Rip Alan Minter

[Memphis]

There's no condoning what Minter said and I wouldn't try. Regardless of the meaning, the context. Genuine racism? Over the top promotion? Probably a bit of both.

People were more racist in the 70's and 80's. More openly racist anyway, or said more openly racist things. It's interesting that we judge what people said back then with the standards we apply today. Racism is racism, regardless of time or place but you can't ignore the setting.

I wonder if when Hopkins pops his clogs, a thread on his passing will be punctuated with remarks of what a vile racist he was. Probably not. Hopkins remarks were the next days chip paper. Minters have followed him for 40 years.

[Master]

There's no condoning what Minter said and I wouldn't try. Regardless of the meaning, the context. Genuine racism? Over the top promotion? Probably a bit of both.

People were more racist in the 70's and 80's. More openly racist anyway, or said more openly racist things. It's interesting that we judge what people said back then with the standards we apply today. Racism is racism, regardless of time or place but you can't ignore the setting.

I wonder if when Hopkins pops his clogs, a thread on his passing will be punctuated with remarks of what a vile racist he was. Probably not. Hopkins remarks were the next days chip paper. Minters have followed him for 40 years.

Some people have problems with what Ali said in the 60's or even Holmes about Rocky. I am sure there will be people who will have a problem with Hopkins and AJ.

[X]

Long after he retired, Minter used to drink (very heavily) at The Greyhound in Lingfield. I used to see him there a lot.

More often than not, there was the same black guy drinking with him. I don't know who he was, but I doubt Minter was really a very committed racist.