If you said that YOU don't want to see a black golfer win the Ryder Cup JUST because he's black, then that would be racist. But I'm not saying that I don't want to see a black champion, I'm saying the majority of the white fans don't.
It's not a racist statement.
I guess you misunderstood me because i'm not saying YOU are racist. A racist statement is a devaluing generalization of a group of people based on their ethnic background. So why don't white people want to see a black champion? If your saying its because of their skin color, that is racist. If I didn't want to see a black golfer win the Ryder Cup because he was Black, that is racist. You are correct. So when a majority of white fans don't want to see a black champion.....because he is black, that is not racist? Just because its a majority (your opinion), doesn't mean its not racist.
Its racist because they don't want to see a black champ just because of his skin color (if that is what you are implying). How is it not? You're saying like its a fact (fact like the sky is blue) that white people don't want to see a black champion. Its really an opinion. I'm not calling you a racist.
No, it's not. Who pays money to watch Jack Swagger? Not enough people apparently, since he's currently at midcard status. And Sheamus had some nice programs with Cena and Triple H, so obviously those programs were drawing.
Thats my point about Swagger. They still gave him a test run. Black wrestlers can't get a test run just to see how it would do? As for Sheamus, the only reason his name is in the same sentence as "draw" is because Cena and Triple H are in that same sentence. Is it really that difficult to draw doing programs with Cena and Triple H, two of the biggest draws in WWE? What is Shaemus doing without them? Looking like a fool with that stupid king outfit, thats what. Cmon man. Let me guess, a black wrestler wouldn't be able to draw with them?
And what happened once Cena became a mainstay in the main-event? He dropped the hip-hop gimmick and went with a more "white" gimmick.
How many times are you going to prove my point for me?
He didn't drop the hip hop gimmick completely. It has more to do with PG than anything. Even changed the name of his moves. But he still has his rap intro, still dresses hip hop with his big shirt, cap and jean shorts, PGed his slang and even brought back his thuganomics rap against Rocky, which the crowd loved.
And I just think you have no concept of the definition of racism, if you think simply stating a fact is racist.
Trust me, I've dealt with racism on a level that some people here don't even know how to imagine. But what you said is not fact. Thats like saying white people, who are the majority of the voters, don't want to see a black president is a fact. Yet, when there was one black guy the people thought was qualified enough to run the country, he won the election. Like I said, it's more opinion than fact.
If that were true, where are all the black World Champions? You cannot say they are being held down because the WWE is racist, when people of all different cultures and nationalities have been champion. You can't say it's because there aren't enough in the business, because there have been plenty to walk through the WWE's doors. You cannot say it's not because they haven't been pushed, because Lashley, Benjamin, Kofi, etc. all know that's false.
So what else is it? If it's not because the audience doesn't want a black champion, what is it?
I think its a combination of a lot of things. You can't sit there and tell me that race has nothing at all to do with the lack of black world champions, or even minority world champs in general. It does play a part, more so in the early pro wrestling years than now. I also believe another problem is a lot of the owners, promoters, bookers, writers, ect. suffer from your same thinking of, that a black world champ would not draw with the white audience. They're afraid to think out of the box, scared to try something new. That type of mentality is what is currently hurting the pro wrestling/sports entertainment product as we speak.
Again, understand that I'm not labeling you as a racist. That is not what I meant. But your defensiveness on the subject is leading me to believe otherwise
..........
Just kidding LOL!
Now I know Sly already thoroughly handled you, but I have to add:
This is a common issue among people these days, and that's knowing the definition between
racist, and
racial. What Sly said was racial, not at all racist. He was simply stating his opinion on a racially driven subject and providing information to back it up. Now if he were to say, "White people don't want to see a black champion because all black people *insert stereotype or insult here*" That would have been racist. See the difference? I just despise it when people can't see the difference between these 2 words.
yea i was about as "handled" as a broken hammer. anyways, if hes saying they don't want to see black champion because they're black, that is racist. Yes, its racist to say you don't want to see somebody do something because of their skin color. if hes not saying that, then why don't white people want to see a black champ?
Race is as meaningful me as the size of the person. If they do their damn job and are deserving of the title, I don't give a shit what their ethnicity is.
See, this is how I am and I believe a lot of people are this way. You're buddy Sly doesn't think so.
WCW circa '99, the No Limit Soldiers lead by Master P where created as a BABYFACE faction and featured over good guys like Rey Jnr & Konnan that was opposed by the HEEL West Texas Rednecks lead by 'Mr Perfect' Curt Hennig. Asides from turning off by the thousand, how'd fans react to said storyline? They cheered for the W.A.S.P. 'Rap Is Crap!' Southern racist stereotypes - egg on faces anyone?
They didn't get over because hip hop was not yet accepted by white america like it is these days. I was very surprised they even did that whole Master P angle. I knew he wouldn't get over with that crowd. Pretty sure the majority of those fans didn't know who he was and thought he was just some dumb random rapper. It was horrible writing. I'm not sure what the point is you're trying to make but what does it say about the crowd when they cheer for the southern racist stereotypes?
Like I've already alluded to, wrestlers get over on character, not race/ religion/ nationality (although these may be used as one of the toosl to move on said character). Booker T, the Rock and Taz (sorry SES, mi amigo, but Italian or no - he'll always be AfAm storylined to me)
I hope you're not grouping Taz in the Black/Minority wrestler group because if you are, Cena belongs there as well with is hip hop gimmick. Even if you are grouping him with them, you're helping prove my point.
Now as a counterpoint - Chris Benoit, great wrestler but bland as hell. Why take a chance on him and not Shelton? This is where Sly's argument holds water, Chris came across as blue collar white to a predominantly blue collar white crowd - basically he had a subconscious heads up with his audience. Shelton? Middle/ upper class AfAm - anybody seeing the crafty Foxes point yet?
So is it about the character or if the fan can relate to the skin color? Remember what you just said But about Taz?
There is a couple of other things as well, one of his monikers is the 'orange and black attack' and one of his catchphrases is 'Thug-Life born, Thug-Life bred, and when the time is right, I'll be Thug-Life dead'. Now I know I'm stereotyping here (but hey I've never seen a countryman with a shillelagh so
) but Brooklyn thug seems more black than Italian to me.
but you are stereotyping here. have you been to brooklyn? i've seen plenty of white thugs there.
He wasn't a black world champion but I would say that the majority of people perceived him to be (including my dumb Irish butt).
That help proves my point. The white crowd will accept a black guy or a guy that looks black as champion.