Before The Civil Rights Movement, Black Women Blazed A Trail In Sports

Before the civil rights movement, a group of African-American women paved the way for female athletes in an arena that has typically been associated with men. Brave women such as Babs Wingo, Ethel Johnson, Marva Scott and Ramona Isbell blazed a trail in professional wrestling back in the 1950s and '60s.

The little-known story of these women is finally coming to light in the new documentary “LadyWrestler: The Amazing, Untold Story of African-American Women in the Ring.” The 80-minute film will debut on Thursday, March 29, at 7 p.m. at the Wexner Center for the Arts on the campus of The Ohio State University, 1871 N. High St. in Columbus.

In their heyday, the lady wrestlers traveled all over the world and were hailed as superstars in places as far-flung as Japan, Latin America and Australia.  But when they returned home to the U.S. and wrestled in the Deep South, they were forced to stay in segregated boarding houses, enter in the back door of restaurants and drink from “Colored” water fountains.

But interestingly enough, wrestling promoters and fans of all races received the women enthusiastically. The women’s appearances in Southern towns were often heralded by advertisements with enthusiastic messages such as, “Negro Girls Here Tonight!”

In the documentary, Johnson and Isbell describe how they found the strength to endure and overcome racism and sexism at the height of their fame when they were in their teens and 20s.

For tickets and more information about “Lady Wrestler,” click here.  

Here's What 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper Really Thought Of Women Wrestlers

Throughout a phenomenal 42-year career in professional wrestling, the  late "Rowdy" Roddy Piper was known for displaying his trademark Scottish rage and male aggression when taking apart opponents. However, his views on gender relations were surprisingly progressive.

I interviewed "Rowdy" Roddy Piper in July 2013

at a convention in Indianapolis. 

Never shy about expressing himself, Piper spoke out about the status of women in the industry during an interview for the new documentary, "Lady Wrestler: The Amazing, Untold Story of African-American Women in the Ring." I directed the documentary, which will screen on Thursday, March 29, at the Wexner Center for the Arts on the campus of The Ohio State University. For tickets and more information, click here. 

"Lady Wrestler" chronicles courageous black female athletes like Ethel Johnson, Babs Wingo, Marva Scott and Ramona Isbell. These phenomenal women braved racism and sexism to excel in the male-dominated world of professional wrestling in the 1950s and '60s – before many of the gains of the civil rights and feminist movements had been won.

Piper knew several of the women featured in "Lady Wrestler." While making the documentary, I interviewed Piper in July 2013 at "Days of the Dead," an annual horror convention in Indianapolis. He was there to greet fans of the 1988 sci-fi/horror movie "They Live." The cult classic was directed by the legendary John Carpenter of "Thriller" fame and starred none other than Piper himself.

When I approached Piper, he was outspoken about the obstacles faced by Black women ‒ and women, in general ‒ in the wrestling industry.

"They had a hard, hard time," Piper said. "It was so competitive that, back then, I think it may have been very difficult for a Black lady." 

Piper acknowledged that, just as in many other industries, women ‒ and Black women, in particular ‒ had to work twice as hard to be acknowledged in the wrestling business.

"When they got on the mat, they had to perform and hit harder and they were rougher on each other than we [the male wrestlers] were," Piper said. "There was so much male dominance and they were always treated as just, you know, flash."

Piper said he had enormous respect for the African-American lady wrestlers' work ethic and all that they achieved in spite of the odds.

"These women were really trying to get over," he said, "as the guys were."

And just like the guys, he added, the lady wrestlers aspired to "being a world champion." 

My interview with Rowdy Roddy Piper took place two years before his untimely death from a heart attack in July 2015. He was very cool and approachable. And unlike his tough-guy image, he seemed like a really nice, sensitive man. Rest in peace. 

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. 

Flipping The Script: The Reporter Becomes The Story

I've been a journalist my entire adult life, and the entertainment beat has been my specialty. Over the past 20 years, I've conducted dozens of interviews with actors, musicians and authors. "Flipping the script," so to speak, and being interviewed is a bit surreal.

I was recently interviewed for articles published in the Call and Post Newspaper and Columbus Alive about my participation in the Local Author Showcase on Wednesday, Jan. 24, at 7 p.m. at the Lincoln Theatre Columbus, 769 E. Long St. I started out writing for both of these newspapers at the beginning of my journalism career in the early '90s.

