Paulo Freire once wrote about liberation of the mind, and how being exposed to new knowledge can easily be compared to a "painful childbirth." No matter how awkward the analogy is, the statement is true, as some knowledge will probe you to replace the lense in which you use to view things with a new one. The new lense is painful to look through, but once you've been granted this new and improved view, you'll never look away. I can attest to this, as my "childbirth" occurred sometime during high school; I was a dead sponge dying to be woke, soaking up all of the information that I could. I am now forever grateful for this still very new lense and all that it allows me to see, however the intolerance that I have for much of what my peers around me can tolerate is nearly nauseating. This includes the 4th of July, the pledge of allegiance, the Democratic Party, and finally, the Olympics.

I hate the Olympics. I disclosed this statement to a peer approximately three days ago and my opinion was met with utter disgust; it was as if I said I didn't enjoy Obama's two terms as president. "Who doesn't love the Olympics? Who doesn't love to be prideful for their country? Who doesn't love seeing black girls take home gold medals?" were just a few of the statements I was met with. And as each statement she made became more and more problematic, I realized the setting we were in didn't allow for me to answer her questions as thoroughly as they needed to be. Gratefully, I have the Odyssey and on the inside, I jumped for joy as she gave me my next article idea. So here it is, 3 reasons why I hate the Olympics:

1. The rich get richer and the poor get exploited. Figures.

Every year the summer Olympic Games are held at an eye appealing, exotic location. Ranging from Greece to Beijing, the Olympic committee goes through various stages of voting when solidifying a location and a tedious process of planning when determining the architecture needed to sustain the up and coming games. This year's games are being held in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Known for its beauty, immaculate culture, and gorgeous wildlife, Brazil is also terribly impoverished. In fact, according to the World Bank's poverty analysis of the country this year, the poverty level in Brazil is way above the norm for any middle income country. Most of this country's residents reside in what they call favelas; fragmented shacks that are literally stacked on top of one another on the outskirts of the countryside. In addition to their rancid living conditions, Brazil's favelas are teeming with crime ranging from robbery to drug trafficking. Yet in the midst of all of this, the Brazilian government approved the action of knocking down thousands of favelas in order to accommodate the construction of facilities for the games; a project that has been occurring since 2009. With over 20,000 families uprooted and removed to outskirts of the country without a new means of income, shady real estate and business investments overshadowed the good of the Brazilian people and the relationships built between the Brazilian government and lucrative construction firms conquered all. Not to mention (as if this wasn't already expected) that the money gleaned from these games will stay within the upper class community of Brazil, as the facilities from the games will remain and sustain their economy. Not a dime will trickle down to those who need it. Not a dime. But there's more.

The waterway being used to host most water events (aside from swimming) is called the Guanabara Bay, also referred to as Rio's toilet. Yes, their toilet. Prior to the arrival of the Olympics, one out of every three flushes in Rio would be dispersed into the Bay. Clean-up of the bay was far from priority to the government until the arrival of the Olympic committee. And just like that, Guanabara Bay looked a lot more appealing than usual; *looked*. This water is still overflowing with disease and other unknown contaminants. I question the legitimacy of a government who has the desire to make something look nice for visitors as opposed to resolving the issue for permanent residents. Again, Brazil's residents are handed the short end of the stick.

2. No respect? No gold.

The U.S. has had an unthinkable year, one of many. Yet despite our country's rapid movement towards the completion of another decade, African-Americans are still at the focal point of disenfranchisement; politically, socially, and economically. That being said, I watch in distaste as African-American athletes make the choice of representing a country overflowing with citizens who hate their very existence. My love for Ibtihaj Muhammad, Gabrielle Douglas, Michelle Carter, Simone Biles, and the many other women and men of color showing these various countries, including our own, what we are capable of runs deep. However I cringe at the thought that it's being done with such a hypocritical name such as the United States of America etched across their uniforms, warm-ups, and bags. My feelings towards African-Americans participating in the Olympics has been this way since I learned of the great Jesse Owens, an olympian who went on to attain 4 gold medals in Berlin, Germany during the 1936 summer games just to not be able to enter the White House for a congratulations from his president upon his return to the states.

Our history is drenched with details on our servitude towards a society that fails to recognize us, and in a time where social media reigns supreme, it's hard to miss this denial up close. Especially on Twitter, where some members of white America will watch a black woman earn gold on their country’s behalf, just to compare her body to that of an anima after the fact.

Some will argue me on this and say that I answer my own question as to why they still choose to participate and showcase their skills; to debunk the stereotypes surrounding us, to prove a point, and probably, just because they love their craft that much. Yet while it’s something that I can understand, it's something I don't support, and I probably never will.

3. The sappy narratives.

The stories of the athletes participating in the 2016 Rio games is pertinent, and as viewers, knowing the past about an olympian we knew nothing about before they came across our television screens is great journalism. But I feel like the media takes every given opportunity they have to provide a prolonged, sappy narrative for black olympians who take the olympics by storm. Alone, there is not a single television interview, broadcast, or headline (that I’ve seen at least) that has mentioned Simone Biles’ name without pointing out that she was adopted and her mother was once addicted to drugs. How integral that event was to the development of Biles as a gymnast is important, and I don’t argue its relevance at all. But how relevant is it that it inadvertently becomes her label? Celebrate her wins by addressing her with her name, Simone Biles; not ‘The Olympic Gymnast Who Overcame a Drug-addicted Mother’.

My love for the individuals participating in these games is completely separate from the dislike i have for the institution they are playing underneath. As an athlete myself, I highlight the hard work of every athlete participating in the 2016 Olympic games and in no way is this article meant to take away from the time they have spent to get where they are. I send luck, blessings, and good grace.