Ogom “O.G.” Chijindu said on March 2 during a new episode of “Basketball Wives” that she has faced colorism and racism since childhood. The former athlete shared her story while at dinner with “BBW” co-stars Jennifer Williams, Jackie Christie, and new cast members Nia and Noria Dorsey. Chijindu presented her dinner mates with a story of an old trauma after Christie informed the new girls of the current issues the group is facing, including colorism on the “BBW” set.
She tearfully said, “I was in first grade when I experienced it for the first time. My teacher at a private school told me you will not amount to anything because you are Black. I would never want that to happen to any child, ever. I went home and I told my mom and my dad, and they’re immigrants, and they were livid. So to experience that at such an early age is horrific, but at the same time you grow from it, and I made a vow to myself that I will never allow someone to do that to me again and get away with it.”
Chijindu added that the purported experience taught her to be “more proud to be Nigerian, more proud to be Black, more proud to be a woman.” The reality star also mentioned words has a way of “affecting” a person long-term, especially if they encountered a similar experience that triggers that specific memory.
“What people don’t understand when you are told something about yourself that you have no control over it affects you long term in a way that whenever you experience a similar instance, it brings back those old memories.”
After she shared her story, fans empathized with Chijindu and said they understood why she acted hurt and defensive when she felt she was being treated differently from her “BBW” cast members.
“Sad thing is that this is very common with our black children even to this day”
“I support O.G. and all dark-skinned women who have gone through similar experiences. No one deserves to be treated differently due to the hue of their skin. Please black people start uplifting each other and start highlighting African standards of beauty! Period! #TeamOG”
“Thank you O.G.! Our society rather they want to admit it or not? Needed this narrative. Too many times do we get dismissed as women and women of darker complexion.”
One user said if the reality star had been a little more open about her past experiences maybe the other ladies would have understood. “O.G. should’ve expressed her feelings to the other girls so they can understand what’s she been through. Instead she wants them to automatically know how she’s feeling.”
Fans aren’t the only people showing Chijindu some support. Last week, following the Feb. 24 episode, after the former athlete released the unedited conversation with her “BBW” co-star Kristen Scott regarding the colorism issues she faced within the group of ladies, including Evelyn Lozada. Former “BBW” stars that included Royce Reed and CeCe Gutierrez commended Chijindu for speaking her truth.
Reed said, “I really wanted to stay out of this because it’s a chapter in my life I wanted to keep closed. … I 100% agree with you. The amount of disrespect I received and favoritism I witnessed for 4 seasons to be blanketed by and dismissed by production edits or cast interviews was depressing…I commend you on posting this”
Gutierrez expressed how proud she was of her friend. “I just now watched only this episode, and I am not surprised…I am PROUD of you! Yes, it’s what they do! Yes, it’s what they’ve done many times to me. The amount of disrespect is unbelievable.”
