Mayfield Vashti-Roberts & Keira Gotrell: What Happens When 2 Black High School Rowers Talk About Race in Rowing Artwork

Rowing in Color

Denise Aquino and Patricia Destine are two women of color who are dedicated to promoting diversity within the sport of rowing. Both are former rowers turned coxswains turned coaches in the sport. Together they have almost 25 years of experience on the erg, at regattas, in the launch, or at the boathouse. No stranger to navigation or microphones, these former coxswains amplify what it’s like to navigate the topic of race within the white-dominated sport of rowing. Like most bodies of water, the tide is changing; there are more American rowers of color than there has ever been. You’ll hear from people who represented the U.S. in international races to folks who just started to row this year. Tune in to listen to a mix of interviews, special co-hosts, and tag-team shows from hosts, Denise and Patricia. Whether a rower or not, you’re not going to want to miss. Hit subscribe and enjoy.

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Rowing in Color

Mayfield Vashti-Roberts & Keira Gotrell: What Happens When 2 Black High School Rowers Talk About Race in Rowing

August 13, 2020 • Season 1 • Episode 31

#031 - Mayfield Vashti-Roberts and Keira Gotrell are both black high school rowers from Washington and New Jersey, respectively.

In this episode, they talked about:

What made Mayfield stay with rowing [3:57]

Mayfield’s response to going to regattas and not see others that look like you [7:07]

What would Mayfield tell coaches to improve the experience of rowers of color [13:41]

What Mayfield says to other HS rowers who are thinking of leaving the sport [18:35]

… and much more.

To get in touch with Mayfield, please email him at msavr.mvr@gmail.com

To get in touch with Keira, please reach her on Instagram @keiragotrell

We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

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We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.