By Caprice Coleman
We had just finished up another round of TV tapings. I caught the shuttle to the hotel with a group of people I didn’t know, but I knew we were headed to the same destination.
I’m a 200-pound black athlete. I’m well aware of how I stand out and am sometimes avoided by others on hotel shuttles, especially to places that “aren’t the norm.” It’s not always hate or disdain, it’s more of the “I wonder what he does” vibe (which, admittedly, could be in my head).
The van made a stop at a terminal, and a white friend from work got on. His wife was with him. I spoke to them and their eyes lit up over the top of their masks in recognition. We greeted each other and they made their way to seats. Friendly, catch-up conversations began on our way to the hotel to check-in.
This type of meeting would also happen at our hotel with other athletes from different walks of life. We’d see each other, stop and speak.
On the last day of work, a brilliant mind who will not be named made a #onechipchallenge between friends. It became more popular than we’d expected as word got out.
A time was made and a few of us met at the bar of this hotel for this chip event. As the event finished, more of us continued to come. As time passed, many of us ended up there.
The picture I want to paint for you is this: Our roster and crew are filled with people from ALL walks of life and religions. Our group included people who are Black, white, Spanish, huge, big, beautiful and petite.
We all knew each other, but pilots and others looking on had a time figuring out what was happening. On top of us sometimes being a little loud, we were also a tremendous mix of friends.
From the eyes of the pilots, hotel employees and other guests, the spectacle of wrestling brought together the most colorful salad ever witnessed. I saw uneasiness slowly transform into smiles, laughter, and some involvement from the onlookers as we were thoroughly enjoying one another.
There are different colors, but our common interest in many ways makes us colorless. At the end of the day, we’re all trying to head to the same destination of peace, love, and acceptance of everyone.
How beautiful our world would be if our common interest was just living life on a planet with unguaranteed time.
Just something to think about. I call it a dose of Colemanism.
Caprice Coleman is ROH’s color analyst and has been wrestling for more than 20 years. He also is an ordained minister and motivational speaker. A Dose of Colemanism appears every Thursday.
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