could do more”.
In 2019, the 23-year-old beat 39-year-old Serena Williams in the Australian Open semi-finals on Melbourne court. A victory that many had already described as a kind of handover between her eldest and her. In 2021, when Naomi Osaka decided to suspend her participation in press conferences for mental health reasons, before leaving and then leaving the tournament at Rolang Garros, Serena Wiliams gave her support by telling the press: "I empathize with Naomi. I wish I could hug her, because I know what it is. I've been there too. She and I, we don't have the same personality and anyway, everyone is different and everyone handles things differently. I have hard skin, but others are more sensitive. Everyone is different, and handles what comes differently. Let her manage for the best for her, as she thinks she can do for the best”.
After this episode, the Haitian of origin through her father, however, participated in the Tokyo Olympics where she carried the Olympic flame. Given his commitment, it could not be otherwise for his mother's country. She was also present in support of Haiti by donating money after the damage caused during the 7.2 magnitude earthquake of August 14, 2021 in the country. A generosity that is to his credit.
By Alan Buster
