More than an athlete: Tales of versatility and ingenuity shown by Black women
Female athletes juggle their many crafts to avoid being painted with one brush
Written by Vanessa Wright, DM&C student volunteer
It was a random phone call from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), that kick-started two-time Olympian and renowned Canadian athlete, Perdita Felicien’s, career in broadcasting.
After an injury halted her historical 12-year career as a professional hurdler, Felicien was asked to join a broadcast covering the Olympics. She had no idea that it would unlock the door to countless opportunities, and a newfound love.
“I ended up going and if it wasn’t for that experience…I wouldn’t know that I love the camera. I wouldn’t know I love broadcasting,” said Felicien.
Hitting the ground running, she went to broadcast school at Seneca College explaining that she wanted, “people to take her seriously.”
And they did. When she isn’t freelance broadcasting for CBC Sports, she hosts the television series “All-Round Champion.”
She has also worked as a multimedia journalist for CHCH News, Global’s The Morning Show and the radio station NEWSTALK 1010, just to name a few.
While it’s easy to think Felicien’s transition into a competitive field was seamless, that wasn’t always the case. Felicien has had to fight for every role. She was determined to unilaterally succeed in whatever she touched, regardless of how long it took.
“Someone will bring you to the dance,” said Felicien. “Someone will give you that opportunity. It just depends how long you’re willing to wait and how patient you’re willing to be.”
A similar tale goes for Meghan McPeak, a WNBA play-by-play broadcaster for the Washington Mystics.
McPeak first got her feet wet calling basketball games with CFMU, a radio station owned by McMaster University.
From there she went on to make history with the NBA G-league, ultimately landing her current position with the WNBA.
Even though her basketball career was cut short due to an injury, she took the time to learn and appreciate all aspects of this new craft.
“I made an effort early on to sit in production trucks, and work with producers to be able to gain insight for the behind-the-scenes side of the work,” said McPeak.
McPeak, who is one of less than 12 play-by-play announcers of colour in the league, grew up without virtually any women of colour in her role to look up to or learn from. The obvious disparity forced her to demand her presence be recognized.
“People can’t appreciate what they don’t see,” said McPeak. “I will put myself in front of them so they can see it, and not think twice about it.”
What’s more, McPeak vowed to set the tone for the generation coming after her because, “somewhere, there is a little Black girl who will see what you are doing and think to herself ‘I want to be like her,’” said McPeak.
Someone who knows a lot about trailblazing is Tabia Charles-Collins, Canadian long-jump Olympian. After a terrible ankle injury, Charles-Collins knew it was time to reinvent herself.
First, she hit the books. She got a master’s degree in industrial relations and human resources, with hopes to be an HR director.
After briefly working in great roles with companies like Coca Cola and Monster Energy, she realized it wasn’t for her. “I didn’t want to climb the corporate ladder,” said Charles-Collins.
She believed that no matter where she went, she wasn’t going to like it.
“I just wanted to be able to cultivate my own thing,” said Charles-Collins. “If I’m going to stress, I want to stress over my own brand.”
With her beautiful kids in mind, her clothing brand “Anisah by Tabia Charles” was born.
As if that wasn’t impressive enough, she co-owns both a fitness training program and several investment properties, with her husband Dennison.
“It inspires me…to know I can create the life that I want for myself and for my family, and be that woman people look at and say, ‘if she can do that, so can I,’” said Charles-Collins.
Despite her wildly successful repertoire, Charles-Collins’ hurdles as a Black woman in these industries mimic those of not only Felicien and McPeak, but also the majority of Black women who are multifaceted.
Charles-Collins admitted she once felt the need to act a certain way to be accepted.
“I felt like I had to go along, I had to talk a certain way and laugh at certain jokes,” said Charles-Collins. “I was like, ‘I’m the only black person, let me just be a chameleon and go along with all that.’’’
She welcomed change in her life and appreciated how much she has evolved.
“I realized, in life there’s so many avenues for you to be great. You’re going to fail at something, but you’re going to excel in many different avenues,” said Charles-Collins.
These women have gone through life’s many motions. And whether their life is labelled a comeback or a coming-of-age story, the story of their versatility and relentless ingenuity will remain the greatest of them all.
