A searing exposé on the whiteness of running, a supposedly
egalitarian sport, and a call to reimagine the industry
“Runners
know that running brings us to ourselves. But for Black people, the
simple act of running has never been so simple. It is a declaration
of the right to move through the world. If running is claiming public
space, why, then, does it feel like a negotiation?”
Running
saved Alison Désir’s life. At rock bottom and searching for
meaning and structure, Désir started marathon training, finding that
it vastly improved both her physical and mental health. Yet as she
became involved in the community and learned its history, she
realized that the sport was largely built with white people in mind.
Running
While Black draws on Désir’s experience as an endurance
athlete, activist, and mental health advocate to explore why the
seemingly simple, human act of long distance running for exercise and
health has never been truly open to Black people. Weaving historical
context—from the first recreational running boom to the horrific
murder of Ahmaud Arbery—together with her own story of growth in
the sport, Désir unpacks how we got here and advocates for a world
where everyone is free to safely experience the life-changing power
of movement.
As
America reckons with its history of white supremacy across major
institutions, Désir argues that, as a litmus test for an inclusive
society, the fitness industry has the opportunity to lead the
charge—fulfilling its promise of empowerment.