FASFA

Upon hearing about the WWE Legend Hulk Hogan; I was surprised, startled, and slightly taken-back. Being that I was a WWE Fan since I can remember, I was like every kid free and innocent. I paid no attention to the degrading and disrespected of minority bodies by this wrestling company as well as many others like it. As a kid, you pay no attention to the "problems of the world" unless they are brought to your mind by Adults or this cruel world.






Anyway, as stated above I paid no attention to the stereotypes, objectification, and hate brought forth by those meant to "entertain" families all over the world. Surely, I thought as a kid that life was fair. However, as I got older and more wiser I began to see the "wrong" of stereotypes of Black Bodies and/or objectification of women, etc.




I saw African-American Wrestlers winning less and less of the matches, Female Wrestlers Wearing Less and Less Clothing, as well as the direct connection between my blind innocence and new budding older intelligence.






I finally, in my life began to see things as they were fake, careless, and culturally degrading. I guess, me being the person I am; I held out faith for as long as I could. But, like seasons of the earth; I began to change. I became more enlighten and began to understand. I was loving, supporting, and glorifying something that was stereotype as well as mocking me and my People.
Finding out Wrestling was fake hurt. But, finding out the thing that I loved the most; actually backstabbed the most. That was truly a sad moment. These are the two WWE Teams that open my eyes to racism.






I wrote this about these two tag team (before hearing about Hulk Hogan).


"Today I want to talk about stereotypes in sports. Also, the part that African-Americans athletes play in the life as well as politics in and outside of sports. Monday night I watch WWE for the first time in a long time. I saw old faces and a saw new faces.




However, as I watched WWE; I watched a match between a all African-American tag team and I thought about two old tag teams. I find it ironic, because it was WWE reunion night. But the two tag-teams that I thought about were Cryme Tyme and the Mexicools.
First, Cryme Tyme was an African-American tag team. They had sagging jeans, grills in their mouth, and did a lot of other stereotypical "Thug" N-word stuff. For example, Cryme Tyme would in many cases steal whatever would not be nailed down (cars or championship belts). The point I make is as a young kid, I liked Cryme Tyme; however, now I ask was this entertainment? And if it was were we the joke?






Furthermore, to make a prime example or mainstream time slot for criminal acting brothers; to me now seems like a attack on Our Character. Especially, when this type of entertainment travels all over the world; even in places were we are not well represented. Cryme Tyme may have been the first time someone has watched something featured with African-Americans. I mean ask yourself was this a good the first impression that "WE" would like to give. In closing, although Cryme Tyme is no longer a part of WWE, and I not blaming them for putting food on the table. I am also not saying that having them as a tag-team should have not be a reason for people to stereotype brown people. However, lets be honest; people are judge to quick. Also, having another bad example for our young brothers does not help anyone. Heck, even the name Cryme Tyme reflects that they are savage criminals (a stereotype that has been place on Black Males since Slavery).







Second, I would like to talk about the Mexicools. Mexicools were a Hispanic tag-team that were surely stereotypical. The Mexicools were a tag-team that just by their entrance to the ring can be described as stereotypical & as racist as can be. They would drive to the rings on lawn mowers wearing overalls and playing up the "lazy worker" stereotypical racist slur given to Mexican people. This may be Trump's favorite tag-team, however as for me I see these racist "characters" as dead wrong. I see this form of entertainment as wrong and it creates yet another dark cloud of racial divided that we do not need. Again as someone who did not understand this country's history as well as I do now; I see the mistake that was made. I also see the line that was crossed in making this a form of entertainment. As stated early, I do not blame anyone for providing for their family. However, those that create such entertainment should know the difference between stereotypes, having controversy, or making fun of some of our community members." - 1/15/15




Anyway, as you can see WWE and numerous other sports companies do not have a good track record when it comes to Minorities in Sports. Either way, Hulk Hogan has brought to attention (once again) like-minded mindsets that I can only say with examples to reinforce it "Many companies like WWE have a tradition of using."






In closing, although I'm still pretty young; my eyes are very open, but tired. A company that could do no wrong (in my youth innocent eyes) has turned sour with my new senses. As a long-life WWE historian, I am not shocked by the news that was dropped a few days ago. However, I am still tired that in 2015 changes are still having to be made to get rid of racism & stereotypes; because they should have been obsolete a long time ago.






From Sambo, Mr. Bojangles, WWE Godfather, Goldust's Black Face to Cryme Tyme. We have a problem in America and it has not gone away. I guess time does not heal all wounds, nor erase all stereotypes and racist acts.


Reference Links:





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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCs_ZULqRjk

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sTBzhhuDgw

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe2YmrMsx_w

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMLPSajbXhs

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMLPSajbXhs