The culture of professional wrestling has been complex and diverse for years and decades. There is a brotherhood, a sisterhood, and family type of vibe involving wrestling. The reason is that wrestlers are on the road sometimes more than 300 days per year, so they do act as a family at times. They know the business inside and out, and they realize that sacrifices are made for their jobs. The professional wrestlers realize that hard work must be enacted to exist in an excellent product. Some professional wrestlers may have real life heat or real tensions in real life (i.e. Sean Michaels and Bret Hart hated each other in real life for years until just a few years ago), but the vast majority of them act as professionals. The fan experience is a major part of wrestling culture. They aren't just found in the crowds inside a stadium where wrestlers perform. Many fans visit wrestlers at meet and greet and specialized ceremonies where interactions take place (especially days before Wrestle Mania, Summer Slam, etc.). At the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame and retirement events, fans are there too. There is no professional wrestling culture without the fans there. Merchandise is a massive part of wrestling culture as well. Video games, shirts, shoes (like the new Jade Cargill Nike shoes), jewelry, mugs, cups, DVDs, and other consumer items are bought by individuals globally. The selling of these goods helps fund companies and keeps the interests in various wrestling institutions. The professional wrestling business is a multibillion-dollar yearly industry that allows professional wrestlers (current and former ones) in movies like The Rock, Batista, Goldberg, Roddy Piper, John Cena, Hulk Hogan (I don't agree with him involving many issues. I just mention him for historical relevance), etc. Another cultural aspect of professional wrestling is travel. Traveling allows human beings to see different cultures and American wrestling leagues have visited the world from Japan to the region of Europe. Also, wrestling from Japan, Mexico, etc. has influenced modern day professional wrestling now.
The famous wrestlers of the 1950s were George Wagner, Lou Thesz, Buddy Rogers, Killer Kowalski, Verne George, and Japanese superstar Rikidozan. There was The Portland Wrestling League, Whipper Billy Watson, and the Fabulous Moolah. Early women wrestlers from back in the day were Mildred Burke, Mae Young, Ann LaVerne, Yulie Brynner, Gladys Gillum, Elvirus Nodgrass, and African American professional wrestlers (who are Ethel Johnson, Babs Wingo, Marva Scott, and Kathleen Wimbley). Many black wrestlers back then often competed in the Jim Crow South. They broke down barriers. Ethel Johnson performed greatly in the ring too. The Flying Wingo Sisters (of Ethel, Babs, and Marva) worked together and has a record 3,611 fans in Baltimore (in 1952), and 9,000 in Kansas City in 1954. There was Sweet Georgia Brown too. The iconic wrestlers of the 1960s were Burno Sammartino, The Original Sheik, Bearcat Wright, Gorilla Monsoon, Pat Patterson, Rocky Johnson (the father of the Rock), Rip Hawk, Harley Race, etc. There were various Territories of wrestling regions with stars too. There were the rise of the NWA and the WWWF (now it's the WWE). By the 1970s, there were Bruno too, Superstar Billy Graham (who was a predecessor of Hulk Hogan, Roman Regin, and those with a bodybuilder look), Andre the Giant, Dusty Rhodes, Terry Funk, The Fabulous Moolah, Jerry Lawler (who was in the Memphis territory), The Original Sheik, Bobo Brazil (a trailblazing African American wrestler), Pat Patterson, the Won Erich family, and Rocky Johnson (a NWA superstar). By the 1980s, there were tons of legends like Ric Flair, Roddy Piper, Macho Man, Andre the Giant, Hogan, Jacke Roberts, Ted DiBiase, The Ultimate Warrior, Jimmy Snukka, Ricky Steamboat, the Hart Foundation, the British Bulldogs., Bobby Hennan, and Miss Elizabeth. The 1980s saw professional wrestling reach more into television and the MTV Generation. In the 1990s, there were Stone Cold Steven Austin, the Undertaker, The Rock, Bret Hart, Goldbert, Mankind, Triple H, Sean Michaels, Kevin Nash, Randy Savage, Sid Vicious, Owen Hart, DDP, Chyna (who broke barriers for women in wrestling), Jacqueline, The Legion of Doom, Booker T, and tons of wrestlers. This time saw WCW and WWE competing against each other with the WCW winning for a time until 1998 when the WWE brought Mike Tyson to referee Stone Cold Steve Austin and Sean Michaels. The NWO was formed in the 1990s being the biggest heel turn in wrestling history filled with Hollywood Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, and Scott Hall. D-Generation X was formed too with Sean Michaels, Triple H, Chyna, X-Pac, New Age Outlawz, and others. This time saw the Attitude Era when more sex, violence, and controversial themes were shown on professional wrestling television. By the 2000s, it was the Ruthless Aggression Era with John Cena, Brock Lesnar, The Rock, Triple H, The Undertaker, Lita, Edge, Randy Orton, Kurt Angel, Rey Mysterio, Eddie Guerrero, Chris Jericho, Jeff Hardy, RVD, Sabu, Booker T, JBL, Umaga, Chris Benoit, Bryan, Dean Malenko, and other people. The 2000s saw the tragic death of Eddie Guerrero and the cowardly murderer Chris Benoit killing his own wife and child. By the 2010s, a new generation of wrestlers existed like PG/Reality era of John Cena, Randy Orton, CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, The Shield, Roman Reigns, AJ Styles, Nakamura, Kevin Owens, Finn Balor, Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks, and Becky Lynch. We have Kofi Kingson, Big E, Xavier Woods, The Wyatt Family, Brock Lesnar, The Naiz, Cesaro, Sheamus, and The Rock making a comeback. By the 2020s, there has been a mixture of a return to old school storylines with new school technology filled with Jon Moxley, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, Rhea Ripley, Bayley, MJF, Will Ospreay, Okada, Toni Storm, Iyo Sky, El Hijo Del Vikingo, Bianca Belair, Naomi, Drew McIntyre, Jey Uso, Jade Cargill, Tiffany Stratton, and others. John Cena retired during this 2020s era too along with AJ Styles.
