Tiger Woods: The New Black Brute
Monday, January 4, 2010 at 7:12PM Sunday night, I was sitting at the computer at my parents’ house typing away the millionth draft of the next Empire State of Mind installment. My father, an ESPN–enthusiast, had on his favorite station. I was barely listening to the commentator fray, but over their shouting Tiger Woods’ s name rang out.
Still? I thought. They’re still talking about that man? I mean, it was a juicy story, two, three weeks ago. But now? It sounds like harping to dwell on a man who has gone underground (allegedly Africa. Oh, the irony.) He’s a rare celebrity who is actually truly and honestly avoiding the spotlight. And too, he’s never used his personal life to sell himself (maybe his close relationship with his dad.) It just seems like overkill now to keep talking when there are other things to talk about.
I guess that line of thinking is why I was annoyed, for multiple reasons, to see Tiger pop up on the cover of Vanity Fair. I mean, they are a news org that covers big stories. I get it. And when they went to press last year, Tiger was a huge story. This year?
*Yawn*
But I object to the Vanity Fair cover for more than the beating of a dead horse and its late timing. It’s the image they chose. Seriously, folks? Tiger looks like a convict.
I don’t get it. Tiger has never been a convict, associated with convicts, associated with anyone that associated with convicts. And yet his image on the Vanity Fair cover screams “Locked Up” (cue Akon.) The bare chest, the barbells, the glare, yellowed eyes, and pouting mouth practically scream San Quentin prison yard. And that hat? That daggone hat is yelling, “I belong on ‘Satan’ before he was Malcolm X.”
It’s a direct contrast to all the images we’ve ever seen of Mr. Woods, a smiling, Polo-down, khaki-wearing, come-to-life Carlton Banks if ever there was one. And I get that in the last few weeks we’ve seen a new side of Tiger, a contrast to all we ever thought of him. The dichotomy between image and reality that the photo is evoking isn’t lost on me. But this image of Tiger doesn’t reflect what we now know of the billion dollar gentleman who prefers blonds. Tiger might be a whore, a cheat, an infidel, a sex addict, a so-called “Oreo” and a whole lot more. But whoring with white women is not a crime. Thus, Tiger doesn’t deserve to be depicted as one in light of his “recent” scandals.
You want to make a statement? Photoshop Tiger surrounded by women like he’s in a rap video or on the cover of the newly resurrected King and I’d get it. Photoshop him into a smoking jacket surrounded by busty white blonds a la Hugh Hefner and I’d call it brilliant. But reaching back into the Annie Leibovitz archives for a photo that makes him look all darkened OJ on the cover of TIME? Well that’s just (stereo)typical. And wrong.
In thinking about this, I wondered if I’d finally gone off the deep end. I mean, for all my Louis bag swinging and staunch perming, I’m still a raging revolutionary spewing Black Panther ideology and quoting Malcolm X on command. Perhaps I’d finally taken my conspiracy theories too far on this one. I mean, it’s Tiger Woods. Black men don’t come more beloved by “mainstream” (read White folks) than him. Would they really turn on him in 2009 like OJ in’94? He's confessed to having sex with White women who weren't his wife. He isn't accused of killing anybody. Surely, I was reading too much into this even though folks like Joe Logan, who covered golf and the P.G.A. tour for 14 years for The Philadelphia Inquirer and is quoted extensively in the Vanity Fair article interpreted Woods' infidelities in the following overly dramatic way.
Tiger willfully, and fraudulently, created an image designed to make him as much money as possible: “He held himself out to a higher standard he created and built and cashed in on. Everyone feels duped and betrayed. It’s not like some guy who got drunk and jumped in the sack with some waitress.”
Huh? Isn't that exactly what Tiger did?
And duped and betrayed? He duped and betrayed his wife. Not America or white people at large.
Anyway.
I headed over to The Root to get their take on the Vanity Fair cover.
“[Tiger] looks like he’s pumping in the yard,” began one commenter. “This time it's Evil Woods, this isn't Cosby-sweater, Christmas party Woods. This is serious Woods, jig a nig Woods. Scully wearin' scare White folks Woods. You'll see me at the club with Lil’ Kim and Young Jeezy Woods. Lean wit' it rock wit' it, sittin on blades Woods. This is Vanity Fair letting out what White people expected in the beginning Woods. This is just another Black guy who might be in jail Woods.”
Here’s another comment from a poster who calls himself “OJ All Over”:
The same way TIME magazine sent O.J.Simpson back to 'blackness' after his mess with Nicole & Goldman, Vanity [Fair] is sending Tiger back to 'blackness' in the wake of his sex scandal. Let’s be honest here: it was Tiger's 'black side' which got him chasing all these white women and losing control of his sexual urges, right? …That’s how prejudice functions in our society. Vanity [Fair’s] cover is simply reflecting America's sickness!
