Brown Pride (Cain Velasquez and the issue of identity)

American Rattlesnake ^ | December 30, 2012 | Gerard Perry

[OddLane]

We don’t often cover the sporting news at American Rattlesnake, but after Cain Velasquez’s decisive victory over mixed martial arts rival Junior Dos Santos yesterday I thought it appropriate to revisit a post from last year where we examined the identity politics behind these fighters’ first matchup.

Although MMA pioneer and uber-promoter Dana White would like us to believe that the ’Brown Pride’ tattoo emblazoned upon this fighter’s chest is nothing more than an innocuous expression of ethnic pride-akin to the collective sense of accomplishment felt by those in Little Italy or Chinatown when a native son succeeds on the national stage-you have to wonder if this is truly the case. After all, this tattoo doesn’t express “Mexican-American Pride,” or even “Mexican Pride,” but is instead an explicitly racial affirmation.

[sagar]

“I see both a Brown Pride and a White Pride tattoo the same, as ignorant, racist and tribal. No distinction. So does that sound “apologist”?”

Well, it is all dependent on the context. In this case, the Brown Pride wearing guy (Cain) is not a racist (unless you have persecution complex). Thus, you cannot equate him to White Pride wearing neo nazis. Can you show me a non-neo nazi wearing a White Pride tattoo? If you can, it will change my perception of what “White Pride” means. Until then, it is a neo nazi thing.

[DwFry]

If your going to call anyone with a “White Pride” tattoo a nazi, isn’t is a self fulfilling prophesy on your part?

Also, The tattoo in question, didn’t say “Mexican Pride”, “Guatemalan Pride” or anything of the sort. It said Brown Pride which obviously makes it racial.

And if being proud of your race is silly, so is being proud of being an American. You didn’t storm the beaches of Normandy, free a slave or kill a Tory.(not talking about you personally here sagar)

[OddLane]

I see the same discussion going on tonight after his fight.

The people defending him still don't get it.

I'm not angry at the fact that he expresses pride in his parents or grandparents-or even where they came from.

It's disbelief that someone who came here for a reason, namely, Mexico is such a great place to live, doesn't even give a nominal thanks for the country where he was raised and where he was able to capitalize upon these opportunities.