Editor’s notice: The next article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the writer’s personal. Learn extra opinions on theGrio.
That is an Ellie the Elephant stan account.
In my view, she is the very best sports activities mascot to ever do it, and no, I cannot elaborate.
OK, fantastic. I’ll elaborate.
Have you ever seen Ellie in motion?
I admittedly have by no means been to a New York Liberty recreation the place she performs, however ever since I began seeing movies of her performances and stunts on TikTok, I’ve been obsessed along with her, and since TikTok has the social media algorithm recreation in a chokehold, my “For You” web page is stuffed with Ellie movies from her account in addition to anybody else who even mentions or tags her.
I really like that for me.
In response to a profile on the social media sensation, Ellie turned the official mascot of the Liberty in 2021, when the staff moved from Manhattan to Brooklyn. She is the brainchild of three Black girls — Liberty’s CEO Keia Clarke, chief model officer Shana Stephenson and senior director of leisure Criscia Lengthy, so you understand it’s actual.
“Black girls are simply dope. We’re the purveyors of tradition. We actually create tradition,” Stephenson informed Andscape.
She added, “The WNBA is a league of largely Black girls, so we’re a mirrored image of the gamers within the league, on the court docket, the ladies locally, and that’s one thing that’s actually essential to this group. … Once we have been enthusiastic about Ellie, it was by no means a doubt that the traits of Ellie would additionally signify that.”
That final half is essential. I’ve lengthy maintained that Black tradition is American tradition, and I’m not the one one who believes this. The non-melanated will at all times attempt to deny this, however they deny it as a result of they’ll’t stand to not be centered in all the pieces.
The actual fact is, our tradition is “borrowed” from and appropriated on a regular basis by individuals who look nothing like us and don’t respect us. Seeing Black girls create a cultural icon who represents us in the very best methods potential is a reminder that Black girls are the blueprint.
Ellie sports activities an extended braid, however she is going to placed on a wig if the event requires it. She wears huge hoop earrings and carries numerous trend purses, together with her signature Telfar. She dances. She pops it on a handstand. She offers you face. She strikes a pose any time the digicam is pointed at her.
Ellie is our good sis.
There may be hypothesis as to who precisely is below the Ellie masks, and for my part, so long as the individual carrying the costume is Black, I don’t care, child.
Really useful Tales
When you want additional proof of Ellie’s greatness, enable me to share a few of my favourite Ellie movies.
There was the time she did Andrea Kelly’s viral choreography for the Beyoncé tune “II Arms II Heaven.”
One time, she gave us Mary J Blige proper right down to the signature curly blonde wig and the boots, child. After which she busted Mary’s signature strikes on the court docket.
There was the time she emulated Lil Kim after which later danced proper alongside her.
She did the #Bongos problem to Cardi and Megan Thee Stallion’s hit tune, prompting the Bronx rapper to say on Twitter, “Put me to disgrace…I like it.”
Her doing the Ashanti booty scoot throughout the ground is such a Black coded factor, I knew earlier than I formally came upon that Black individuals have been behind this.
The Missy “Ellie-OTT” rubber go well with efficiency was one other banger.
She stays on high of the newest TikTok tendencies.
She’s simply a complete vibe, and I can’t get sufficient.
I imply, did you see her Beyonce efficiency?
They name her Massive Ellie.
Put some respect on her identify and the names of the Black girls who made this occur.
Ellie is for the tradition.
Monique Choose is a storyteller, content material creator and author dwelling in Los Angeles. She is a phrase nerd who’s a fan of the Oxford comma, spends means an excessive amount of time on Twitter, and has extra graphic t-shirts than you. Observe her on Twitter @thejournalista or examine her out at thejournalista.com
