The Afro Ninja meme features Mark Hicks, a stuntman who auditioned for a Nike commercial in 2004. In the video, Hicks attempts a backflip while wielding nunchucks, only to land squarely on his face before dizzily regaining his footing to finish the routine. This clip became one of the first true viral sensations of the early internet, predating YouTube's massive growth. It represents the ultimate 'epic fail' and the spirit of perseverance in the face of embarrassment. Today, it is used to symbolize overconfidence, botched executions, and the hilarious contrast between high expectations and a painful reality.