Gabby Douglas: Impact Far Beyond Sports  Loose Ball: She might
inspire more black girls to try gymnastics, but that's not the
big picture.  (Continued from Page 1)  Children can dream a
little broader now, seeing themselves in places and positions
that they might not have believed beforehand. It doesn't have to
be the Olympics, either, just fields that they never thought of
before.  It's kind of like President Obama's influence. Not
everyone inspired by him will run for the White House, but his
election provides fuel for their journey, no matter which
destinations they choose. Gabby and other black Olympians in
predominantly white sports have the same impact, forcing us to
shatter subconscious boundaries.  We know we're better at other
things besides, say, basketball, track and field and rap music.
But few have provided more evidence on a bigger stage than
Gabby. The ripple effect will be felt for decades to come, in
ways we can't even imagine.   Like The Root on Facebook. Follow
us on Twitter.  Black Olympia