Let’s face it, pro wrestling, in its history, has had no problem stereotyping people of color in the most negative ways. As a black person who grew up on pro wrestling, I remember wrestlers like Kamala, a supposed Ugandan savage; Virgil, a butler/valet to a white millionaire; and the Godfather, a pimp who invited you to ride the “Hoe Train”. So, it’s no surprise to see World Wrestling Entertainment introduce yet another stereotype into the mix: the black thugs.

Cryme Tyme is one of WWE’s newest tag teams. In a promo they cut for the team, their “training video” shows them keeping their skills up by trying to hold up a store in record time (see video here). Needless to say, it’s a really sad sight.

Well, it looks like wrestling has hit one stereotype too many and one of its fans is now striking back.

Brother R.J. Sile Phillips, resident of Mattapan, Mass. and local activist/hip hop artist, has joined the fight against these sterotypes put forth by the WWE. This is part of a larger effort headed by North Carolina minister/activist Paul Scott.

Now, don’t get me wrong, they had to find to desparate and/or ignorant brothers to contribute to this mess but, the WWE should still know better.

For its part, the WWE calls this all a joke and claims that it has the utmost respect for African Americans. However, as a long-time wrestling fan, I can say that the sport, in general, and WWE, in particular, have a long way to go to convince me of that assertion.

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