I headed over to another blog, Nativenotes.net, to see what he was thinking. We were in the same realm too:
The media has successfully placed [Tiger Woods] in the category of the brute/ buck blaxploitation caricature. [Woods is] now being promoted as this hypersexual black male…
He goes on to offer up a breakdown of the Black brute stereotype for those of us needing a refresher on our African-American Studies courses:
The brute caricature portrays Black men as innately savage, animalistic, destructive, and criminal — deserving punishment, maybe death. This brute is a fiend, a sociopath, an anti-social menace. Black brutes are depicted as hideous, terrifying predators who target helpless victims, especially White women.
That description sounds like a black-faced character from Birth of A Nation or something to describe the cover of 50 Cent’s debut album. And somehow clean-cut Tiger Woods can fall under the same stereotype now?
2010 is off to a strange start.
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Reader Comments (51)
More evidence of a "post-racial" America.
Mainstream culture is pissed that Tiger "got over" and sold, made money from, and gained acceptance from, the perpetuation of a "clean cut" image. The article itself. Goodness! Read it this morning. WOW. "This negro tricked us, we have to get rid of him and make an example so that we don't get hoodwinked again" just about sums it up.
Agreed. Thoroughly disappointed in VF for playing up to the hype.
Thoroughly shocked when I saw the VF cover. Seeing it again, now, for about the 4th time today, it still inspires disgust and amazement in me. I'm not aware of VF's track record when it comes to putting black folks on their cover, but I'd love to see how they showcase others. At any rate, they did a fine job "niggerizing" Tiger. Hell, they should've taken it one step further and photoshopped some tear drops and gangster tattoos on him, really hammer the point home. I have been disappointed in Tiger's actions, but in no way does he deserve this. I guess if you go against the playbook, you will be punished.
I'm surprised it took them this long to give us the scary black man image of Tiger. "niggerizing"-the perfect 1 word explanation. Not so creative Annie, but explotation is also her thing at times.
I totally agree with your post today - I was astounded by the cover. I thought it totally feeds into what America thinks about Tiger. Its sad, but you know Tiger ok'd the picture and he ok'd the women in his life - so than you have to say that's his choice and his life. He'll be back on top soon, gotta admit he's a great golfer! Best ever, half of the white men wouldn't be golfing right now if it wasn't for him.
They actually began this article with an OJ reference. Really? Exactly which part of this saga is OJ-esque besides black (looking) athlete marries and cheats on white wife? I don't condone anyparts of Tiger's actions as a married man, but the media created this fictional person. He couldn't just be an exceptional athlete with a normal personal life. It would not have been allowed-especially in golf. There would always be digging or looking for that golden nugget of a sound bite to exploit a la the references in this article from 12(!) years ago. So he had to create that image to avoid all the scary black man images. Oh the irony... At least he was able to do a lot of good in that time period. I hope he can figure things out from here.
First, brilliant writing Belle..but,honestly I feel no sympathy, no remorse, and I will not put my Black Panther beret on for Mr. Caublasian Tiger Woods. In the course of events of Tiger mayhem you have heard nothing from the NAACP or the media whore himself Al Sharpton...Tiger made his white bed and now he may lie, restlessly in it. So if Vanity Fair put it out there...to remind him that, by the way Tiger, you're just another nigga....then by golly, keep 'em "extra, extra...read all about it!!" Some may say it's crazy for me to say these things...but I also found it offensive that in the beginning and at the height of his career, he made it a point to reject his blackness. So just like OJ...if you want to dance with the devil, then don't miss a beat!
Yes, he's a great golfer...but, he is no brother of mine. The media is dragging him through the mud...not because he cheated....but they needed to open his eyes to the most unspoken rule in American society...he married and cheated on a white, blonde, woman! A triple-whammy! And sadly he will, socially, and they hope monetarily, pay for that!!!!
Two words to describe that picture of Tiger Woods. FUCKING HILARIOUS!!!!! hahaha, seriously i look at it once every ten minutes and laugh until I'm out of breath. What a coon lol. Reminds me of that episode when Carlton went to the hood and started trying to act tough. The media is pretty funny. They toss us (black intellectuals and white idiots) these images and we eat em up and become consumed in some form of emotion (either annoyed, offended, outraged, upset or tickled like I am right now). If this is what 2010 is gonna be like I'm gonna LOVE IT!!! Laughter is the best medicine God ever made :) Happy New Year folks!
That cover is almost masterful. No other magazine succeeds at painting an invisible elephant with hues of pink like Vogue does. Lest not forget this is the same publication that turned Lebron James into King Kong. This cover's is simply their latest work of racism via photo design. Their message lives behind crystal: "America: He's not the Tiger Woods we invested billions in. He's just a muscle-bound nigger with a ravenous appetite for pure white pussy. He's Bigger Thomas."
