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Some Say N.Y. Marathon Winner Is Not “American” Enough

Written by News One on November 3, 2009 10:35 am

ny marathon winner

From the NY Times:

As soon as Mebrahtom Keflezighi, better known as Meb, won the New York City Marathon on Sunday, an uncommon sports dispute erupted online, fraught with racial and nationalistic components: Should Keflezighi’s triumph count as an American victory?

He was widely celebrated as the first American to win the New York race since 1982. Having immigrated to the United States at age 12, he is an American citizen and a product of American distance running programs at the youth, college and professional levels.

But, some said, because he was born in Eritrea, he is not really an American runner.

The debate reveals what some academics say are common assumptions and stereotypes about race and sports and athletic achievement in the United States. Its dimensions, they add, go beyond the particulars of Keflezighi and bear on undercurrents of nationalism and racism that are not often voiced.

Click here to read more.

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Tags: marathons, Meb Keflezighi, New York City
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  • http://www.blackplanet.com/jamrakk/ jamrakk

    if he is not american sanya richards is not

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/1Divine_soul/ 1Divine_soul

    Great Photos, I love it….I actually saw the Marathon and it was a good race…yes this man is American, what is American anyway, he does have a rather unusually strong Eritrean disposition to be here since 12 yrs. old, his wife and daughters are beautiful and he ran a very paced and smart race….!!!!
    I give em 5stars for this one…!!!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Take_it_all/ Take_it_all

    If he was white, this wouldn’t be talked about. Racist white people always showing their true colors…smh!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/WestsideCartelAtl85/ WestsideCartelAtl85

    I agree Take it all. He’s American. I’m just sick of the hypocrisy of this country.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Marveeo/ Marveeo

    Weather he is or weather he is not the won , so please get over it !

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/AMANORFIRE82/ AMANORFIRE82

    @Take_it_all YOU ARE DAMN RIGHT!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Charmed2Def/ Charmed2Def

    I raced this dude in the 10,000m at the Penn Relays in Philly years ago and he set a new meet-record. I don’t care where he’s from or what flag he runs under – the clock never lies. He deserves all the respect he gets and more (especially being a distance runner in the USA).

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/brandip77/ brandip77

    Anyone who says Meb is not American enough is pretty ignorant, and hating on this man’s tremendous accomplishment. More power and congratulations to Meb!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/slowhand64/ slowhand64

    shoot, IMHO unless you’re ancestors were here before Columbus arrived, you’re not American enough.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Gracious-22/ Gracious-22

    This guy is a true definition of AN “African-American”…born in Africa and came to America to live the American dreams and he did it. i DONT UNDERSTAND YOU AMERICANS AND UR IGNORANT THINKING..WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF A TRUE AMERICAN ANYWAYZZ??? TTHE MAN PAID HIS DUES……WHAT ABOUT THOSE MEXICANS AMERICANS ACTORS OR CHARLIE THERON WHOS A SOUTH AFRICAN, THEN AN AMERICAN BUT I GUESS THE COLOR OF HER SKIN DOESN;T MAKE HER AN AFRICAN BCUZ Y’ALL IGNORANT. AFRICAN PEOPLE TO YOU IS DARK COMPLEXION PERSON.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/chictatious1/ chictatious1

    jealously is a disease derieved from ignorance and highly contagious…well done and congradulations Meb!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/jazzpast/ jazzpast

    Like Chris Rock said,”Real Americans are immigrants and those that worked hard to make this country.” so called Amerikkkans just got out of their mama’s puccy in this country, and that’s it.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/tia_sunshine_04/ tia_sunshine_04

    Let them talk!!!Meb is the winner…Much luv to all Eritreans

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