I'm not sure you can just leap to the racism tag here. Poor taste, yes. But he's just picking up a popular saying now (in completely the wrong light, of course), but does this make him racist? He might be racist, he might not. Is there anything other than this as evidence? Because I'm not sure you can immediately play the race card.
I'd like to present this as evidence. Here is a crossfit workout that actually lead to this gym advertised workout. Please note that I still think it is in bad taste. But the Black Fitness Community below doesn't think it is racism.
https://wodwell.com/wod/i-cant-breathe/
“I CAN’T BREATHE”
MEMORIAL WOD FOR GEORGE FLOYD
With a running clock, as fast as possible perform the prescribed work in the order written.
Score is the time on the clock when the last round of the 1,600 meter Run is completed.
Editor’s Note: We understand that without context the title of this workout can come across as tone deaf or hurtful. This is not the intent of the workout’s creator, Angelo Rogers, nor WODwell. Please see Angelo’s post about his inspiration and intent behind the workout he designed in George Floyd’s memory – it inspired us to share:
From Angelo’s post: “I think the name “I Can’t Breathe” is an important reminder of the injustice that has sparked the need for change in all of us. The times we are experiencing humble us and remind us how much we can really push ourselves even when life seems to be crushing down on top of us. The message is not meant to offend anyone. The title is not meant to be a play on words. It’s meant to be a reminder of the injustice, to accept the challenge of change and adversity head on.”
He also posted the following in response to individuals no social media who said they were offended by the title of the workout:
“…you have that right to disagree. In my opinion there is no correlation between the pain of a man’s last moments and the strenuous capacity of the workout. Metaphorically speaking I can’t breathe indicates I can’t breathe I can’t catch my breath because of all the injustices that continue to happen. I can’t breathe because we keep seeing the same incidents occurring with the same end results. I can’t breathe because when is there going to be change. A metaphor carried out by millions of people, including strong, powerful African American leaders such as Jesse Jackson, Lebron James, Jamie Foxx, Nick Cannon, Kobe Bryant-RIP, etc. We are asking for a breath. We are crying for a breath. The message is largely a rally cry. It’s a reminder. Symbols can be painful. Hard to hear or look at but they are the cause for emotion inside you to motivate you to rise. It’s directed towards social change…”
We were moved by Angelo’s words and actions. When he reached out to us and asked us to share his workout, we agreed. Since then the feedback we received from the black fitness community has been overwhelmingly positive. Some not. We will continue to listen.
Firstly, I'm not playing the race card. Please look up the definition of that phrase.
Most anything can be used as intended, or anything can be bastardized.
Your "evidence" shows the original intent of the workout. The OP shows the bastardized version.
Why do I think the bastardized version of the workout notice is racist, rather than in just poor taste without regard to race?
1. They likely were aware of the original disclaimer attached to the workout, which clarified that the workout was not created in poor taste. Which explains why your "evidence" gym didn't view it as black on black racism. This is all very obvious.
Advice: research elements discrimination similarly situated
You'd had a stronger case had you shown that a "White" 'gym' wasn't being racist, rather than exclaiming, in effect, if not in these exact words,
"Hey! Look! I found a Black gym that wasn't being racist towards a murdered Black man! What do you have to say about that!"
2. A reasonable person would know that it would be in poor taste, as this, you seem to admit; to not include the disclaimer.
3. The OP gym added an image, in all black, in a kneeling position. Again, a reasonable person would agree that this is poor taste.
So how to I connect this up to racism?
If OP gym person has the audacity to post that sign, in light of the racial tension, unrest, and upheaval; then they are telling me that they
want to be included in the racial drama. No reasonable person would do such a thing if they didn't want to be pigeonholed.
I've seen where people used to be racist when they were younger, but still had the associated tattoos as they got older; but only now decided to get them covered. They went out of their way to not be even mistaken as a racist.
A reasonable person wouldn't want to be mistaken as something they disagree with.
Research
'circumstantial evidence.' We don't need proof beyond a doubt to put a man in jail on just circumstantial evidence. And we certainly don't need it to know when racism is being perpetrated by a racist.
Doing what the OP gym did, in these
circumstances, clearly indicates racism
[...or antagonism directed against a person or people on the basis of their membership of a particular racial or ethnic group, ...];
And clearly indicates that they are racist
[ ... a person who believes in racism, ...]
