Monoracial groups and mixed celebs (Tiger Woods)

[Flutterby]

Tiger Woods says he is 'Cablinasian.' As in Caucasian-black-Indian-Asian. Woods has a half-black, one-quarter American Indian, one-quarter white father and a half Thai, half-Chinese mother. "I'm just who I am," Woods told Oprah Winfrey, "whoever you see in front of you." http://www.salon.com/april97/tiger970430.html
This is a picture of Tiger, with wife, Elin Nordegren (from Sweeden), and baby daughter Sam (Born June 2007).

[thaite]

Yes, we know. Do you have anything to add?

[Asian_Casanova]

Can anyone explain to me why an athlete of part Black or half Black origins is claimed to be an "African American" or Black athlete (by African Americans in particular)? Tiger Woods is a major case in point. It seems like when he's mentioned in the media he's a "Black guy" ( an "African American guy" in particular - but he's got more or at least equal blood of other ethnicities).

[thaite]

What? You never heard of the One-drop rule?. We live in its legacy.

This thread better turn into something about sports, because if it ain't, I'm kicking it elsewhere.

[Flutterby]

Originally Posted by Asian_Casanova

Can anyone explain to me why an athlete of part Black or half Black origins is claimed to be an "African American" or Black athlete (by African Americans in particular)? Tiger Woods is a major case in point. It seems like when he's mentioned in the media he's a "Black guy" ( an "African American guy" in particular - but he's got more or at least equal blood of other ethnicities).

According to this article Tiger Woods is ¼ African decent since his father is half black and his mother is of Asian decent.

[Flutterby]

Originally Posted by thaite

Yes, we know. Do you have anything to add?

You say "we know". Who is the we?

[YelloFello]

I think 'we' means every one who is aware of who Tiger Woods is. We all know who Tiger Woods is.

What is the purpose of this thread? To promote race-mixing?

[YelloFello]

Not that there is anything wrong with race-mixing. But I don't believe one should promote it, just as I do not believe that one should advocate same-race only relationships.

[YelloFello]

Not that there is anything wrong with race-mixing. But I don't believe one should promote it, just as I don't believe one should advocate same-race-only relationships.

[Asian_Casanova]

Originally Posted by thaite

What? You never heard of the One-drop rule?. We live in its legacy.

This thread better turn into something about sports, because if it ain't, I'm kicking it elsewhere.

Does that mean James Watson (co discoverer of the DNA helix) should be seen as African American, somewhat ironically based upon his comments about race and IQ, considering he's 15% African based upon his genes?

Flutterby,

I didn't know that; it seems, to me anyway, claiming Tiger as an African American (or whatever) just speaks to me of some insecurity; don't get me wrong, despite not following golf, many experts are saying he's going to be the greatest gold player that ever was and probably the first billionaire sportsman and he deserves all the credit in the world for his talent, but to me he's not as impressive as other African or African American sportspeople, like for instance guys who could run sub-10 seconds for the 100 metres (now for me that's more impressive considering so few people can achieve that and the fact that no non-African athlete has done it whereas in golf different people can win the Masters and so on). Now that's a bad analogy because golf is a worldwide sport whereas athletics is mainly assocaited with the Olympics. So, why not compare with basketball; Michael Jordan, Shaq, Le Bron James are all more AA to me than Tiger Woods is.

[popculturepooka]

The rule is if you look black, you are black. Simple.

And exactly how do you BE African-American?

[kimpossible]

Originally Posted by YelloFello

What is the purpose of this thread? To promote race-mixing?

There's no purpose to any of her threads. It's a white lady linking meta-data around the web to here. She's got one sort-of on topic post in Histories. That's it. So before you all tear each other up over Tiger Woods' ethnicity please rethink if it's necessary to do so.

[AngryABCGirl]

cute baby.

[Flutterby]

Originally Posted by YelloFello

Not that there is anything wrong with race-mixing. But I don't believe one should promote it, just as I do not believe that one should advocate same-race only relationships.

The purpose of this thread is not to promote anything, but just state some facts. Tiger Woods doesn't like to be called African American because is one-half Asian, one-quarter black, one-eighth American Indian, and one-eighth Europeon decent.

"Woods made his remarks on 'Oprah,' when he was asked if it bothered him to be called an African-American. 'It does,' he said. 'I'm just who I am,' Woods told Oprah Winfrey, 'whoever you see in front of you.'"
http://www.salon.com/april97/tiger970430.html

Originally Posted by thaite

What? You never heard of the One-drop rule?. We live in its legacy.
This thread better turn into something about sports, because if it ain't, I'm kicking it elsewhere.

Because some long-time dead person said the On-drop rule is so doesn't really make it so. I don't agree with it. No one should deny any of their heritage and it certainly doesn't change the biological facts.

If you can move this thread to a more appropriate section here and you want to, go for it!

Originally Posted by popculturepooka

The rule is if you look black, you are black. Simple.

WRONG! You can't judge a book by its cover.

And, Kim -- Take a chill pill!:

[YelloFello]

If it is the case, then I am glad that Tiger Woods acknowledges his mixed heritage rather than only one part of it. But this interview with Oprah happened several years ago. This interview resulted in heavy criticism and pressure from some in the African-American community, so I think Tiger Woods is a little more careful these days about expressing pride in his mixed heritage.

I think you have missed the point. No one here is suggesting that Tiger Woods should only be considered black. And even though the one-drop-rule is outdated, it applies even to this day unfortunately.

It's all nice and dandy to say that Tiger Woods is 'this' and 'that'. But many in society may see him only as 'this' or 'that' but not both.