WWE: 6 Most Controversial Old School Gimmicks That Are Unacceptable In 2014

By Rich D. Latta II /

5. Akeem The African Dream (Blackface Without The Paint)

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2wjyk_one-man-gang-becomes-akeem_fun?search_algo=2 Anyone remember The One Man Gang? WWE apparently did not care. In 1988 One Man Gang was reborn as Akeem The African Dream. His name was a direct rip-off of NBA Hall of Famer, Hakeem €œThe Dream€ Olajuwon, who was born in Africa. Akeem€™s debut is among the most racist moments in the history of professional wrestling. He apparently hailed from €œDeepest Darkest Africa€ wherever that is, and was surrounded by tribal dancers. He was introduced by none other than The Doctor of Style, Slick. Gone was the biker outfit and Mohawk. It was replaced by a yellow dashiki, and a large hat resembling something from the movie, Coming to America. Gang, oops I mean Akeem, spoke like he was directly out of a Blaxploitation movie made in the 1970€™s, while moving his arms back and forth to extenuate every statement. Supposedly this whole act was a dig at Dusty Rhodes, while it disregarded an entire race. Today, the idea of an Akeem type character would be devoured on social media, taken to task by African-Americans, and WWE would look terrible for approving it.