The UFC attempted to do something for Black History Month featuring Michael Chandler retelling the story of adopting an African American child. While the story is touching and Chandler and his wife should be applauded for their kindness, the repackaging for Black History Month presents a tone-deaf reality about the organization.
The video package aired on Saturday night during UFC Fight Night 185.
Y’all think I’m lying about this white savior piece the UFC just aired for #BlackHistoryMonth ?
— Andreas Hale (@AndreasHale) February 21, 2021
Okay, bet. pic.twitter.com/cKsvDWmJJu
The story of the Chandlers adopting their son is not a new story as it was previewed before his UFC debut. Realistically, it’s a very nice story about Chandler bonding with his adopted son. He indicated at the end of the package that he would make sure that he teaches his son about Black History. Certainly admirable and even though Chandler, a white man, states he is going to teach his son about Black history it does not disqualify him from that responsibility. Chandler and his wife seem that they will be great parents and love their son as their own while recognizing the uniqueness and pride of being Black.
The issue with the video package is that it shows that either the UFC did not see the problem with the piece for Black History Month or that they could not find a story featuring one of their Black athletes. The irony of course, is that the main event featured Derrick Lewis versus Curtis Blaydes. While a unique angle featuring the Chandlers, it can be portrayed as a ‘white savior’ situation. The fact that the UFC did not see this and decided to put this package in as part of its Black History Month tribute reveals that they do not see the problem or that they are leaning into their base of predominantly white males that feel more comfortable with the whiteness angle than the Black History part of the tribute which the month should be addressing.
Race has been a big issue in the past year and it is noteworthy to point out that the UFC did nothing to pay tribute to the Black Lives Matter movement last June in light of the George Floyd murder. It did not pay homage to a social media blackout which many other sports teams, leagues and combat sports promotions did. Later that summer, Dana White spoke at the Republican National Convention to support his friend Donald Trump.
The idea of seeing no color, which I’m sure is the argument in favor of the vignette has certain validity. Yet, the month is dedicated to the achievements of Black men and women that paved the way for the future of Black Americans. It is a celebration of accomplishments and those feats done at a time when many Black Americans were discriminated upon because of their color.
It is true that the UFC did include more Black athletes in other vignettes on Saturday, but this package seemed to hit home with many. Like it has when it rolled out its Gay Pride Month support, the UFC does the bare minimum in trying to find angles to tie-in to the promotion.
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