Forgotten Fury: Racism and discrimination in martial arts - Part 5

Originally published in the Amsterdam News, 2010 by Nigel Clarke (Clarke Illmatical)

The Forgotten Fury series has introduced many readers to a class of martial artists—Black and Hispanic—who were some of the most successful practitioners during what is considered the golden age of martial arts in America: the mid-60s to the mid-70s. Through a number of interviews and discussions, these individuals have helped shed light on the ongoing problem of racism within martial arts.

Racism and discrimination are present in the martial arts media. For years, magazines have contributed to this racism by ignoring the recognition that many Black and Hispanic martial artists deserved, while solely concentrating on and promoting Caucasian and Asian artists. Some may argue that the magazines can promote whomever they choose, and this is true, but when their reporting and coverage oppress and diminish the accomplishments of others, this becomes one of the worst cases of racism.

Racism was also evident in organized competitions. Black martial artists who fought during the 60s and 70s share the same stories of adversity as other minorities who have had to break color barriers in sports. The problem with martial arts is that there has never been a central governing organization to regulate competition and reporting.

The miseducation that many Americans have received leads them to believe that all martial arts have roots in Asia. All ethnicities have their own fighting arts, and when these arts are absent, humans create them. This is evident when you look at the Jewish fighting art Abir, the Afro-Brazilian martial art Capoeira, and the fighting art created within the prison system, 52 Hand Blocks.

The miseducation of self-defense and fighting arts in America has led many to believe that Bruce Lee was the greatest martial artist of all time. He was undoubtedly influential because he was an actor who could showcase the arts on screen, but he was not a competitive martial artist during a time when there were many great fighters—as the public often assumes. His image has been used to promote Asian superiority and excellence in the fighting arts, leading many to believe that only Asians have the right to teach, create, and innovate within martial arts.

A Puerto Rican martial artist named Louis Delgado is regarded as one of the greatest tournament fighters to ever compete on either the West or East Coast, yet he remains largely unknown. Moses Powell, the creator of Sanuces Ryu Jiu Jitsu, has been described as one of the most innovative and spiritual martial artists in U.S. history—he was the first martial artist to demonstrate at the United Nations and the first Black martial artist to teach United States law enforcement. Despite these accomplishments, he remains an unknown figure outside of the martial arts community.

When the truth and facts are presented, the shape of martial arts in America will change forever.