This year, 2026, is the 60th anniversary of the Black Panther Party of Self-Defense. The Black Panthers Party was created in 1966, being inspired by tons of members of the black freedom struggle. Many of our Brothers and our Sisters sacrificed their lives for our own freedom as black human beings indeed. They existed after the victories of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the Freedom Rides, the Selma Voting Rights Movement, the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The Black Panthers were founded by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale, who vehemently opposed police brutality, racism, and the capitalist economic exploitation of oppressed communities in America including the world. Both of them opposed the Vietnam War as an imperialistic war. Many younger people back then wanted more gains as gains were very slow by the late 1960s. There was the post-World War II period that left out millions of workers and the poor. Many African Americans came to the West, the Midwest, and the North via the two Great Migrations (during the 20th century) seeking job opportunities and escape from the oppressive Jim Crow apartheid system. Many black people worked in auto factories, steel mills, and other jobs. There were legitimate legislative gains and other reforms that existed in the 1960s. The problem of class exploitation, economic inequality, racism, and other evils persisted in the North, West, and Midwest (that resulted in many rebellions throughout the 1960s from Harlem to Watts).
Also, there were many pro-self-defense black organizations before the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense existed in the South, like The Deacons of Defense, and Robert L. Williams (who wrote the 1962 historic book Negroes with Guns). Even some members of SNCC viewed nonviolence as a legitimate tactic for freedom, not as a way of life. Yet those who follow nonviolence as a way of life can be just as passionate for freedom and justice as those who subscribe to self-defense. The Black Panther Party was first created in the Western city of Oakland, California, which is located in the Bay Area. The Black Panthers embraced a hybrid philosophy mixing socialism, black nationalism, and Maoism. They were the progressive part of the overall Black Power Movement that wanted freedom, justice, and self-determination. The Panthers embraced the motto of "power to the people."
The Panthers weren't just men and women who wore leather jackets, displayed weapons, and patrolled city streets on the lookout for police misconduct (which they have the God-given right to do). They formed a Breakfast Program to feed people in the community, they gave transportation to help the sick and elderly travel to hospitals, they tested people for sickle cell anemia, and they were active in protesting for basic, fundamental human rights. The Black Panthers spread globally, and one innovator of the organization was Fred Hampton, who criticized capitalism (including black capitalism), endorsed socialism, and wanted a coalition among freedom fighters of every color to confront and end oppression in general. Fred Hampton was assassinated along with fellow Panther member Mark Clark on December 4, 1969, by the Chicago Police Department. Hampton's fiancé, Deborah Johnson, was nearly killed by the police, too. She was 8 months pregnant during that time. FBI informant William O'Neal infiltrated the Chicago Black Panther organization. O'Neal later committed suicide in 1990. The hypocrite and FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover hated the Black Panthers. Hampton and the Panthers in general were constantly monitored by the FBI illegally via the COINTELPRO program.
As many as 10,000 Black Panthers existed, along with a newspaper circulation of 250,000. The Black Panthers started to decline in power (by the 1970s) because of FBI infiltration, police infiltration, divisions on tactics, various splits and infighting (like the famous one between Huey P. Newton and Eldridge Cleaver. Ironically, Cleaver would sell out by being a supporter of Ronald Reagan), sexism among some members, some lacked an emphasis on working class power, and other reasons. The Black Panthers were courageous, intellectual, and represented a firm personification of black courage and black strength. The Black Panther Party officially ended in 1982. Despite its imperfections, the good parts of the Black Panther Party should be cherished as part of the long part of the freedom movement that continues in our generation in 2026 indeed.
