B-Girl Raygun of Team Australia competes during the B-Girls Round Robin – Group B on day fourteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Place de la Concorde on Aug. 9, 2024 in Paris, France.

There are many words that can be used to describe Rachael “Raygun” Gunn’s performance at the Paris Olympics. Some might call it “cringe,” “embarrassing,” or even “hilarious.” However, one word that shouldn’t be used is “defendable.”

Raygun’s routine was met with widespread criticism, with many labeling it a “mockery” and “gentrification of Hip-Hop.” Dr. Stacey Patton even went so far as to call it a “modern-day minstrel.”

In fact, the only thing more embarrassing than the dance itself is the people who are trying to defend it. Martin Gilian, the head judge in the Breaking competition, claimed that Raygun didn’t do a bad job, despite losing 18-0, 18-0, and 18-0 against the USA, France, and Lithuania. He said that the judges were “looking for a certain style” and that Raygun’s “originality” was what set her apart.

This is a perfect example of the power of whiteness. Raygun, a white woman, was allowed to participate in a dance style that she didn’t fully understand, and was given praise for her “originality” despite her lack of skill.

Breaking is a free-form dance that requires a great deal of skill, athleticism, and physicality. It’s not something that can be learned overnight, and it’s certainly not something that can be mastered by simply watching a few videos online. Raygun’s performance was a mockery of the dance style, and it’s insulting to the Black community that created it.

Raygun’s family members are also defending her, saying that she did her best and that the judges were unfair. However, this just shows a clear disconnection from reality. If Raygun really cared about the culture she was supposedly studying, she wouldn’t want to be remembered as the person who embarrassed herself on an international stage.

We can laugh at Raygun, but we should also be aware of the larger issue at play. Whiteness has a way of manipulating and appropriating Black culture, and this is just another example of that.

Black people are often criticized for being too sensitive or too quick to call out appropriation, but this is exactly why we need to continue speaking out. We can’t let people like Raygun and her defenders continue to erase and disrespect our culture.

It’s time to take a stand and say that enough is enough. We deserve better, and our culture deserves better.