Why Non-White American Athletes should Boycott the 2028 Olympics
The Olympic Games are supposed to stand for peace, unity, and human excellence.
But for many non-white American athletes, the flag they compete under doesn’t always stand for freedom, justice, or equality. With the 2028 Olympics set to be held in Los Angeles, the question isn’t just “how many medals will we win?”
It’s:
“How long can we keep pretending this country respects us—until the closing ceremony?”
This isn’t just about sports. It’s about survival, dignity, and the right to exist in a country that too often treats Black, Brown, Indigenous, Asian, Arab, and immigrant communities like second-class citizens—even when they win gold.
🔥 1. Athletes of Color Represent a Country That Doesn’t Represent Them
Whether it’s:
Black citizens being murdered by police,
Indigenous lands being desecrated for pipelines,
Latino immigrants being caged at the border,
Muslim athletes being surveilled,
Asian Americans being scapegoated for pandemics,
…the U.S. continues to profit off non-white bodies in uniform, while denying them rights in society.
Olympic athletes stand on podiums in red, white, and blue.
But when they go home, they still get:
Profiled in airports,
Harassed by cops,
Underpaid,
Mocked for protesting.
⚠️ Historical Example:
Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised fists in 1968 to protest racial injustice. They were vilified.
Colin Kaepernick knelt. He was blackballed.
Gwen Berry turned away from the flag—and the backlash was swift.
So tell us again: what exactly are we standing for?
🩸 2. The U.S. is Rolling Back Civil Rights, and the World Is Watching
The Supreme Court has gutted affirmative action.
States are banning books on Black history and Indigenous genocide.
Politicians are criminalizing protest, trans existence, and even speech itself.
Mass incarceration continues to disproportionately target Black and Brown communities.
You want athletes of color to perform like champions for a country that’s actively erasing their stories and rights?
That’s not patriotism.
That’s exploitation wrapped in a flag.
🎭 3. America Loves Black and Brown Bodies—Until They Speak
Non-white athletes are celebrated only when they:
Win gold
Stay quiet
Smile on camera
“Represent America well”
But speak out? Protest? Refuse to be a prop?
Suddenly, they’re “ungrateful,” “divisive,” “un-American.”
Ask:
Serena Williams (scrutinized for her body and emotions),
Sha’Carri Richardson (punished for grief while white athletes get grace),
Naomi Osaka (slammed for prioritizing mental health),
Megan Rapinoe and Simone Biles (mocked for their advocacy and vulnerability).
America wants performance, not personhood.
💰 4. Billions Are Made Off Athletes Who Come From Communities Still Starving
The 2028 Olympics will cost billions.
But Los Angeles is:
One of the most racially segregated cities in America.
Seeing rampant homelessness, police violence, and gentrification.
Already using Olympic planning to displace Black and Brown neighborhoods.
Non-white athletes will be paraded for profit—while their own communities can’t afford rent, healthcare, or clean water.
That’s not unity. That’s modern plantation optics with Olympic medals.
🗣️ 5. Boycotting Isn’t Betrayal—It’s the Highest Form of Patriotism
The Olympic platform is global.
So is systemic racism.
A boycott—or any form of protest—by athletes of color isn’t about “hating America.”
It’s about:
Refusing to be silent billboards for injustice,
Shaming a system that celebrates their wins but ignores their humanity,
And reminding the world: freedom isn’t real if only some of us have it.
Let’s not forget:
Muhammad Ali refused the Vietnam draft and lost everything—but gained history.
South African athletes were banned from the Olympics for apartheid.
Russia was banned for state corruption.
Is it so radical to say America’s racism is just as disqualifying?
🚨 6. If America Won’t Listen to Justice, Maybe It’ll Hear Silence on the Podium
A mass protest—or boycott—by non-white American athletes in 2028 could:
Force global attention on U.S. racial and social injustice,
Disrupt the commodification of identity and culture,
Create leverage for real policy changes (like defunding racist policing, protecting voting rights, and investing in underserved communities).
Because here’s the truth:
No medals matter in a country where your life can still be taken over a tail light, a traffic stop, a hoodie, or your accent.
✊🏽 Final Thought: The Choice Is Ours
The 2028 Olympics will happen in Los Angeles.
But what happens on that stage is up to the athletes.
To every non-white American Olympian:
You don’t owe this country your silence.
You don’t owe this flag your compliance.
And you don’t owe the Olympic Committee your obedience.
You owe yourself—and your people—the truth.
Whether you raise a fist, take a knee, or refuse to play at all—that’s the real gold.