The music of the 2000s has been slandered, disrespected, and lied about for years now. The music of the 2000s was not all bad. People seem to forget that Kindred the Family Soul, Avant, Keke Wyatt, Corrine Bailey Rae, Aaliyah, Usher, Amerie, Jagged Edge, Fantasia, Maxwell, Anthony Hamilton, Sade, Jill Scott, Jennifer Hudson, Cherri Dennis, Musiq Soulchild, Sunshine Anderson, Erykah Badu, Ashanti, Mya, Tweet, Angie Stone, Jennifer Hudson, Floetry, and other musicians displayed songs and albums in the 2000s. Some folks must have forgot. That is why the 2000s was to me a great era of music, just like music from the 1950s to the 1990s. This decade saw a diverse amount of music. It was focused on electronic and digital sounds, the continuation of pop artists (like Britney Spears, NYSNC, Backstreet Boys, etc.), and hip hop artists (like DMX, Jay Z, Mos Def, Nelly, Eminem, etc.). There were rock and rap hybrids like Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park, KORN, etc. There was a rock revival of old school type of rock music like The Strokes, The Killers, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, U2, etc. There was emo pop with Fall Out Boys. There was the rise of ringtone music from pop, rock, R&B, and other artists like Soulja Boy. Pop megastars saw a peak in the early decade involving dominant divas and pop rock like Pink, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Madonna, Kelly Clarkson, and Avril Lavigne. Hip Hop showed massive dominance, and hip hop became more focused as a business. In essence, the 2000s saw hip hop acting like the new rock stars, with Missy Elliot defining dance culture to this day. Other rock artists continue to show their own songs like Blink 182, Green Day, etc. There were the iPod, iTunes, and digital music being more popular. By the end of the 2000s, CD music production had massively declined, and music stores shut down nationwide as CDs were being replaced by more digital music. This decade saw the rise of Beyoncé into a solo superstar, similar to Diana Ross being a superstar soloist after being in The Supremes. Beyonce from 2003 with Crazy in Love just went to the Moon in popularity, and her popularity has not declined in 2026. There was the rise of the younger woman Rihanna too. Some of the famous songs during that decade were Yeah! with Usher, Lil Jon, and Ludacris in 2004, Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson in 2004, Lose Yourself by Eminem in 2002, Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes in 2003, Hey Ya! in 2003 by Outkast, Mr. Brightside by The Killers in 2004, Umbrella by Rihanna in 2007, and In the End by Linkin Park in 2001). EDM and the merging of genres increased by this time. Michael Jackson had his album of Invincible too. Chillwave, post-Britpop, post punk revival, gospel, country, and other genre flourished. We saw Taylor Swift in her start, Carrie Underwood, and Miley Cyrus in her start. Hip House and electropop existed. J-po and K-pop grew into a new level. Reggaeton was huge in the 2000s too. Artists like Anastacia, Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, Justin Timberlake, Fergie, Kylie Minogue, and others flourished too. By the end of the decade, Lady Gaga just took over with The Fame album in 2008. It was a debut at number one with songs like Just Dance.
The music of the 2010s had dramatic changes with Spotify having a great deal with showing music. It had a massive pop-EDM crossover music, the rise of streaming, and massive hits from Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Adele, Bruno Mars, and Ed Sheeran. There was electropop, the growth of hip hop, and global Latino anthems like Despacito, plus other songs like Shape of You. Adele came about to show hits like Rolling in the Deep. Ariana Grande was rising up. Dance and club music were popular with Calvin Harris, The Chainsmokers, and Avicii. This decade saw the hip hop music scene grow with Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Nas, Travis Scott, Pusha T, Post Malone and other people. There were many anthems like Uptown Funk (with Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars), Happy by Pharrell, and Gangnam Style with PSY. YouTube allowed more accessibility to music videos, EPs, and albums. There was a pop sound popularized by Lana Del Rey too. Many pop artists shined like Selena Gomez, Lorde, and Birdy. There were country music artists like Chris Stapleton and Zac Brown Band. More pop artists grew like Justin Bieber, Shawn Mendes, Maroon 5, Sara Bareilles, Jason Mraz, Christina Perri. CeeLo Green, etc. By 2017, hip hop became the most popular genre in America in its 4th decade of growth, surpassing rock and pop music. There were Chance the Rapper, Nicki Minaj, Tyler the Creator, Juice WRLD, Lil Wayne, J. Cole, Playboi Carti, T.I. ASAP Rocky, Young Thug, 21 Savage, Cardi B, Big Sean, Megan Thee Stallion, and other people. This decade saw the movements of trap music, cloud rap, controversial drill music, and emo hip hop being mainstream. From DJ Mustard to Young Chope, producers had great power. There were progressive and experimental rock like Nothing More, Highly Suspect, and Twelve Foot Ninja. EDM hit a new peak with Alan Walker, Clean Bandit, Major Lazer, etc. Europop and Eurodance made a comeback with Robyn, etc. There were DJs like David Guetta and Clavin Harris working with Rihanna, Robyn, and Kesha. The early half of the 2010s had massive party hits from Black Eyed Peas, Flo Rida, Pitbull, etc. Teen pop stars, such as Selena Gomez and Ariana Grande became grown adults. R&B flourished too like Beyonce, SZA, and other people. In the 2010s, Beyonce shown some of her best albums like 4 in 2011, Beyonce in 2013, and Lemonade in 2016. Backstreet Boys and Madonna made comebacks. Rock band had their day with U2, Blink 182, Green Day, Linkin Park, Imagine Dragon, Foo Fighters, etc. Country music, gospel, and other music grown too.
