You may recall this competition last being celebrated during the series of Michael Jackson sexual scandals or during the OJ Simpson trials. It's a delightful time when Americans find some famous Black man to take down who seems to have some affinity for White people.
This is how it goes.
Beloved by the majority of America, the star experiences wide spread appeal and celebrity. Although they may experience unparalleled fame compared to any other entertainer, politician, or sports figure in history, trailblazing a new era in entertainment, breaking down seemingly impossible barriers, and welcoming a wave of newfound racial appreciation, they comparatively share an experience of ambivalent support from other Black people.
Like OJ and Michael Jackson, Tiger Woods was embraced with timid warmth even after the black community initially rejected or is rejected or made to feel abandoned in the face of growing mass White appeal. Like any good mascot, each magical negro including Tiger Woods experiences years of greater than God fame with exaltation and praise poured on deep and wide.
Eventually, the black community, while disappointed, finds of way to quietly accept and patiently waits for the prodigal son to return. The black community does not wish him harm. Rather, educated pessimism has taught many that the fall from grace will come, come soon and come hard.
The funny thing about Tiger Woods is that in 1997 he experienced public racism after Fuzzy Zoeller's fried chicken comment after Fuzzy got his ass beat and Tiger went on to win The Masters golf tournament in Augusta, Georgia. Like clock work, black leaders came to Tiger Woods' defense and expressed outrage for such off color comments. We also learned about charity work and contributions to the community teaching inner city children golf and promoting golf to a new generation and community never breached by the upper class, almost all white golf community of the past.
Some of us knew the fall would eventually occur, this fall from grace. We probably all wished that it did not have to be this way, but many others have accepted it as, dare I say, par for the course. The fall from grace in such a way makes it incredibly hard to return back to the world's stage. OJ and MJ fell from grace and only Michael seemed to make it back safely after hiding out for several years.
With his death, Michael Jackson lives as a reincarnated, super being, god-like as only he could. His influence so strong, MJ's death brought back the Jacksons for a possible musical tour and TV series. We learn and have some reserved comfort knowing that the fall from fame eventually comes, because we also confidently know that it does not destine one to perpetual disgrace. In death, as with MJ, a black person can experience the same undying favor.
The fall from grace or fall into disgrace was not always something you could make a triumphed return. If you fell from grace, it guaranteed that you would not return. Over the years, we have learned how to make a graceful return to the world's stage.
One of the almost absolute requirements for the come back requires the unwavering loyalty and acceptance from the black community. When OJ was on trial, black people had his back from the get go - even when people said MJ was a pediphile, possibly raping children after their parents left them alone with him. Even when there was outrage about the massacre of OJ's wife and the accusations of MJ's life with underage boys, some within the black community dismissed it as lies and baseless jibber jabber. Without loyalty, maybe blind, the black community could never stand by and watch while these horrific charges were leveled on our sons.
Even when they are not loyal to the black community, as a whole, black people faithfully pull the prodigal son back off the stage, lick their wounds, and pray that all will be well. They showed us that even we can blaze past racism and make a real difference in the world. Fearlessly, they showed us how not to be afraid of whitey. Like Jack Johnson, the first black heavy weight boxing champ, they showed us how to laugh in their face, beat them at their own game with money, influence, and smarts.
We learned to appease white slave owners in years past that you can play the role of a fool, but you know how the saying goes, "My momma didn't raise no fool." Like Muhammad Ali's "Rope-a-Dope", playing possum, or when we saw Ray Charles playing, "country dumb," in his biographical film, Ray, black people coped with challenges however small or large to find a way to conquer adversity. We secretly hoped that it was a big game, something "they" created to distort the truth, conspiracy to tear them down, or the truth perverted for their benefit. Even if the accusations we true, we did not have to like everything about them to celebrate with them. In the end, they accomplished something we could celebrate collectively and could never have it taken away.
Now that Tiger Woods is falling from grace, I wonder who he will run to in his time of grief. Many people probably don't give a damn, some are so horrified that something like that could ever happen, others probably thought nothing of it, while even others see it as inevitable considering his circumstances - billion dollar man whose has conquered ever barrier - there's nowhere to go but down.
I welcome the time when Tiger will rise around out of the shadows, wounds sufficiently licked, maybe stronger, more resilient than before, smarter, more cleaver than even he thought he could be. He might look like Sofia (play by Oprah Winfrey) from The Color Purple, wore out, beaten down, and on his last leg. Similarly to her, we might also see him come out of that dark place, scared but not dead, alive and well.
I hope for the rebirth, a second half because it really is not over. And, even if it is, it sure was nice while it lasted. If he goes away quietly, it's all good. If he comes back like I think he should, he'll return maybe bigger and blacker than ever before. I think he has nothing to prove and everything to gain.
What is potentially unique about the fall is the ugly head of racism that sooner or later rises above in each of these situations where the public seems to have a primal desire to protect the victim. In the case of OJ, his beautiful, oftentimes abused, wife. With MJ, all those poor incident boys. Now, with Tiger Woods, there is his wife, innocent victim more than willing to come after him with a five-iron.
With the fall from grace comes the unsavory title of No. 1 Nigger in America.
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