WWE stars respond to disheartening criticism over 'Black Excellence' photo

Published Dec. 14, 2016 4:58 p.m. ET

Nick Schwartz

Five black WWE champions - Raw Tag Team champs Xavier Woods, Big E, and Kofi Kingston, Raw Women's Champion Sasha Banks, and Cruiserweight champion Rich Swann - posed for what was meant to be an empowering photo celebrating their success in wrestling, a sport where the number of white champions has traditionally outnumbered the number of champions from different racial groups. In 2016, WWE has what might be its most diverse roster in history, and some of the biggest stars in the company at every level are people of color.

https://twitter.com/WWEBigE/status/808859706794143744

On Tuesday night, Big E tweeted a photo captioned #BlackExcellence, which was mostly celebrated but also met with criticism from some fans, who questioned the stars' motivation behind the photo. Kofi Kingston responded with a thoughtful reply that every WWE fan should read:

"While much of the feedback has been positive, there has also been a lot of negative response with regard to the picture we posted illustrating Rich, Sasha, Xavier, E, and myself wielding our championship titles. Perhaps this is because many are in question of the motivation behind the post:

It does not come from a place of malice, spite, or gloating. It comes from a place of joy and a place of happiness. We have a very strong sense of pride in being the Black People simultaneously holding championships in WWE. Historically in our nation, there was period in time where this would not have happened, followed by a long period of time where it became possible, but had not actually materialized. Now, we are in the time in which the possibility has become a reality.

Why does this matter?

It matters because even though it is hard for some to fathom, the fact is that there are many people who feel as though it is impossible to attain certain goals because of the color of their skin. This is why we must acknowledge the color of ours in this instance. It is important for people of all races, but particularly people of color, and especially the youth, to see that it is entirely possible to achieve your dreams and aspirations regardless of your race. We are a shining example who want to be a source of motivation for others to believe in themselves and do the same.

Excellence is not the same as supremacy. #BlackExcellence is not meant to be divisive. For even if you do not fall into the specific category, you can still take enjoyment in our pride, because in the biggest picture, in a society that often focuses on the negative aspects of race relations, what has transpired with the 5 of us speaks positively to the progress we've made as a nation."