By the 2020s, music had genre fluid pop, viral Tik Tok trends, an nostalgic synth pop revivals. We had artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Ellish, Charli XCX, and The Weekend. There were a strong digital culture emotional songs, digital culture, etc. There is a mix of high-energy dance pop and introspective pop songs too. There were songs from Lizzo too. There have been hits made by Harry Styles, Glass Animals, Chappell Roan, Travis Scott, Jack Harlow, etc. There has been a country music revival with Zach Bryant. Bad Bunny made groundbreaking music worldwide in the 2020s with his album Un Verano Sin Ti. Beyonce released some of her best work in albums of Renaissance and Cowboy Carter. Taylor Swift released Folklore, and Kendrick Lamar released the album of Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers. TikTok helps to promote new artists like PinkPantheress and Ice Spice. During the major pandemic years (from 2020-2022), there was bedroom pop and dance pop escapism like Dua Lipa's Future Nostalgia. Some music has been genre-less. By mid 2023, the industry recorded its highest annual revenue to date being $8.4 billion. That was partly due to the growth of streaming subscriptions. Generations Z and Generation Alpha have promoted their own music being in their adolescence and very early adulthood. There has been music shown in skits, memes, and dance routines. In 2020, LIP records surpassed compact disc (CD) sales for the first time since 1986. Sabrina Carpenter became a super pop star in 2024. Latin music has also grown. There has been a rise of women in hip hop by the late 2010s and early 2020s with Megan Thee Stallion, Nicki Minaj, BIA, City Girls, GloRilla, Saweetie, Baby Tate, etc. The feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake was a major hip hop event in the mid 2020s. Doja Cat was very popular in the 2020s. Doechii found new success in 2024. With R&B, we see H.E.R., Victoria Monet, Summer Walker, Jhene Aiko, Silk Sonic, Khalid, Daniel Caesar, Miguel, CHris Brown, Muni Long, SZA, the Weeknd, etc. making hits. Gospel in the 2020s are Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Kirk Franklin, Cece Winans, DOE, Koryn Hawthorne, Pastor Mike Jr., Jonathan McReynolds, Maverick City Music, Travis Greene, and other artists. Yolanda Adams, Keyla Richardson, CityAlight, Takie Ndou, and other people have great success. Generation Z's Josiah Queen and Forest Frank gained popularity too.
I found out about my 3rd cousin, Donald Eugene Williams. He was born on August 21, 1964, in Newport News, Virginia. He married Rhoda Marie Trower (b. 1968) on September 7, 1996, in Charles City, Virginia. They were married at Mount Zion Baptist Church by Reverend Daniel L. Adams Sr. The parents of Rhonds Trower are Mrs. Joyce Ann Trower and the late Deacon Henry L. Trower Sr. of Charles City. She graduated from Charles City High School and Hampton University in the 757 at Hampton, Virginia. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science. She has worked with Innotrac, Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia. The parents of Donald Eugene Williams are Mildred Ann Williams of Hampton, Virginia, and the late Donald E. Artis Jr. (1943-1973) of Newport News. Donald Eugene Williams graduated from Phoebus High School and the New Horizons Technical Center. He attended Thomas Nelson Community College in Hampton, Virginia. He is a master electrician too. He has worked with IBEW in Atlanta, Georgia. The parents of Donald Eugene Artis were Joe Bill Artis (1912-1973) and Alice Turner (1909-2001). The parents of my 1st cousin Alice Turner were Benjamin Hurst (1874-1929) and Cora B. Sykes (b. 1885). The parents of my 3rd great-granduncle were my 4th great-grandparents, Morefield Hurst-Turner (1827-1918) and Milly Woodson-Bozeman (1830-1910).
By Timothy
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