White members when was the last time you had real empathy?

Question

read: Wrestlin' With Racism Min. Paul Scott
Sep 16, 2006 20:28 PDT


Wrestlin' With Racism:
Cryme Tyme Hits Prime Time

Min. Paul Scott

The crowd of 20,000 rose to their feet as 6 foot 5,
400 pound, Mandingo "Tha Masked Minstrel" Jones headed
for the ring decked out in a bright red tuxedo and fur
coat and carrying a big bucket of fried chicken. The
announcer , obviously upset over his being 20 minutes
late, spits watermelon seeds at him as he strolls to
the ring with his main "Ho" Jazzybelle on his arm.
After pickpocketing the wallets from the people on the
front row, he tap dances into the ring, only to slip
on a chicken wing and get pinned 30 seconds later by
120 pound Bobby Taylor as the crowd erupts with
laughter....

Wrestling is racist! What a news flash, right? Anyone
even vaguely familiar with America's favorite guilty
pleasure would be hard pressed to argue with the fact
that the image of Black professional wrestlers has
left much to be desired. All of the negative
stereotypes that have, historically plagued Black
folks have always found a comfortable home in the
middle of the squared circle. Somehow, the
predominately , good ole boy audience always got a
hoot out of 450 pound Black men being reduced to
bumblin', bug eyed buffoons every week.

I remember as a child staying up way past midnight to
watch wrestlers with names like "Pork Chop " Cash
constantly get their behinds kicked by the golden boys
like Nature Boy Ric Flair. While Flair and the rest
of the boys strutted to the ring in diamond studded
robes the Brotha's came to the ring like they had just
escaped from the Crocket Plantation. I would always
wonder why the white dudes had the fancy moves like
the figure four leg locks and could triple flip off
the top rope but the only move the Black wrestler had
was that same ole head but.


Black wrestlers were also used to do what they did
best, scare the pants off of white folks. I remember
wrestlers such as Abdullah the Butcher rushing up on a
wrestlers and gouging their eyes out with number 2
pencils. And who could forget the witch doctor Papa
Shango who had little white kids sleeping with their
lights on. Perhaps the most stereotypical wrestler was
Kamala, the Ugandan Giant , a "savage cannibal from
dark Africa" who would wreck havoc on his opponents
with the help of his "trainer/master" some white dude
in a stocking mask.

While one may argue that like the Black actors from
the Steppin' Fectchin' Era, Black wrestlers had to
portray these characters in order to eat, what about
the Black wrestlers of the last decade like the
wrestlin' Pimp "The Godfather" who would come to the
ring surrounded by his "Ho's" or Booker T who has Ms.
Jones' kindergarten class walking around buggin'
their eyes and yellin' "CAN YOU DIG THAT...SUCKA'S!"

The latest bright idea of WWE owner Vincent K. McMahon
(yeah, the same dude who called wrestling's thugged
out version of Vanilla Ice, John Cena, "my *****" ) is
Cryme Tyme. The promos feature two gold toothed, gold
chain wearing Brothas, Shad and JTG preparing for what
promises to be a stellar career in the WWE by bumbling
their way through smoothie store robberies and muggin'
fools who get lost in tha hood while the announcer
urges listeners to "pop a 40 and check their Rollies."

One must wonder why this blatant diss of Black folks
wasn't stopped long ago. Could it be that most Black
men are ashamed to admit they occasionally flip from
the Monday Night Football game to watch a couple of
dudes in tights tryin' to pin each other? Or could it
be that our fearless "Civil Rights" leaders are
scared that some 400 pound steroid addicted masked
maniac may show up at their cribs one night and pile
drive them through their patios?

Now before I hear the familiar comeback of "Aw, you
people are sooo sensitive...lighten up, buddy. It's
just entertainment...geez guys." Do you think that the
Jewish community would tolerate a wrestler named
"Captain Kike, master of the kosher karate chop?" You
can best believe that Flyin' Father Francois Flanagan,
the homosexual priest who has the nasty habit of
inviting little boys to his dressing room would be met
with tons of angry letters from outraged members of
the gay and Catholic community.

But Black folks are supposed to accept all kinds of
disrespect with a "thank ya massa" and a big Kool Aid
smile.

