That Time Hank Aaron Called Out Bill Watts for Being a Racist

On this week's episode ( • The Black Rasslin' Pod... ), we briefly looked back at the time Hank Aaron wrote a letter to Ted Turner over a seriously racist rant then-WCW head Bill Watts made during an interview with Pro Wrestling Torch.
We also speak on how Bill was the guy who put the WCW Heavyweight title on Ron Simmons, Ernie Ladd working with Watts, and more.
Read more about it HERE: deadspin.com/h...
INTERVIEWS:
Chris Bey - • Chris Bey talks IMPACT...
Trish Adora - • Trish Adora talks her ...
Darius Lockhart - • Darius Lockhart talks ...
Big Swole - • Big Swole talks Black ...
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#WCW #HankAaron #BillWatts

[@thunderwarrior1759]

Sometimes I’m embarrassed to be a white man. Those types of things never jump through my mind,so it’s crazy to think someone else spoke them. Oh and KFC is crap than crap and i love to be cooking myself and my family some fried chicken. Peace and love to you and yours!

[@blackrasslin]

Peace to YOU. 🙏🏾

[@bluntsify]

U shouldn't be ashamed bro

[@mustaffa1611]

If you are ashamed of being white then it might be time to quit watching tv and if you are in college quit that also and learn a trade.

[@johnwood2013]

Wait WHAT????

[@johnlangley7521]

Dont be a cuck , He was building heat and it worked

[@biguzi4217]

Bill watts and ric flair should be taken out the hall of fame

[@die2no]

And your Dad should of worn a raincoat

[@brianezell5790]

@@die2noso you are defending racism?

[@bearcathampton5844]

Just discovered this Podcast. Have ya'll done a video exposing and talking about all the Wrestlers and Promoters who have been outted for being racist? Hulk Hogan, Andre The Giant, Ultimate Warrior, Ric Flair, Cowboy Bill Watts, Ole Anderson, Dick Murdoch, Jim Cornette, AJ Styles, Buff Bagwell, Roddy Piper, HHH, Vince McMahon... Those are just some off the top of my head that I've either heard them say Racist things right outta their mouths....or I've heard stories about them in Shoot Interviews being racist.

[@blackrasslin]

We've had discussions like this before kzbin.info/www/bejne/o4ibmKhqjZaKlbs

[@VADER20]

What they mean about "racist against PEOPLE vs Individuals" The black guy that a white guy gets to know, and finds out that they have a lot in common, their subculture might be very similar... they feel that the individual is "safe"

[@-TheExposition-]

I'm a 45 year older od black man, but I also recognize that I'm also an individual w/ an individual perspective. I grew up in a time, when from my perspective, many whites weren't considered by themselves to be racist but rather all whites were indeed racist. This I only deduct by looking at it through the window of time here in the present and back through and to that point then. By todays standards the majority of whites then would indeed be considered as racist by both blacks and whites if whites were able to see through the window of time from my vantage point now. When one grows up seeing things from this vantage point they will naturally develop thick skin over time and that's something every black person inately understands. When you consider the fact the Bill Watts was a big ole country white boy from the south, who was also a competitive accomplished amateur athlete who worked in an industry that thrived based on competition in and among other amatuer athletes you have a recipe for one being/becoming a racist. So much that in that era those circumstances may produce a racist 10 out 10 times. Therefore, while certainly not in every circumstance, the process of being and becoming a racist is moreso a reflection of the culture rather than the character of an individual. This is why many white people will say "Now you know I'm not a racist but..." before they say some racist ass shit. Because they truly and genuinely are not saying anything racist from their own personal perspective. Rather they are saying something that is racist because they are in part too ignorant to realize that they should just keep their mouths shut rather than say something stupid. By no means does this get Bill Watts off the hook for being a racist because Hank Aaron came up in a time even more racist then I did, way more racist to an extreme. Therefore Hank Aaron likely had thicker skin that a rhino. If Watts made Hank Aaron think he was a racist in the early 90's then I can't and won't argue any different. Unlike Bill Watts I won't be ignorant by weighing in and give my own personal perspective. I will say however, and no disrespect to the white gentleman, that the three black gentlemen hosting this video can relate to my point inately because they are black. Because they can relate they are the only ones qualified to weigh in on the subject. In America white people simply have no business weighing in on race, and while they will probably never get this point, it is refreshing to hear the issue of racism in wrestling being discussed from a black perspective. I for one vote for exclusive rights. They had their own bathrooms and water fountains and even once tossed James the n_gg@ hatin' dolphin in the pool on my man Ashy Larry so I don't think it'd too much to ask.

[@mikeanthony8934]

Look, I loved Ernie Ladd. However, I will say that his light skin had a little to do with his views. There are interviews where he refers to "your kind of people and my kind of people don't like each other".

[@MortonT1958]

In his autobiography, The Cowboy and the Cross, Bill Watts talks about his conversion to Christianity and about how it changed his life. His view of the black community changed over a long period of time. By the time he had converted to Christianity, Watts views of humanity were largely positive.

[@jimbrown5091]

Bill Watts is a contemptible human being. Despite him using Ladd as a booker and featuring JYD and Butch Reed..it is notable that many prominent white wrestlers hate Watts too. What's funny is, I think ,ore people respect Ole Anderson than Watts.

[@johnwood2013]

Another thing it has nothing to do with wrestling. But I live in Oklahoma my aunt married a man in Rogers Arkansas. I guess it would’ve made him my uncle. I was at Rogers visiting. Anyway I was digging through his closet once looking for gloves & I found a Green KKK robe. So he must’ve been a ranking member or something. Then a few years ago I met Daryl Davis the blakc man that befriended KKK members had a book signed told him about it. I told him I would’ve never known my uncle was Racist I never heard him say anything bad about black people.

[@johnrevene3053]

Brother Fam knows white people.

[@Youdidnthearme]

i love bill watts 👍🏾👍🏾

[@stanleed.harold5457]

Of course you are

[@GeraldPritchard]

All 4 of u are racist talking about Watts one is no better than the other

[@johnlangley7521]

He's not wrong on any of those claims. In fact, you're wrong for referring to WCW as a part of WWE initially. Look in Baltimore , Chicago, LA ,Philly.. Baltimore alone, 300 + black men per year are killed by blacks. Also, this is called getting "Heat" , so the fact that he said this 30+ yrs ago and yall are still talking about it, Watts did his job, he MADE you hate him. It's entry level showbiz, some were good at it , some wernt... I mean look, you even mention how Watts crapped on Pillman, Brian was a white if I recall.

[@blackrasslin]

So him being racist was a work?

[@brianezell5790]

No. He was racist. Stop the cap.

[@bluntsify]

Bill watts isnt lying

[@mustaffa1611]

most of what he said is true, its just not politically correct to say it. the part about black countries being broke is true but all countries are in debt to globalist banksters. what do they say the national debt is? I read there is less than than 10 countries that are not enslaved to the central bankers like iran, north korea.

[@stanleed.harold5457]

Read more books troglodyte

[@soulsection71]

He is lyin. They took slaves forcefully.. colonialism took everything from rich black countries from the culture till the resources

[@brianezell5790]

You don’t know the truth. Beads were not offered in exchange for slaves. Also, the fact he uses this argument that he shouldn’t have to serve people simply for a characteristic that they cannot change is indicative of what a hateful human being he is.

[@gregbayne6229]

When did he lie🤷🏻‍♂️