Trigger Warning: Mental illness, eating disorders
Starring:
Bianca Belair, Travonda Blair (Bianca’s mother), Leonard Blair (Bianca’s father), Montez Ford (WWE superstar and Bianca’s husband).
Runtime:
30 minutes
Genre:
Docuseries, Drama
WWE Chronicle: Bianca Belair documents the life of Bianca Belair, from her early years to her life in WWE. The docuseries takes place from December 18, 2020, to January 16, 2021.
Favorite Quote:
I don’t want to be someone who is placed in a box. Especially as a Black woman, we are a lot of times forced to pick one element of ourself and present it as our whole self. I have so many different elements. I have so many different layers of myself. I’m multifaceted, and I want to present myself as a whole. I shouldn’t be put into a box. I’m too talented, and I’m proud of it.
Bianca Belair
My favorite scenes:
My favorite scenes in WWE Chronicle: Bianca Belair: were the scenes where Belair talks about her battle with Bulimia/Binge Eating Disorder and her mental health issues. For many Black people in the United States, there are numerous roadblocks to receiving adequate mental healthcare. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), three barriers to mental health care for Black people are socioeconomic disparities, stigma, as well as provider bias and inequality of care.
Yes, these scenes may have been painful to watch, but they were very important scenes. To hear Belair’s story is powerful. Her story is another powerful blow to breaking the mental health stigma in the Black community. I’m personally inspired by her openness and honesty.
The cinematography of these scenes is stunning. The camera cuts from Belair speaking to the camera to out-of-focus shots of Belair reflecting. In addition to seeing Belair, the camera also cuts to pages in her journal, poetry written in the past.
I would recommend this episode of WWE Chronicle: Bianca Belair:
to anyone struggling with an eating disorder or mental health issues. Sometimes hearing other people talk about their mental health issues helps us remember that we are not alone and it’s ok to take care of ourselves mentally. It’s ok to help.
I would also recommend this episode to Black women. Belair is an inspiration to all women, but her realness is super relatable to most Black women. She acknowledges just how society tries to place Black women in a box. She’s also aware of just how much responsibility falls on Black wrestlers/athletes to be the “right” Black representative. Belair knows that representation is important, and she is proud to represent Black women.
Have you watched WWE Chronicle: Bianca Belair? If so, tell us what you think about the episode and our review in the comment section below or on DDT Divas’ social media channels.