@Bezo just for clarity, Lebron was Vogue. ironically, they are both conde naste publications.
you're the second person today that made that BIgger Thomas reference. i wish i'd added it to the piece. (both the one here and for TheMagazine.com)
DL
Belle, do you happen to know when this photo was taken? I ask because I was under the impression that this issue was probably put to bed either a little before all the "drama" came out or directly after. Obviously, they could have changed the photo but I'm just wondering...
Either way, this is probably one of the more tacky photos I've seen of him and in general just in poor taste. Once they got wind over at VF what kind of shenanigans he'd been into they were probably DEFINITELY ready to go to print.
Boycott the Mag.
I saw the "Adibisi" Tiger cover on the early morn news.
There's some really important news that the major networks REFUSE to cover (DC School Voucher Program for inner-city kids CANCELLED by Democrats is one MAJOR one). These puff pieces are meant to "Speed-bump" real news. What'sit been? About 2-5 wks of this?!? I don't want Entertainment Tonight all-up in my real political news. I avoid ET for a frickin reason.
My next watch is a TAG Heuer. Cause they stuck by him, EARLY (Billboard Size).
But e played himself on not reporting her DV. Would of helped him right now. Don't Impale yourself, dang!
Nice piece. Good Departure from the "Orea" blowback he's been receiving from the black (yawn) media. SAD.
Well....the way I see it...if Tiger wasn't cool with the skully, barbells, bare chest and mean-mug, he would've declined. It's not like he NEEDS the money albeit losing half his endorsements. What Tiger did IMO is no different from any other regular, unhappily married man outside of his celebrity status. This too shall soon pass.
Yawn. This is not surprising or shocking in the least. Its America.
BTW....The picture was supposedly taken back in 2006
Belle, I rock my 14' inch hair weaves but am not for a second blind to institutional racisim. Tiger's mainstream pass has been revoked and it's clear by this new image being presented to the public. I don't understand why he'd agree to be potrayed this way. Another example of a black man being demonized in society ........
I Co-sign KeShajo, and will add it's unfortunate Black men still have not learned that white women will get you lynched whether its hanging on a tree, or in the media.
Point of clarification: Tiger okayed the pictures to be taken by Annie Lebowitz in 2006, but not to be used in this context.
In other words, VF did not call him and say, "Hey, were running this story and would like to put this photo of you looking like a gangsta n!gga on the cover. Cool?"
BTW, Annie is also millions of dollars in debt so it also not too surprising to me that she'd sell off her old photos for a quick buck.
@grown. thanks.
i think it's important to note that the timing matters. anytime before late November, the pics have an entirely different meaning. he'd still look all San Quentin but it wouldn't be an indicative of anything because there's no real context for it. still woulda been weird to Tiger giving up 50s glare from Get Rich or Die Trying.
i think it's also worth noting that on a AL shoot, it's not like you show up, do one shot and go home. she was pulling a million dollars per shoot. they got SEVERAL SHOTS. this could have been something they tried, did 20 frames of, said "it's not working and moved on." TW didn't show up, pose like a thug and go home.
The context of the photo is what matters. That this is an old photo does not surprise me. That VF decided to run this after Woods' scandal, does. They had to be somewhat cognizant of the image they were creating and the stereotypical reverberations.
Even after all of this, there's no way that Tiger is taping into his "hidden gangsta negro" side. Believe that. Kobe he ain't.
Lest we not forget, Eldrick doesn't see himself as solely a black man, nor does he really identify with the "struggle." If anything, he sees this as just more negative pub, not some institutional racist campaign by the majority in the country. With that said, as soon as ol' boy wins another major title, this really will be put on the backburner. While he may not be Kobe, (fair or unfair) winning will make most of this go away. The one thing they DO have in common.
"While he may not be Kobe, (fair or unfair) winning will make most of this go away. The one thing they DO have in common."
agreed.
i think Tiger may have some inkling of what this means by now though. how can he not? there's no way he can look at that cover a not see the subtext.
This post gave me chills, Belle. I agree with the Bigger Thomas reference. This is Native Son 2010. Anyone who disagrees is in denial.
Great piece. This is about MONEY, plain and simple. Everyone that knew Tiger, had knowledge about his behaviour, check Tiger's business moves over the last several years and you see why this has all come out. The people that matter never thought of Tiger as anything other than. Remember these are they who once said "one drop of nigger blood, makes you a nigger" How soon we forget.
I was not surprised by this depiction of Woods on the cover of Vainty Fair. Annie Leibovitz depicted Woods in his rightful image, the image that whites believed he deserved from the start. Woods forgot his place as a BLACK man in American society, whites did NOT.....