Darius Lockhart continues to want more for black wrestlers.
Lockhart has become one of the top names on the independent scene, wanting to put the spotlight on black wrestlers and break from stereotypes in wrestling.
Lockhart has preached the message, "you can't outwrestle racism" and speaking to MuscleManMalcolm, he provided more detail on what that means and the next steps for black wrestlers.
"Ownership and being on both sides of the curtain. There are people coming up in the executive positions, coming up in the boardroom. We need more like-minded people who can see that and see us for who we are," he said. "When there is no one in the room who looks like you, it's hard for them to tell you who you are. It's easier to not be pigeonholed when there's someone in the room who understands that you're more than a stereotype or another black wrestler or a quota-filler. I've done seminars, I did a seminar at EVOLVE, we had a great match and killed it, I was very proud. At the end of it, Gabe Sapolsky looked at me and goes, 'I don't get it.' Because he didn't get it, I didn't get it. That's just it because someone doesn't get it. There's no shade, it's one of those things where if you've lived a certain life and a certain path, you're only going to be able to see life from so many points of view.
"When you're willing to communicate and talk with others, then you can start seeing how life is different but also just as valid as your experience with others. Once you get us in that room who can say, 'Nah, this is what this talent is trying to be, you don't get it, but there is an audience that does get it.' When there's a person that can fight for our vision who is not going to shut it down because their point of view doesn't, make sense of it, that's when we're going to get somewhere. When people aren't comparing Private Party to Street Profits and they aren't letting us do more than rap. Ownership is the next superpower we need to obtain. Ownership is what plenty of us do obtain, but we need to keep amplifying it and make sure people get behind it. Empowering that ownership and people behind the curtain making decisions that will be there as well."
Shane Taylor has made similar comments to Lockhart, believing there needs to be more black talent in higher positions so there is a better understanding across the board. You can view his full comments by clicking here.
Lockhart is set to compete at NWA Hard Times 2 in the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Qualifier Gauntlet Match. Fightful will have live coverage of NWA Hard Times 2 beginning at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday.
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