Between the Ropes and the Color Line: Race and Wrestling in the 1960s and 1970s

When one thinks of professional wrestling, they picture over-the-top characters, wild promos, and packed arenas of cheering fans. Behind the theatrics, professional wrestling has reflected the deeper struggles of American society, including its uncomfortable relationship with race.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the Civil Rights Movement reshaped American society. Professional wrestling told a very different story: one of exploitation for profit, where racial stereotypes were mainstream. Black wrestlers were marginalized despite their talents, and the cheers from fans sometimes masked the racial divides just outside the doors.

The Territory Era: Wrestling's Divided America

Before wrestling was turned into a national spectacle by Vince McMahon, the wrestling business was divided into territories -- regional promotions that ruled different parts of the country. Like much of America at the time, those territories were often shaped by segregation. In the Southern United States, it was not uncommon for Black fans to be forced to sit in separate sections of arenas. Meanwhile, Black wrestlers were rarely given the spotlight. When they were, it often came at the expense of being cast in racialized or stereotypical roles.

Breaking Barriers, Even in Kayfabe: Bobo Brazil

Bobo Brazil was one of the most important figures of this era. Brazil was often referred to as the Jackie Robinson of professional wrestling. The Coco Butt (a devastating headbutt) was his signature move, but what made him historic was something grander: he was one of the first Black wrestlers regularly booked as a hero against white villains. Brazil broke attendance records across the country, especially in cities with large Black populations. Despite his fame, promoters refused to recognize him as a true world champion, often promoting his major victories as "non-title matches" to maintain the racial status quo.

The Heavyweight Controversy: Bearcat Wright

Bobo played the game according to wrestling's unwritten rules, Bearcat Wright was not scared to speak out. In 1963, while he was wrestling for the WWA promotion in California. Wright declared himself World Champion, and the promotion recognized him. This made Wright one of the first Black world champions in wrestling history. His rebellious spirit cost him bookings as many promoters saw the outspoken Wright as a "problem," preferring performers who would play into the system rather than challenge it.

Speaking Out and Paying the Price: Thunderbolt Patterson

No better story represents the collision between wrestling and racial politics than that of Thunderbolt Patterson. Thunderbolt was a charismatic, talented wrestler who could pack arenas across the South. But unlike others, Thunderbolt refused to stay silent about the racism he saw backstage. Thunderbolt openly criticized promoters for racist practices, including unequal pay, limited bookings, and stereotypical storylines. This resulted in Thunderbolt being blackballed from major promotions for years.

Kayfabe Racism: Storylines and Stereotypes

Wrestling promoters were not shy about using race as a tool to generate heat (crowd reaction). Promoters book a racist white villain to taunt a beloved Black hero was standard in many Southern promotions. The storylines played into real-life tensions. This would sometimes give Black wrestlers a platform to shine. However, it often reduced them to one-dimensional characters. When a Black wrestler won, the victory often felt like a temporary triumph over a system that was built to keep them down.

Breaking the Hold: Legacy

By the late 1970s and into the 1980s, Black wrestlers like Rocky Johnson and Tony Atlas began to break the wall -- eventually paving the way for stars like Ron Simmons (the first recognized Black World Champion in WCW in 1992). The slow progress was built on the backs of pioneers like Bobo Brazil, Bearcat Wright, and Thunderbolt Patterson, who fought not just opponents, but the very structure of professional wrestling itself. While the wrestling landscape today is far from perfect, those early battles still shape the business, reminding fans and wrestlers alike that every match tells a bigger story than what is happening inside the ring.

Resources:

"Black Stars of Professional Wrestling" by Julian L.D. Shabazz

"The Heels" by Greg Oliver and Steven Johnson