Maybe it was too early to think that racism was phasing out. Maybe it was too early to think that Whites would start respecting Blacks by not calling that dreaded n-word. Maybe...I should've stopped following the WWE.
I'll be the first to admit it: I love wrestling. I shed some tears when Eddie Guerrero died earlier this month. I love it when Batista does his powerbomb on wrestlers. I even love it when Triple H does his trademark water spit.
Maybe I grew up following wrestling too much. Now let's get to the point. Recently, WWE held their Survivor Series pay-per-view. During one of the backstage segments, a White wrestler by the name of John Cena, who plays a rapper, is greeted by Vince McMahon after a hilarious segment by Eric Bischoff and the aforementioned.
However, the segment quickly turned ugly and racist when Vince McMahon greeted John Cena with a phrase popular among Blacks. "What up, my nig--!" After that, a Black wrestler by the name of Booker T and a Black female valet by the name of Sharmell walked by, with Booker T making a modest statement: "Tell me he didn't just say that!"
But that was it. I'm sorry...was I NOT supposed to be offended? I am HIGHLY offended by the fact that Vince McMahon would stoop so low to insult his Black fanbase. I am also insulted by the fact that Booker T would let a White man degrade his race of people with a derogatory remark.
Now, I understand that the remark was aimed towards Cena, but still...it was uncalled for. Our Black ancestors have fought for thousands of years to not be called that, only for Vince McMahon to bring it up as if those years were wasted.
I'm also shocked that Booker T would participate in such a segment. I would've refused and maybe even quit the company for asking to be insulted in such a way. Booker T should be ashamed for allowing young Black children to see that it's "OK" to let a White man say nig--.
Maybe I should've stopped watching wrestling a long time ago. No...maybe I should've stopped watching the WWE again. This distasteful display of racism should've garnered some better media attention. But then again, it's the Black guy. Who cares?
Posted By: Darryl D. Smith
Thursday, December 1st 2005 at 4:16AM
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