Wrestling's 13 Greatest African-American Stars
Honoring those who paved the way.
It was little over half a century ago that many black and minority pro-wrestlers were forced to compete in so-called 'Negro Leagues', separated from the top of the cards on the basis of their skin colour. They weren't unique in American society; fans themselves in the Southern United States were frequently segregated as a consequence of persistent Jim Crow laws which defined black people as "separate, but equal".
It wasn't until 1965 that such laws were finally dismantled. That really was the blink of an eye ago - there are many people alive today who can still remember such a backwards time.
Thankfully, they also recall that segregation didn't stop black wrestlers from trying to break down such boundaries. The likes of Luther Lindsey and Dory Dixon straddled the divide, becoming so popular that promoters were left with little choice but to pair them with white opponents. Not long after, pioneers such as Bobo Brazil and Bearcat Wright helped shatter the barrier completely.
Black History Month devotes the entirety of February to remembering the achievements of African diaspora in the United States. As the celebration comes to a close, we pay tribute to the men and women who moved mountains in paving the way for today's generation of African-American superstars - and those of today who continue their work for the next one.
13. Bearcat Wright
For former boxer Edward 'Bearcat' Wright, there was no obstacle he wasn't prepared to punch down in pro-wrestling.
A pioneer for African-American grapplers, Wright broke boundaries by declaring during a show in Gary, Indiana, that he'd no longer compete in 'black only' contests. He was handed a suspension from the State Athletic Commission for his troubles.
Promoters began to see value in making black wrestlers heels in what had been white-only territories, and through this murky expedient the business began to desegregate. Wright, thanks to his outspoken protest, was one of the key beneficiaries. In 1961, he claimed the Big Time Pro Wrestling title, but bigger things were to come. Just five days before Dr. Martin Luther King's landmark civil rights speech, Wright made history of his own for African-American equality when he defeated Freddie Blassie in LA to claim the WWA World Heavyweight Championship - becoming the first black 'world' champion in the process.