With June 23, 2012 marking the 40th Anniversary of Title IX being signed by former president Richard Nixon, women athletes across the globe will celebrate the progress of gender equity in sport this weekend.
Since the passing of Title IX, female athletes have not only made significant strides on the field, but have increased the presence of women executives in the business of sports and built some of the most recognizable brands in the world.
However, there have not been many changes made for racial equity in the area of women’s sports. A fact, revealed in research and highlighted in a recent article by William C. Rhoden, women of color continue to overcome obstacles and make a name for themselves both as athletes and executives.
One woman who is a trailblazer in her own right is Milani Malik, a chiseled rising basketball star and certified “Fenom” from Brooklyn, New York. Currently, she is not only the sole female athlete on an all-male New York professional team, but she is the only woman in the country playing in the American Basketball Association (ABA).
In addition to playing in the ABA, Malik trains with the NY Liberty and can be seen in tournaments throughout the city when she is not in season. With experience overseas and support from major brands such as Nike and Estee Lauder, Malik is on her way to a successful career. With an ultimate goal that she wrote down when she was 11 years old, and still has the journal entry to prove it, Malik would like to play in the WNBA. With her relentless drive for progress and “impossible-is-nothing” attitude, it will not be long before we see her dreams manifest.
Many female basketball players can say that they have had to play against or with men in pickup basketball, or even intramurals, but few have had to do it full time. Malik impressed her coach so much, that he thought her capable of handling her own on the court, regardless of her gender and size.
Standing tall at 5 feet 6 inches, Malik says she feels comfortable playing on an all-male team since that is how she played growing up.
“I don’t see gender on the court” she says. “My family being supportive of me helps too. They think I’m crazy anyway, so they just cheer me on.”
With a lot of obstacles in her college career, including paperwork mishaps and basketball related injuries, Malik has had to prevail against some roadblocks along her journey to where she is today. One of her key quotes is “No matter what’s going on in life, my safe haven is the basketball court.”
Malik says, “When you have that true passion and love for a sport, it’s a feeling you can’t even explain. Once you are on the court, your mind just clears and all your problems go away. If I ever have a bad day or something terrible happened, I go on the court and its fine.”
One may think, well how does she run with all of those men at just 5 feet 6 inches tall? As a point guard, she is not posting up seven footers, though Malik explains if the lane is open she’ll take it. Don’t leave me open, cause that’s a shot.”
As New York City’s “favorite pretty baller,” I thought Malik may have had at least one “Love and Basketball” connection on the court, though she emphasized that she never mixes business with pleasure.
“They always call me ‘Monica’ from Love and Basketball, but I have never been involved with anyone that I have played with. That doesn’t mean they haven’t tried, but I don’t have it. That’s against the rules,” she says.
Many basketball stars have taken a liking to Malik’s work ethic. From Kevin Durant, Theresa Weatherspoon, Nate “Tiny” Archibald and Pee Wee Kirkland to God Shammgod, she has worked out with and received advice from many of basketball’s elite.
Malik says, “I tell people all the time when you help yourself, then people want to help you. I feel blessed that so many legends have taken me under their wing, but I know it didn’t come without hard work.”
To the surprise of many, including her dad’s friends who said that all of his children would die if they did not eat meat, Malik and her five siblings, have been vegan since birth. Her agent, Dhanraj Maharaj of Dream Team Sports suggested that she create a vegan cookbook and is helping her make that happen. Malik has also been featured on a vegan talk show about her lifestyle and how she maintains such an active lifestyle on a unique diet. She continues to inspire others with her strict efforts and will reach many more that desire to stay fit but follow a similar eating pattern.
Not new to the small or big screen, Malik has recently filmed a commercial for Elizabeth Arden, who wanted to highlight women’s empowerment. Malik was also featured in a new documentary film about pickup basketball in New York City titled “Doin’ it in the Park.” It not only shows her holding her own on the court, it is an ode to the streetball legends of New York City and she is certainly on this list.
This is just the beginning for Malik and other athletes like her. It is time to recognize the women and continue to support their efforts so that young girls may also dream and write down their visions, knowing they can accomplish anything they have the will and verve to achieve.
Malik always states, “Whatever is for you, will be for you. Put God first and you never know what will happen.”
