In the last couple of weeks I have noticed something interesting concerning race and two of the most well known people of color in America and the world for that matter. Recently a golf channel anchor woman made a remark about lynching in reference to Tiger Woods. Also recently Hillary and Bill Clinton seemed to go out of their way to interject race into the Democratic Presidential campaign.The reactions of Tiger and Barack were amazingly similar. Both seemed to want to down play the incidents. Tiger said he wasn't bothered by the lynching remark and Barack quickly accepted explanations from the Clintons who said their remarks were misinterpreted.
I found it interesting how quickly both Tiger and the Senator wanted to get away from the race topic. Could it be that they both don't want to remind White Americans that they are Black or at least part Black?What reasons would they have for trying to down play their respective Blackness? In Tigers case could money be the driving factor? I'm pretty sure White people spend more on golf than African Americans.
And for Senator Obama could it be he doesn't want to be known as the Black candidate?
If Tiger made a big deal of the lynching statement would that have tied him too closely with being Black? Did Barack and his camp fear showing outrage at the Clinton remarks would make White people say "yep he's just as Black as the rest of them"?
Is being Black or part Black a hindrance to them both in both their minds? Do Black people have to down play their Blackness to be accepted by Whites?
Obviously I don't have any direct knowledge as to why both Tiger and Barack seemed to handle these situations in such similar fashion. I can only speculate that each has been advised to not act (too) Black. That may mean not reacting to racist overtures and not being offended publicly by such incidents.
If what I think is true then will Barack Obama go out of his way if elected President to not seem too Black? Will he ignore Black issues as to not draw attention to his own Blackness?
What Tiger Woods does doesn't really concern me. However having a Black President who is shy about appearing Black or at least too Black does concern me.
What do you think? Was Barack Obama trying to down play his Blackness?
