Patricia Destine: Black & Human

03/11/20 • 27 min

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#002: While recorded during Black History Month, we will amplify Black voices anytime and every time. The interviewee of our second episode is Patricia Destine, who is the co-host of Rowing in Color. She is a Haitian American coxswain turned rower turned rowing coach who lives in Brooklyn, New York. Her experiences chronicle what it was like to learn how to row in a sports based youth development setting. With co-host Denise, Patricia recalls her experiences at the boathouse, at regattas, with racist teammates, with white coaches, and what it feels like to be black - and human.

Previous Episode

Dwayne Adams, Sr: A Man Who Breaks Barriers

#001: Welcome to Rowing in Color, where we publish interviews from Black History Month only a month later. We kick the season off by interviewing Dwayne Adams, Sr. He is the founder and executive director of Breaking Barriers Rowing & Fitness, which is a non profit organization located in Delaware. Its mission is to help youth (both with and without disability) and senior citizens through the sport of rowing. As a teenager, Dwayne was shot in the head, leaving him legally blind. He went on to become an elite adaptive rower, winning a bronze medal in the World Rowing Championship in Seville, Spain, in 2002. Hosts, Patricia and Denise, talk to Dwayne about his journey to rowing, advice to young rowers, and what it means to be a black man in a white sport. For more on his organization, check out www.breakingbarriersde.org

Next Episode

Dr. Chierika “Coco” Ukogu, M.D.: Orthopedic Surgeon talks COVID-19 and Being Nigeria's First Olympic Rower

#003: Chierika “Coco” Ukogu is a recently graduated orthopedic surgeon, Stanford University rowing alumna, and American-born Nigerian professional rower. To top that all off, she competed as Nigeria’s first ever rower in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro... Pause. Re-read the previous two sentences again, more slowly, and for dramatic effect. Yes, now please. Did I mention that we spoke to her during match week? Moving on, she talks about taking part in youth sports in Philadelphia (where she grew up) and the one very specific factor that led her to choose rowing over other sports. Additionally, we quickly discuss what we should be doing during this time of quarantine and social distancing as COVID-19 takes a strong presence in New York City, where she is currently based. To hear more on her journey and her continuing accomplishments, follow her story on Twitter and Instagram @cukogu

Rowing in Color - Patricia Destine: Black & Human

Transcript

spk_0: 0:00
one thing that my coach like, she wasn't a woman of color. She was a white woman. She did for us. She sat us down prior to over God and was like, Guys, I'm gonna let you know right now. You guys are going in there as the odd man out like you guys are different.
spk_1: 0:20
Patricia coming up next. We have an interview with you. So yes, Patricia is black coach and was a black grower and a black oxen. I don't know why that fellow's ringing