Downtown Brown, previously known as Affirmative Action and Minority Rulz, formed in 1997 as a Men’s Ultimate Frisbee team. Comprised only of minority players, the intent was to connect players of color in a sport that, even today, struggles to reflect society as a whole accurately.
The team later expanded into Mixed and Women’s teams, made up largely of players from the West Coast. Over time, DTB has become an amorphous team that reflects the perspectives of the many players who come in and out at any given time. Some of their thoughts are showcased here.
The saying is true: it takes a village. For the last 10 years, DTB could not and would not have continued to exist without the efforts of Danica May, Manisha Daryani, Karen Ko, Joaquin Nagle, Frank Nam, Michael “Bob” Liu, Frankus Flores, Lili Gu, and countless others. While we were unable to feature so many of our amazing players in this portrait project because of distance and budget—massive shoutouts to Ken Leiserson, Jody Dozono, Michael Namkung, Brett Evans, Vivian Zayas, and Kevin Wong!—they nonetheless remain vital to the continuing and enduring presence of Downtown Brown.
In his classic work”The Souls of Black Folk,” W.E.B. DuBois speaks of a double consciousness that Black people in this country have, a viewing of the world through two sets of eyes: their own as African-Americans, and the eyes of the white world which they navigate.
I’d never realized how much of my myself I had allowed to be dormant being content to assimilate within the Ultimate community. Playing with DTB opened my eyes to the parts of me that I had not allowed to be free.
When DTB was first realized, we had no idea how the greater Ultimate community would react or how recruiting for the team would be received. We did think it was a great opportunity for those of us who, at the time, would often be one of only a few non-white players on our club or college teams.
The Circle often brings laughter, heartwarming stories, rage-producing stories, connection, tears, and hugs, and suddenly you realize that you and your brown sisters and brothers—of the past, present, and future—are family forever.
DTB allowed me to transcend the sport that I had loved and cherished for so many years as a vehicle to understand my Latin culture I had lost as a child. We challenged ourselves in the Circle to take the time to reach out to our families and learn more about our lost ancestries.
For me, DTB is understanding that acceptance and inclusivity comes from acknowledging ALL the parts of ourselves, not just the parts that look or act the same, or are easy to digest.
Sometimes you don’t know what you’re missing, until you get it. In this case, it was playing with friends who somehow got you because they understood the experience of also being a minority in dominant White culture. We were “woke” even back then.
I’m not sure if I actually said anything in my first Circle. I do acutely remember the rawness, the frankness, and the vulnerability demonstrated by the people on the team as they recounted their own struggles of growing up Brown in a very white world.
Playing with DTB, I’m reminded of the beauty of bringing my whole self to this sport; when I step onto the field, I feel powerful not just as an athlete, but as an Asian-American athlete.