I say enough is enough, we must start a petition to
demand that WWE cancels the Cryme Tyme story line,
immediately. We must send emails and letters telling
Vince McMahon that we will not take this disrespect
lying down on the mat!

It's time that we throw racism over the top rope, put
hatred in a head lock, give prejudiceness the pile
driver, beat tha...Aw, ya'll get the point.

As Hulk Hogan would say "Now, whatcha gonna do, when
the Black community runs wild on you!"


Min. Paul Scott is a writer, activist and lecturer
based in Durham NC. He can be reached at (919)
451-8283 web site:
http://www.hiphoprefugee.blogspot.com email:

Answer 1

you should have asked white Americans this one , not "white people" ....i lived in africa for 32 years .... helping poor black people .... what have you done to help your brothers ?

Answer 2

All I can offer is my opinion. First of all, that wrestling is a waste of time, but that's not the debate here.

I don't hold any wrestling association fully responsible for the obvious racism you've written about. Part of the blame has to fall on the performer for allowing themselves to be characterized as some sort of Steppinfetchit or watermelon eating buffoon.

People in the entertainment industry make money off of image and simple characterization, and the buying public eats it up with a fork and spoon. White blonde women are airheads, gay men are mincing queens, and black men are gangstas.

I'm not saying it's right. I'm saying is happens.

But no one is fully to blame. People will do strange and dangerous stuff for money (just look at the porn industry). People will continue to allow themselves to be victimized and characterized and made into characitures for as long as people will buy what they're selling.

The only solution is education, not revolution.

Answer 3

if you don't like wrestling than just don't watch it.

There are stereotypes eveywhere, and i should know, i am hispanic and i my little brother watches TNA. There is a group there called the latin american exchange, nothing but a bunch of violent, intolerant gang member-like personalities. I believe they make the latin community look horrible. I do not let it get to me though after all, if i go out of my way to make them stop, will they listen, probably not.

Oh, and your question was phrased in a way that makes you seem like the one who lacks empathy toward other races, why is it that you want others to have empathy towards you and your race when you barely show it yourselves.

Answer 4

Rufus "Freight Train " Jones was a black wrestling champ in the '70s and was very popular.

Answer 5

Shouldnt you blame the sell-outs who get on stage to portray these stereo-types? Shouldn't you blame SELF-PROCLAIMED black leaders (whoops, I said black and not african-american) who continue to segregate and seperate by preaching the same hatred that white america learned to get over? When the FEW thousand bigots left in this country with 4 BILLION people stop being bigots, they pork chop will stop. Stop generalizing America with what you see on wraslin. That is a 'make-believe' program, that doesnt represent the view of the majority. I dont think all blacks are racist just because Jesse Jackson SR and JR and Kanye West are.

Answer 6

I am a West Indian, Black, or African-American. Whatever you choose. You really need to stop the whining. If you are offended change the channel. Dave Chapelle already set the standard when he said the 'N' word. They did not have guns to their head, when they decided to make this choice. This is why they call it entertainment. Both men are well educated. You can't please everyone. I don't see you complaining about the prevalence of black gangsta or comedy movies.

Answer 7

Don't get too worked up over this. I prefer UFC, the guys are really hot, and it's VERY homoerotic.

Love Jack

Answer 8

Isn't this statement "White members when was the last time you had real empathy?" just as racist as what your report is saying about white members of the wrestling community?
Are you not passing stereotypes on people just as that report is speaking about?

Answer 9

I have never really paid wrestling any attention. But I thank you for bringing this blatent disrespect to my attention. It is sickening to see the level of ignorance in society. I will be sure to send an email to Vince McMahon and I urge all who feel the same way to do the same.

Answer 10

This is probably going to come as a shock to you, but believe it or not, the white community does NOT sit around and have intensive strategic meetings on how to 'keep the black man down.'

Crazy, isn't it?

I didn't find the part in your article where it states that these wrestlers were forced - at gunpoint - to be involved.

Could you please point this unempathetic white person to that part, please?

Answer 11

And the 'ho' on his arm? Only mention of a woman...I have my OWN cross to bear, I can't bear yours, as well...
GLOW's Voodoo Mama beat the crap out of Farmer's daughter, so it ain't all like that, except, where is GLOW today?