To read the Columbus Alive article, click here.

When I take the stage of the Lincoln Theatre, I'll read from my novel, "The Chloe Chronicles." The story centers on a beautiful young mixed-race woman named Chloe Bareaux who is raised in Paris by her African-American single mother. As the plot progresses, Chloe embarks on a quest to piece together her complex identity.

I'm going to publish an updated, revised edition of "The Chloe Chronicles" this summer. During the Local Author Showcase, I'll read from a scene that reveals a shocking new plot twist about Chloe's father — a white Frenchman she never knew.

I'll also share anecdotes from "All Jokes Aside: Standup Comedy Is a Phunny Business," the book I co-authored with his Raymond Lambert about his legendary Chicago comedy. All Jokes Aside was a "star factory" that helped launch the careers of Steve Harvey, Dave Chappelle, Oscar winner Mo'Nique, Chris Rock, Carlos Mencia and many other  comedy superstars. 

At the Local Author Showcase, I'll be featured alongside my fellow writers Alexis Wilson (“Not So Black and White”), Kim Brazwell (“Browning Pleasantville”), and Vada Azeem (“The Boy Who Tried to Touched the Sun”). The event is part of the "Backstage at the Lincoln" Series, which seats the audience alongside the featured artists in an intimate setting. For tickets and more information, visit Lincolntheatrecolumbus.com/backstage.  

I'm really excited about the Local Author Showcase. When I showed my mom, Shelly, the articles in the Call and Post and Columbus Alive, she aptly observed, "The reporter has become the story."

I added that it's like a line from the song "Maniac" by Michael Sembello from the soundtrack of "Flashdance," one of my favorite movies of all time: "The dancer becomes the dance."

Jan. 24 Author Showcase: A Welcome Return To Where I Started

I’m really excited to kick off 2018 by participating in the Local Author Showcase on Wednesday, Jan. 24, at 7 p.m. at the Lincoln Theatre Columbus, 769 E. Long St. I will be featured alongside my fellow authors Alexis Wilson (“Not So Black and White”), Kim Brazwell (“Browning Pleasantville”), and Vada Azeem, “The Boy Who Tried to Touched the Sun.”

For tickets and more information, visit Ticketmaster.com or call 614-469-0939.

The event is part of the Backstage at the Lincoln Series, which seats the audience onstage alongside the performing artists in an imitate setting at the historic theater. 

Being invited by Lincoln Theatre General Manager Suzan Bradford to participate in the Backstage at the Lincoln Series is especially meaningful for me for a couple of reasons:

I started my professional writing career in the King-Lincoln District, the area that is home to the Lincoln Theatre. My first newspaper job was in the mid-1990s as a general assignment reporter and entertainment columnist at the Columbus Call and Post Newspaper, which was located right around the corner from the theater at 109 N. Hamilton Ave.

I'm a 2016 graduate of the Lincoln Theatre Artist Incubation Program. The program helps artists at different stages of our careers to hone our creativity and master the business side of show business.

During the program, we Incubation Program fellows learned:

Maximizing production value — Ensuring your production is of the highest quality, even with limited resources.

Insurance — Invaluable insights such as purchasing single-event insurance coverage to make sure all performers and equipment are covered in case any mishap occurs during a film shoot, play, concert or other production. 

Copyright and trademark law — Making sure your own work is protected and ensuring that you don't infringe on anyone else's copyrighted material.

Grants — How to identify individuals and organizations who support the arts and tailor your applications to their criteria.

One of the most helpful sessions was conducted by Suzan Bradford herself, who is also artistic director of the Thiossane West African Dance Institute. Suzan walked us through how to accurately value our services so that we are compensated accordingly.

The program also included mentor talks with artists from different genres, such as drummer Reggie Jackson. Reggie has toured and recorded with major artists in all musical genres and performed at festivals around the world.

Reggie offered advice on how to build a lasting career and establish mutually beneficial relationships in the entertainment industry. He also stressed the importance of being professional, showing up on time and constantly perfecting your skills.

I continue to apply what I learned from the Lincoln Theatre Artist Incubation Program in every facet of my work. Completing the program was like earning an advanced degree, and being armed with this knowledge is invaluable. 

