If I'm a 'Sell-out' for Supporting Team GB as a Black Person - Give Me a Price Tag!

Team GB are doing so well. In fact the best they have ever done. I'm their biggest fan who's just about got their voice back from all the screaming I've been doing since the Olympics started.

Team GB are doing so well. In fact the best they have ever done. I'm their biggest fan who's just about got their voice back from all the screaming I've been doing since the Olympics started.

But for some reason, apparently, I don't deserve to be a fan or to support what I would consider my country. Want to know the saddest thing about this? It wasn't BNP or EDL members that told me this. It was another black British person.

I've been cheering along Team GB not just by jumping around in my living room but with my updates on all the social media I have a presence on. I.e. Facebook, Twitter, Blackberry etc. So imagine my surprise when I saw a message that said: "You're a proper sell out, Judas."

Apparently, I'm supposed to be supporting my country of descent, Nigeria, even though I've never lived there and have only visited three times in my entire life. Most of all, my only contact with Nigerian culture is that of a watered down version that is portrayed by my mother as well as members of my church.

Of course, I had many questions for this sell-out-accuser of mine. I replied that we live in Britain and where does he live - Deptford-via-Lagos? Since when did the Olympics become so political? Since when did it reflect the nature of my nationality or identity?

He then told me "We're not white, our heritage is Nigerian, might live here but we're Nigerian, have some pride."

Have some pride indeed. At this point, I lost my cool. You would have thought Nick Griffin was talking to me and not that of a mid-20s young black male who grew up in inner city south east London!

Forgive me if I am wrong (which I'm pretty sure I'm not) but Olympics is about fun and the pleasure/success of sport. This is the one time when countries compete and we pray that no politics are involved (unlike Eurovision). I don't see what is wrong with supporting Team GB as a person of African descent, particularly as I've grown up here all my life. I have a red passport, an oh-so-London accent and I know more about the Tudors than I know about my own grandad who lives in an obscure part of Nigeria.

Even if I choose to support Team GB and Nigeria, equally may I add, who is anybody else to tell me who I can or cannot support. Yesterday, I was at the women's handball match and Spain were playing Montenegro. Most of the Brits in the audience were split in their support. Are they sell outs too?

I think it's really sad that someone would want to divide an already divided black community like this. Especially if the said person is part of the community that is threatened by division.

I am unapologetically proud of Team GB and their achievements because to be honest, if I was a very good athlete I would probably represent GB over Nigeria. The funniest thing is my accuser and many others would probably do the same.

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