"My race groaned. It was our people falling. It was another lynching, yet another Black man hanging on a tree. . . . This might be the end of the world. If Joe lost we were back in slavery and beyond help."
Author Maya Angelou writes about this scene where all the blacks in her community cram into her grandma's little convenience store to listen to the fight of Joe Louis on the radio. To them, this fight was more than entertainment. This was a man standing up for his race, showing the world that there was no such thing as white supremacy, and illustrating that being black was no handicap.
The mood and the atmosphere in the store was unique - nothing could even come close. Chills ran through the spines of each person, old and young. If Joe were to lose, then the hope and the pride of the community would be shot. This wasn't just a fight; it was an event that would define months, maybe even years, to come.
When I read the book about a year ago, I really could not understand what Angelou meant. I realized the event was big, but I simply could not comprehend a community feeling apprehension, and at the same time, joy.
Well, last Saturday, our family had our house blessing (Filipino Tradition = Sweetness ^_^). One of the titos wanted to watch the game, so we bought it on Pay-Per-View. What a blast! I was exposed to the crazy adrenaline of boxing for the first time. It was awesome, when Manny knocked down Marquez in the Third Round, we all went wild. I felt like I was actually at the fight.
It wasn’t just about the match though. Manny Pacquiao was a hero, not because of his killer left hand or his ferocious tenacity, but because he was a Filipino. A proud Filipino at that. Pinoy pride is probably one of the greatest blessings God has given me. It’s hard to describe, but it’s different than the traditional “Proud to be an American” slogan. When a man or woman represents the Philippines, he or she is representing years of hardships from government oppression and corruption, exemplifying Catholic morals and values, and promoting solidarity and most importantly, humility. Can you name any other country whose pride rides on humility? Nothing immediate comes to my mind. Manny was all that, enjoying the fight and giving his all. The smiles he had and the respect he showed towards Marquez was of a true pinoy. Filipino Pride is something I simply cannot give full justice to. You have to feel it and experience it to truly appreciate it. It’s an amazing gift, one I wouldn’t give up for the world.
As the fight got toward the 10th round, I started to get scared. What would happen if Manny lost? The 30-some Filipinos in the room would be devastated. Not only that, the entire country of the Philippines would surely go into a state of mourning. The match was thrilling, yet terrifying at the same time.
In the end, it was an incredibly close match. The first two judges called it 115-112, one in favor of Marquez and the other Pacquiao. The final judge called 114-113, with Manny’s lone knockdown giving him the extra point. Manny raised his arm with a giant smile on his face, our living room yelled and cheered, and like Manny, I couldn’t help but smile.
-Matthew
