“I feel like I’m a vessel at this point to spread awareness.”
Naomi Osaka, the tennis champion working her way through the rounds of the U.S. Open, received a heartfelt surprise Tuesday night when the parents of Travyvon Martin and Ahmaud Arbery thanked her for wearing face masks with their names and those of other Black victims of violence before and after her matches in a bid to draw attention to police brutality and racism in the U.
S.... [+]Throughout the U.S. Open, Osaka has worn face masks emblazoned with the names of Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain, George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Trayvon Martin, Black people who died either at the hands of the police or in violent struggles with whites believed to be motivated by racism. On Tuesday night, broadcaster ESPN showed Osaka pre-recorded messages from parents of two of the people whose names Osaka wore.Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon Martin’s mother, thanked her for representing her son and other victims on her masks, saying “we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Continue to do well, continue to kick butt at the U.S. Open.” “Naomi, I just want to tell you thank you for the support for my family and God bless you for what you’re doing,” Ahmaud Arbery Sr., Arbery’s father, told her. “My family really, really appreciates that.” “It means a lot,” Osaka, who was born to a Japanese mother and Haitian father, said in response to the videos. “They’re so strong. I’m not sure what I would be able to do if I was in their position. I feel like I’m a vessel at this point to spread awareness. It’s not going to dull the pain, but hopefully I can help with anything that they need.” Later on Twitter, Osaka said she was moved to tears by the video messages—and that she prepared seven masks to wear with seven names, one for each round of the U.S. Open if she progresses to the finals.Osaka is no stranger to advocating for causes she believes in, both on and off the court. In August, she announced she would forgo the semifinals of the Western & Southern Open tournament to
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