Your Email:

Friend's Email:

Note: (optional)

Subject:

Message: <br /><br /> If you are having trouble reading this email, you may view this article online at: http://www.jweekly.com/5690/full/5690/tiger-woods-avoids-playing-into-trap-of-racial-stereotypes/ <br /><br /> <b>Tiger Woods avoids playing into trap of racial stereotypes</b> <br /> Friday, May 9, 1997 | by <p>Mark Hardie </p> <br /><br /><p>What race is Tiger Woods? Is he African-American? Is he Asian-American?"<br /><br /> Ever since Eldrick "Tiger" Woods' remarkable victory at the Masters golf tournament, people have been desperately searching for a racial label to impose on him.<br /><br /> The fact that Tiger happens to be an incredible athlete is not enough.<br /><br /> Nor is the fact that he is a well-spoken, gifted person enough. In American society, it seems necessary to place people into pre-determined racial categories.<br /><br /> The very idea that someone can be a member of two or more ethnic groups is unacceptable to some.<br /><br /> "Are you black or white?" "Are you this or that?" "You can't be both."<br /><br /> People of mixed ethnic parentage are forced to make a permanent choice.<br /><br /> Thus, a person who is both black and white may be forced by social pressure to choose the black identity and neglect the white one or vice-versa.<br /><br /> This vicious and unnecessary cycle often prevents the individual from simply enjoying the best of both identities.<br /><br /> As an African-American who chose to become Jewish, I am sometimes confronted by people who do not believe that one can be both "black" and "Jewish."<br /><br /> They have been taught to accept the stereotype that all Jewish people have light skin and dark curly hair.<br /><br /> Similarly, they believe the generalization that all blacks are Christian.<br /><br /> Thus, it is difficult for them to accept someone who disproves their preconceived notions.<br /><br /> Tiger Woods' popularity has increased not only because many consider him to be a black American, but also because many consider him to be Asian-American. Moreover, he has steadfastly refused to deny any aspect of his rich heritage, and eloquently pays tribute to all those cultures.<br /><br /> Tiger transcends racial categories and presents himself as a universal human being, a mensch. Indeed, by refusing to choose a single race he challenges society's myopic obsession with skin tone, complexion and facial features.<br /><br /> I can recall being deeply affected by the racial divide at an early age. As one of a few blacks in an all-white, upper-middle-class elementary school, I was well accepted by my peers. Then I fell in love with Jennifer, a blond girl with sky-blue eyes.<br /><br /> Because of our innocent third-grade relationship we were subjected to name-calling and racial epithets. Only when Jennifer died later that year of a brain hemorrhage did the other kids realize how much pain they had caused.<br /><br /> I learned that it is wrong to categorize people by race because it can only lead to racial division. Thus, racialism breeds racism.<br /><br /> When I'm asked what race Tiger Woods is, I respond, "The human race." He is neither black nor white nor brown. He is a human being who utilizes his talent to do incredible things.<br /><br /> It is foolhardy to reduce a complex human being to something as simplistic as skin color. Every child knows that one should not judge a book by its cover. Racial categories inevitably evaluate people based upon outward appearances. Racialism judges the book by its cover. And this is the fundamental injustice.</p> <p> </p>

Please enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below: