Big Swole shared a letter today that she has written about the experiences of black professional wrestlers. Swole took to Twitter to make the letter available for all to read.
Swole’s letter educates the reader on the many challenges that black people have to go through in the industry. Swole also asks the question of why discrimination has been ignored and then asks the reader to “be the change.”
Read the full letter below;
“We Just Want to Be Heard
The conversation that has been told but never heard is finally here. Imagine expressing your innermost concerns and having them fall on deaf ears for decades. Imagine being told “I already have enough Blacks on my roster.” This is what it is like being a Black professional wrestler. The keys to Black wrestlers’ success have been dangled up high but just close enough to give hope. Like the aliens looking at the claw in ‘Toy Story’, every once and awhile one reaches the claw but then the cycle starts all over again.
Why is it that Black people dominate and excel in other participated sports except for wrestling? What is it about this profession that is different from the inner workings of other professional sports? One of the main issues is there are people in this business who actively try to deter the careers of Black wrestlers. Whether it is intentional or unintentional it is happening and when someone speaks up about the ongoing racism, crickets and shaming follows. Black wrestlers are being cut off at the knees to fit this mold that is deemed acceptable in order to place a price on worthiness. Years of hard work has culminated into a position where the shut up and color customs are consolation prizes. There has been outpours of mistreatment and discrimination but again crickets. The time for listening, hearing, comprehending, advocating and allying is now. Be the change”
The letter brings to light many difficulties that many of us do not know exist. And for that Big Swole must be applauded.
