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By mike5

Public Radio's "Talk of the Nation" claims Tiger Woods as "black"

Written by A.D. Powell

Sunday, 23 July 2000

The public radio program "Talk of the Nation" aired a shamelessly pro-hypodescent program on July 24 attacking Tiger Woods. Host Juan Williams and sportswriter John Feinstein made a ludicrous comparison of Tiger Woods with Muhammad Ali, speculating as to when Tiger will use his fame to promote a "black" political agenda for "his people." These idiots tried to promote the idea that Tiger is somehow morally bound to use his money and fame to promote some kind of black militancy. They implied that Woods was somehow deluded or foolish to not identify as "African American" and abandon his Asian and other non-black heritage.

Thankfully, one Asian caller to the program pointed out that Thais and other Asians are well aware of Tiger's kinship to them, but they do not demand constant assertions of "pride" and oaths of "racial" loyalty the way American "blacks" do. To but it frankly, they do not have a major inferiority complex while "black" Americans are almost totally defined by their emotional insecurity.

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Comments (5)

1 Letter to the Editor
Written by Maximus Lyricus, on 27-01-2001 13:36
Date: Sat, 27 Jan 2001 20:36:44 -0800 (PST)
From: "Maximus Lyricus"
Subject: Letter to the Editor

Concerning the July 24th letter from A.D. Powell regading "'black' Americans are almost totally defined by their emotional insecurity."

This is a very ignorant remark. Blacks are no different than anyone else. I am black (and, yes I do have Irish, white American, and native American ancestry). I, like many "blacks," believe in self-determination. In short, I define myself. Like any human, I am sure that I have some "emotional insecurity," but there is a myriad of other emotions, inherited characteristics, environmental factors, life happenings, religios beliefs, etc., that are the sum of who I am, and who I define myself to be--racially, or otherwise. Moreover, I could care less if Tiger Woods considers himself to be a rainbow man. Basically Woods (and others like him) try and distance (if not downright disassociate)themselves from their black ancestry because of all the connotaitons, myths, lies, and other negatives that are cast upon black people. It takes a strong black man to take pride in his "blackness," and apparently Tiger Woods does not have the mettle and/or willingness to deal with the baggage.

Editor's Retort: You first say: "I could care less if Tiger Woods considers himself to be a rainbow man." Fine, but you go on to say, "Basically Woods (and others like him) try and distance (if not downright disassociate) themselves from their black ancestry.." Woods has never disassociated himself in the manner you describe. You know that. You let the cat out of the bag with that remark. Saying you don't care and then saying that he's running from his "blackness" is truly silly. Decide. Are you a guilt-tripping "one-dropper" or do you truly not care? Honesty is admirable, deceit is not.

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2 Letter to the Editor
Written by vera king, on 29-07-2000 14:05
Date: Sat, 29 Jul 2000 21:05:56 -0700 (PDT)
From: vera king
Subject: Letter to the Editor

The one thing I really hate about this board is the broad generalization of people. This especially concerns the July 24 message from A.D. Powell to James Landrith concerning a Tiger Woods special on "Talk of the Nation". Why do people constantly say black people are trying to claim Tiger Woods? Have you talked to every single black person in America? Did every black person in America and the world call into "Talk of the Nation" and tried to claim Tiger Woods was black?

I do not care what Tiger Woods does or what he is. My life has gone on before and I know it will go on after Tiger Woods leaves the limelight. I'm so tired of people saying blacks are so insecure we have to try to claim Tiger Woods. Do you think we all are betting our lives on Tiger Woods? Please give us a break. NOT ALL BLACK AMERICANS CLAIM TIGER WOODS IS BLACK!!!!! And then you have the audacity to say one, I repeat one Asian caller called and because he said Asians do not have to claim loyalty to Mr. Woods you felt he talked for all Asians because ONE single Asian caller called in. So really you see a few people making remarks and you broad stroke the whole culture. You do not know every black person and it is really insulting to make such an insensitve generalization. I am so sick and tired of people thinking blacks are monolithic, we only have one train of thoughts or views. I hope if you are in an interracial relationship with a black person you will give that person the respect of individuality.

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3 Re: Letter to the Editor
Written by K. Jackson, on 11-08-2000 06:25
Date: Fri, 11 Aug 2000 13:25:06 -0700 (PDT)
From: K. Jackson
Subject: Letter to the Editor

I would like to concur with Vera, most black Americans do not care what race Tiger Woods chooses to be, that is his own right. Some of us support him for his honesty and pride in the fact that he is of both worlds. But Tiger, like Juan Williams, is not a spokesperson for all Blacks. When will the national media and the rest of the world get it that Blacks are no more monolithic in their beliefs than any other group.