Free Short Story Giveaway: "Christmas In New Orleans"

In the holiday spirit, I'm doing a free giveaway for the next few days of my new short story, "Christmas in New Orleans." An evil force has been unleashed in the Big Easy. Model-turned-actress Chloe Bareaux and her screenwriter boyfriend, Alex Michaud, jeopardize their budding Hollywood careers to solve the supernatural mystery. 

If you like romance and suspense, I hope you'll enjoy "Christmas in New Orleans."  To read and download the story, click this link.

"Christmas in New Orleans" offers a preview of a new edition of "The Chloe Chronicles" that I will release in summer 2018.

I adapted "Christmas in New Orleans" from a sequence in "The Chloe Chronicles." The book follows the adventures of Chloe Bareaux —her sheltered upbringing in Parisian high society, her bold move to New York to pursue her lifelong dream of breaking into the movies, and falling in love with a hot young writer named Alex Michaud.

This is an excerpt from "Christmas in New Orleans":

Chloe awoke in darkness, covered in sweat and gasping for air. She reached for her phone, knocking over a vase on the nightstand. She picked up the vase and glanced at the glowing cellphone screen, which indicated it was just after midnight. 

At the sound of a knock on the door of the Michauds' guest room, she started.

"Honey, it's me. Can I come in?"

Chloe slumped in relief, recognizing her boyfriend Alex's voice. "Sure."

He padded into the room in pajama bottoms and sat next to her on the bed.

"Hi," she said in a whisper, placing her hand on his bare, ripped chest, comforted by his presence.

"Hi," he said softly, stroking her hair. "I heard a noise and thought I'd come in and make sure you're okay."

Chloe remained silent for a moment, turning her gaze to the moonlight streaming in through the balcony door and curtains swaying in the breeze.

"I had a nightmare," she said.

Alex's brow wrinkled into a concerned expression. "About what?"

Chloe shifted in bed, suddenly uncomfortable in spite of Alex's soothing demeanor. "Red." 

"Huh?" Alex looked confused.

"Red," she repeated. "In the dream, that building we passed today was all covered in red. Just red — not red and green, not Christmas colors. Just red." She shivered in spite of the warm bayou breeze. "It was like the building was oozing blood." 

2017 Highlight: Guest Lecture At OSU, My Alma Mater

One of the biggest highlights of 2017 for me was having the honor of being invited by my friend and fellow writer Professor Frederick Luis Aldama to speak at his film classes at The Ohio State University in Columbus. I addressed the students in January and October about my soon-to-be-released documentary "Lady Wrestler: The Amazing, Untold Story of African-American Women in the Ring." 

The experience of speaking at the university had a special significance, since OSU is my alma mater  — I graduated cum laude in '96 with a bachelor's degree in English. Adding to the specialness (as an English major, I hope that's a real word!) was that Professor Aldama's classes are held at the Gateway Film Center. "Lady Wrestler" screened there in June 2017 as part of the Film Festival of Columbus.

My lecture in February outlined the similarities between the brave women featured in "Lady Wrestler" and the fictional character Diana Prince in "Wonder Woman." As I pointed out to the students, wrestling legends such as Ethel Johnson and Ramona Isbell, whom I interviewed in the documentary, are similar to Wonder Woman in that they battled sexism and seemingly insurmountable odds to become heroines adored the world over. 

As some of Professor Aldama's students prepare to graduate this Sunday (Dec. 17, 2017), I have to give them a big shout of congratulations. And I have to give them an even bigger shout of gratitude for their attentiveness and asking insightful questions during my appearances. 

This is the message that Professor Aldama posted on Facebook at the conclusion of the "Film & Comics" class at the end of November:

Film & Comics 2017

It's a Wrap

Will miss this bunch of amazing students (including Groot, 
our resident guide/rescue doggie) after a semester's 
transmedial journey through the distillation and reconstruction of comics into films and films into comics as they make new our perception, thought, and feeling regarding race, sexuality, gender, and differently abled subjects. . .
Big Grx to my amazing co-pilot, Kristen Ferebee, as well as guest lectures by Cathy Ryan, Lindsay Harper Cannon and a guest appearance by director Chris Bournea. . .

Note: Poster art by Jason Gonzalez