Just Lynch 'Em?

Wednesday morning (1/09) the world got another look at how little words can have big meanings and repercussions when Golf Channel suspended anchor Kelly Tilghman for two weeks for saying last week that young players who wanted to challenge Tiger Woods should "lynch him in a back alley." And just think Tiger isn't even African American, he's Cablinasian (African American, Asian, Caucasian, and Native American) LOL. Okay, I know we still apply that one drop rule (most do...that's a whole different conversation, right Valerie?) and he's African American but, per Tiger he is Cablinasian. But I think he may want to reconsider that because they keep treating him like a regular "African American " ( I said that nicely btw). Remember in 1997 after he won the Masters (he was only 21 and the youngest champion), Fuzzy Zoeller referred to him as "that little boy," and suggested that Woods not serve fried chicken or collard greens, "or whatever the hell they serve". D#$& Tiger, you can run but you can't hide. So Tami, you must have a point to all of this. ABSOLUTELY!!!

Our Ethiopian American children. When in America people will only see the color of their skin and they will be treated based on that (I hate to say it but it's true). They must learn how to cope within the boundaries of a racist society. They must understand what slavery was, what Jim Crow was about and why it existed, what the inner city riots were about, what is the history of racism, the blues, jazz, and even hip hop. Our children must understand why when people look at them they may not see Ethiopia, they may see other struggles that they had nothing to do with. They must understand why people dislike them for the color of their skin, the shape of their lips, noses or texture of their hair. They must understand all of this and then be able to effectively navigate in society. Then when they are faced by a person that gives them grief they can look them in the eye without being phased because you, as the parent, prepared them for the worst. This is why Tiger can say he is who he is, because he knows who he is and he effectively navigates in his world. He is okay with his choices. Our children must be okay with theirs however, the education begins with us. The education begins at home, so, the first time someone makes a racist comment about Africa, Ethiopia, African Americans, adoption or whatever, our children will be able to look them in the eye and say WHATEVE! Selam.