It is a racist, paternalistic statement to make to say that we are all democrats, liberals, poor, uneducated, on welfare, and it is racist to think that we all sit around waiting for a role model or spokesperson. I for one do not fit the mode of any of these categories. I have never voted for Democrat and never will, I am not liberal and have never been poor. I am fifth generation college educated (paid for not by financial aid or handouts, but rather by my hardworking professional and educated Father and mother) and I have never even seen a food stamp.

Let Tiger Woods be Tiger Woods, a bi-racial/multi-racial young man and one hell of a golfer. Let's worry about our lives and helping those less fortunate, not trying to create false idols and icons to give racial pride. I am Afican American married to a Scottish American. We are proud of being Americans, of where we come from, but especially of where we are going. My color doesn't give or take away from my self esteem, what I am proud of is being a Christian and living to serve God by serving others.

Peace Be with You all!!

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4 Re: Letter to the Editor
Written by Kentucky Fried Chicken when Ta, on 18-02-2001 06:09
Date: Sun, 18 Feb 2001 13:09:07 -0800 (PST)
From: "Kentucky Fried Chicken when Tanned"
Subject: Letter to the Editor

I would like to commend the Editor on the response he gave to the Jan 27 letter on Tiger Woods.

Any one that is part white that speaks with hatred about white people, and with hatred about people of mixed ancestry that are part white, are doing so because they are ashamed of their part-whiteness. They are ashamed of the reason why they are part white, and typically in America the reasons for them being part white is at some time in history their ancestor was a slave that was raped by a white person, or they were born an illegitimate child from such a union, or their parents thought they couldn't get married for various personal and/or social reasons, or the parent that was left to raise the child, indoctrinated the child to believe that white people are horrible. These experiences are nothing to be proud of. Any one that has a history of slavery would naturally be ashamed of it, but they shouldn't be, because there is nothing you can do about it. Until you accept the past for what it was and stop blaming white people for it, you will always be resentful towards white and mixed people that are proud of their heritage.

I am a first generation person of mixed origin, and I have never felt this hatred that black people here in America have for white people. Why? It's simple. I am not the product of a raping. My parents have been married for decades. My ancestors were never slaves. Because I know where I come from, I am proud of what I am. You hate because you don't know where you come from/who your relatives were/which part of Africa you came from.

I lived in the US for 6 years prior to now, and I have to tell you my truth. Every black American that I have met, in all the years that I have lived here,has constantly made reference to their being black and has made racist comments about whites, including those that were part white, but not first generation mixed. Why? I believe it is because they sadly have an inferiority complex about themselves. In all the years that I have lived in Africa, I have rarely met an African that hasn't also made constant reference to their being "black". Why? Because they also typically have an inferiority complex about their color. It is very difficult to relate to anyone that has a complex of any kind and I refuse to associate with anyone that makes racist comments about white people.

For those of you that say we are black because of cultural and social issues, you are very wrong. In fact stupidly wrong. You refuse to accept that we interact with all Nationalities so does that mean that we belong to all Nationalities? The reasons behind your explanations for us being black just don't make any logical sense, which brings into question why you want to force us to be something we're not. It is for your own personal reasons that you do this. You see us as having advantages over you and the reality is we do. We have 2 and sometimes more cultures that we can identify with. We speak two or more languages because of our heritage. We don't see color. We can pass for several different nationalities and/or color eg white. We have superior genetics. These are the facts and this is not the end of the list.

Many people refuse to listen to us when we tell them we are mixed, and rudely dismiss our statements and experiences. It's them that suffer, yet they accuse others of not making this a better place to live, when they refuse to listen to the truth and understand us.

In reference to the bastard that wrote on Jan 27th, the Multiracial activist is a forum for mixed people to share their experiences we have unique experiences that are unique only to us, and you can't take that away from us. We are unique, physically beautiful and have the power to pass for any Nationality. This is the power that we have. You simply can't tell exactly what our racial makeup is because we could be any combination of genetics. Our existence destroys the capacity for people to classify us racially, and you detest us for that.

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5 Re: Letter to the Editor
Written by LK, on 16-12-2001 16:26
Date: Sunday, December 16, 2001 2:10 AM
From: LK
Subject: Letter to the Editor

This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it wrote "we have superior genetics"? really. interesting. if thats the case, the black american population really should be told. they are on average nearly 1/3 caucasian themselves. question is, who is more superior? the 1/2 caucasian or the 1/3 caucasian? according to you its the one who is more white (the 1/2 or more caucasian, mixed-identified person). hmmm... that sounds a bit racist to me.

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