@theashleyray

Badass Black Women History Month: Celebrating 28 Black Women Who Said, “Fuck it, I’ll Do It!” Day 3: Mabel Fairbanks America’s First Black Female Figure Skater

Mabel Fairbanks was the first black person to be inducted into the US Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 1997. She was also inducted into the International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame. While Mabel coached some of the biggest names in figure skating like Scott Hamilton, Debi Thomas and Kristi Yamaguchi, she was never allowed to compete in the Olympics at the height of her career because of her race. As a black woman skating in Jim Crow America, she was often banned from rinks and competitions. 

Born in 1915 in Florida, Mabel was left orphaned after her mother died when she was 8. Mabel went to live with her older brother in New York City, but his wife wouldn’t allow her to stay with them and she was soon homeless. A wealthy woman saw her sleeping on a park bench and gave her a job as a babysitter in her home overlooking Central Park. Mabel watched the children skating from the Central Park apartment and decided she could do it too. At only 10 years old, Mabel bought a pair of used skates that were too big, stuffed them with cotton and headed to the whites only ice rink. “Blacks didn’t skate there. But it was a public place, so I just carried on,” she once said. 

By the 1930s, Mabel was a skating sensation, but she was still not allowed into most ice rinks. There weren’t any black skate rinks and she was denied entry to the white rinks. Still, Mabel would return every single day until, finally, the manager let her in. Even though Olympic medalist and nine-time US Champion Maribel Vinson personally took Mabel under her wing as a student, Mabel still wasn’t able to compete in any qualifying events for the Olympics because she was black. 

Instead, Mabel would perform at black charity events and private shows. White producers refused to book her despite her skills. With few options, Mabel decided to move to Los Angeles where she was able to tour internationally, skating with Ice Capades in Mexico and later with Ice Follies. Mabel would go on to coach singles and pairs skating. Many of her students would go on to compete in the Olympics and win gold. Mabel was never bitter and was proud of her accomplishments. In a 1998 interview the Los Angeles Times wrote:

EDIT: This post was written before I was made aware of the full scope of the widespread harm my actions were responsible for. I absolutely know that this statement is insultingly inadequate. I hoped releasing something that acknowledged in any way that these claims are valid and I’m seeking a trained professional would be an indication that this isn’t something I’m just waiting out with the hope it’ll go away.

I have reblogged the groups post because their statement is a much more comprehensive overview of everything than what I posted.

All seven statements of harm have been given to my therapist and we will be going over them in the weeks to come. I am in no way trying to dispute or argue any of the survivors experiences. I believe their accounts more than my own because I know I have had years of mental justification and denial that clouds my memory of reality. This is something that my therapists specializes in overcoming. The full depth of my harmful actions when I first wrote the below statement were still being put together, and agree it minimizes the hurt I’ve caused people in a way that is manipulative and untruthful to the community and the survivors.

After I go over each statement of harm with my therapists I will write another statement that better recognizes, and takes responsibility for my acts of sexual violence, including the manipulation I have applied to the survivors and the group. For way too long in this process I centered my own emotions in a way that was extremely damaging to people who were even trying to help me. At first, I was too worried about being called a serial rapist, and not worried enough that I actually was one. This has been a shift in how I see myself- the denial and rationalization I’ve been using for the past 8 years is actively being faced with both of my therapists. I also know this is too little too late, no amount of work I do will undo the damage I’ve caused so many people. I have caused widespread harm both emotionally and physically, and there will never be an excuse for that.

At the beginning of this process, I was pushed by a friend to seek intensive therapy from the Center for Contextual Change. The individual program I currently am in is the same one rapists convicted in a court are legally required to enroll in. Each week she assigns me work to do every day I am not in therapy. At any time in the work she feels like I am not being honest with her or myself, she will stop and challenge what I have said.

This is the beginning to a lifelong process. I am committed to seeing it through. I am committed to not running away from this, and doing everything I can to work towards the goals both the group and survivors have. The sexual misconduct therapist I have been working with will be in regular communication with the group to insure that any misrepresentation of facts I have will be dismantled and corrected.

——

Many folks in the community have recently become aware of my history of harmful behavior both in and outside of relationships, and are rightfully very concerned. I have violated partner’s consent and have been emotionally harmful to people I’ve dated. When my friends and some community members confronted me about it, I agreed that engaging an accountability process with the community would be the best course of action. This accountability process is currently being outlined and I am dedicated to seeing it through. I am taking steps to address my behavior, and these will be very integrated into my accountability process.

I am engaged in daily therapy with a specialist who focuses on intimate partner violence, as well as a separate weekly therapist who focuses on healing patterns of sexual harm. Breaking down the years of rationalizing and denial– to fully understand and face the pain I’ve put into other people’s lives– has been the first step in this process. I have begun reading extensively about consent, masculinity, and fostering healthy relationships(1). I am building up a group of friends around me to guide me as I do this, as well as keep me accountable.

I am currently in a relationship and my girlfriend is aware of my harmful actions. She is supportive of my recovery and her participation is giving me the chance to practice the growth and change I am actively pursuing. I am very grateful for her support.

I am deeply sorry for all people I have hurt and violated. I am taking the harm I have done very seriously and am working diligently to make sure it never happens again. I know there is no forgiving what I’ve done, and even posting this will just be seen as empty lip service. I hope that by sharing my commitment to progress over the coming months and years I can regain trust in the community as a safe person.

-Alex Kime

Celebrate the facts. Happy Black History Month!