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Believing that that was happening but also identifying with that.
Members became immediately engaged.
There were black squares in the feed and manifestos of how brands were going to do better.
There were many declarations of allyship.
Travis Matthews
(Just a few of many: There is no time or place for racism.
We will not be silent about that.
Our voices are our powerand right now, were taking the time to listen and learn.
Travis Matthews
To be silent is to be complicit.We stand with the black community.
The list goes on.
Meanwhile, inside the chat there was a sense of catharsisand a healthy dose of skepticism.
Emman Montalvan
For those members, the social media declarations started to feel performative.
As a group we feel like thats not necessarily authentic, and a bit problematic.
In this climate, the rumblings within the group coalesced into something more.
Emman Montalvan
SELF has an exclusive first look at the letter, which it’s possible for you to readhere.
Ive even witnessed some of it firsthand.
You see the privilege.
Travis Matthews
Sometimes my presence needs to be cosigned to allow for me to be there.
You have that extra burden of work.
Being seen as the other produces added pressure.
Travis Matthews
I have to check that that I am on point so they feel comfortable having us come in.
Davila says hes experienced many microaggressions over the years in the fitness industry.
For me its the, You communicate so well, he says.
Travis Matthews
Its this unconscious need to express surprise for a skillset that you dont think that person should have.
We are just seen as the physical part of fitness and not the intellectual part of fitness.
We are only supposed to function in one part of their paradigm.
Travis Matthews
Selena Watkins, a NASM-certified personal trainer and founder of the global dance workoutSocanomics, agrees.
The biases can also present in ways that can be immediately triggering.
Dugger agrees that the music used in fitness spaces can be jarring.
Travis Matthews
But for some reason, brands get comfortable.
Being commodified for my blackness to diversify a space, to make other people comfortable, is problematic.
Talking about their experiences together has spurred the trainers into action in different ways.
Travis Matthews
The first place to start is there, Dugger says.
If every Black fitness professional left their white spaces right now, the white spaces would be fucked.
Most labor unions have a sense of protection, a blanket laying over them, Riley says.
Travis Matthews
If anyone crosses these lines, there will be consequences.
This letter is like a blanket for us, laying down the law of the land.
Holder has been working with existing clients on community involvement and social justice donations.
Travis Matthews
Owens says she founded Spiked Spin because she wanted to help diversify the boutique fitness space.
Pryor leads workshops on inclusion and accountability.
In addition, the future of the boutique fitness industry as a whole is uncertain.
Travis Matthews
Even so, I have to say that this time feels different.
I just dont want this conversation to die.
Thats my biggest fear, she tells me.
Travis Matthews
I do not want this to become something where we view ourselves as powerless, she says.
Emman Montalvan
Emman Montalvan
Travis Matthews. Makeup by Eloria Michelle.
Travis Matthews. Makeup by Eloria Michelle .
