How Black Women Wrestlers Succeeded Against The Odds

Black History Month is a time to reflect on African Americans' accomplishments and countless contributions to United States. These accomplishments are all the more remarkable, considering the nearly insurmountable obstacles of racism and segregation that Black Americans have historically had to overcome.

The stories of African-American women who succeeded against the odds are chronicled in the new documentary I directed, "Lady Wrestler: The Amazing, Untold Story of African-American Women in the Ring." The 83-minute movie will debut on Thursday, March 29, at the Wexner Center for the Arts, 1871 N. High St. on the campus of The Ohio State University in Columbus.

In the documentary, courageous Black women like Ethel Johnson and Ramona Isbell and the children of the late Babs Wingo and Marva Scott talk about excelling in the male-dominated field of professional wrestling in the 1950s, '60s and '70s. They competed in matches all over the world and were celebrated as heroes in Japan, Australia, Latin America, Canada and other many other places all over the world.

But back home in the United States, the women endured Jim Crow segregation. When wrestling in venues in the Deep South, they often had to go in the back door of restaurants, drink from "Colored" water fountains and stay in segregated hotels.

However, instead of being defeated by discrimination, the women used their circumstances to form lasting bonds with other African-American athletes and entertainers. 

In "Lady Wrestler," Ethel Johnson shares her experience of befriending boxing legend Joe Louis. In fact, Louis refereed some of the ladies' wrestling matches, as Ethel relates.

Ramona Isbell recounts running into famous Black celebrities who stayed in the same segregated hotels – legends such as Ike and Tina Turner, Ray Charles, and the Harlem Globetrotters.

As African Americans have done throughout history, the lady wrestlers and their peers survived and prospered through the power of unity, found strength in numbers and turned tragedy into triumph.

For tickets and more information about the March 29 screening of "Lady Wrestler," visit Wexarts.org.