{"product_id":"a-decided-novelty-oliver-lee-bateman-9798218714628","title":"A Decided Novelty: The Essential Guide to Black Pro Wrestling History, 1880 - 1950","description":"\u003cb\u003e\"It literally reshapes and recontextualizes the entirety of professional wrestling history.\" - Mike Johnson, \u003ci\u003ePWInsider\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"A Decided Novelty\" explores the chronological history of Black professional wrestlers through the eyes of its pioneers, beginning with the period shortly after the abolition of American slavery, and concluding at the launch of the Civil Rights era. This book reveals the true origins of the wrestlers who overcame the unfathomable legal and social constraints of their time to leave an indelible mark on professional wrestling history. While many of these wrestlers' names have long been forgotten, the results of their efforts continue to linger in the style and presentation of the athletic art form to this day. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWhile the telltale signs of their presence remains with us, the names of these Black wrestling legends and their specific contributions have been largely forgotten. By neatly unfolding the life narratives of more than 20 Black pro wrestling stars who were prominent over a 70-year period, \"A Decided Novelty\" restores the importance to long-forgotten names like Viro Small, Clarence Bouldin, Frank Crozier, Illa Vincent, Reginald Siki, George Godfrey, Jack Nelson, Gorilla Parker, Alex Kaffner, Jack Claybourne, King Kong Clayton, and many others whose DNA remains woven into the contemporary pro wrestling product.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Oliver Lee Bateman\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9798218714628\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Darkstream Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 07\/01\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 590\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.48lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.50h x 5.50w x 1.19d","brand":"Oliver Lee Bateman","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":47135620464895,"sku":"9798218714628","price":22.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_1e4d4655-6a9b-4de5-8d7a-58d5010e7c28.jpg?v=1755010669","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/a-decided-novelty-oliver-lee-bateman-9798218714628","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}