Local man targets racism in WWE
by tony lee / metro boston
SEP 22, 2006

BOSTON - A city man who grew up as a fan of professional wrestling is one of a handful looking to plant his own head-butt against World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) for what he calls another example of blatant racism.

Brother R.J. Sile Phillips, of Mattapan, was a supporter of both Hulk Hogan and Junkyard Dog as a child and still tunes in to watch "Smackdown," a Friday night WWE program. But the organization's latest plan to introduce the tag team of Cryme Tyme, a pair of African-American men whose characters are defined by thuggery, muggings and robberies, has him up in arms.

"We try to combat negative stereotypes against African-Americans," said Phillips, who expressed frustration with violence in his community he feels is aided by the promotion of such wrestling acts.

An online petition and letter-writing campaign is at the heart of the movement, spearheaded by minister/activist Paul Scott of North Carolina.

A hip-hop artist and local anti-violence activist, Phillips cited mock training sessions for Cryme Tyme that showed them testing their speed by seeing how fast they could rob a smoothie shop, and an endurance test in which they mugged a man out of place in a bad part of town.

"It's really offensive. That type of entertainment shouldn't be portrayed for the world as it sends the wrong message, particularly among the African-American population," Phillips told Metro.

Gary Davis, spokesman for WWE, said his organization's only intention is to entertain, even if it is with a "wink and a nudge."

"The idea of Cryme Tyme is an effort to entertain fans and part of that is a parody of racial stereotypes," Davis said. "It is patently ridiculous, untrue and unfounded to say that WWE does not have respect for the African-American community."

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