Wrestling as a Black Kid : Speakers & Interviews
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Kenny MondayWrestling as a Black KidJanuary 31, 2008 Kenny Monday grew up in a tumultuous time. He started wrestling in the 60s and had to overcome prejudice. He was so motivated to over come it that he distanced himself from the competition with his skills and ability. He then used that same method to try and overcome his competitor ave Schultz.
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I was spell bound by Kenny Monday's comments as I wasa young black wrestler coming up in the late 1950's. My dad wrestled on Long Island (Amityville) in the late 1930's. When I began wrestling in the 6th grade, he told me storiesy of what he had to endure as a black wrestler in high school. One of them he told me that the white people used to throw tacks out on the mat. He too told me not to let the referee decide the match, and that I should decide the outcome of my matches. I wrestled for Amityville High School, then was fortunate to receive a wrestling scholarship to the University of Iowa in 1962,(only black in the Big 10 for 2years where) I wrestled 1st team for 3 years at 157 pounds for Dave McCusky. Black History month is upon us, and I put a post on Hawkeyenation.com, identifying the black wrestlers, who helped keep the legacy of Hawkeye Wrestling alive. Simon Roberts,(1st Black NCAA Champion), Butch Devine, Chris Campbell, Joe and TJ Williams. We too are proud of Kenny Monday, and we(the former black wrestlers) have a responsibility to show our young black america that they can aspire to be great. Kenny's primary theme,was and still is hard work, commitment and dedication. Yay Kenny!!!!!
I was proud to sit in your corner as one of your National Team Coaches. I tell all of our kids in the New York City Beat the Streets Program about you and your wonderful family.
You are a true American legend and I am better person for knowing you.
Coach Bevilacqua
Also, as a wrestler, now a youth and HS coach, how do you view kids now, wrestling now.
I also really appreciate Butch Devine's commnets on the endurance of black wrestlers some short decades ago, and the great black wrestlers at Iowa University. I remember other great black wrestlers at Iowa State University too - the "middleweights": Virgil Carr, Veryl Long, Carl Adams and Nate Carr.
It shows that Iowa always has been a progressive state, allowing racial equality and opportunity where others wouldn't.
Thanks Kenny and Butch!