In times most polarised, a Black hero at White House

Washington, May 5

During his illustrious career, Tiger Woods has treated politics as he would a menacing sandtrap — avoiding it if at all possible. A black superstar in a white-dominated sport, he has also generally avoided commenting about race relations in the United States. But on Monday, Woods will find himself on the biggest political stage there is — the White House.

And Woods will be the guest of honour of a president seen by many Americans as racially polarising. He has hit the links in bipartisan fashion, teeing off with Democrats Bill Clinton and Barack Obama and Republicans George H.W. Bush and Donald Trump.

Trump, an avid golfer and the owner of several golf courses, is to present the 43-year-old with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honour.

Though the outspoken Republican has been engaged in a bitter feud with black NBA stars and American football players, he has never expressed anything but unbridled admiration for Woods. He spoke to Woods, whose father was black and whose mother is of Thai origin, following his epic Masters victory last month and extended his congratulations.

Trump tweeted that he was honouring Woods “because of his incredible Success & Comeback in Sports (Golf) and more importantly, LIFE.” Once upon a time, White House visits by title-winning sports teams were routine, but several franchises — including the NBA champion Golden State Warriors — have opted out under Trump to protest his policies.

Woods is not expected to make any such waves.

‘Unfair’

Rather than endorsing politicians or decrying racial injustice, Woods has always just let his golf game do the talking.

“People wanted to imagine that Tiger was a social activist, a fighter for racial justice,” said Orin Starn, a professor of history and cultural anthropology at Duke University. “In fact, he’s never wanted to be an activist,” the author of “The Passion of Tiger Woods: An Anthropologist Reports on Golf, Race, and Celebrity Scandal said.” He’s been pretty apolitical throughout his career.” “Whenever he says something about race or America he tends to get all kinds of criticism from all kinds of people,” Starn said of Woods. 

Starn also said he believed it was “unfair” to expect that Woods is obliged to use his global celebrity as a platform for social activism.

Respect

Woods has played golf with Trump on several occasions — both before and after he took office — most recently in February at the president’s course in Jupiter, Florida.

Asked last year about his relationship with Trump, Woods said: “I’ve known Donald for a number of years. We’ve played golf together. We’ve had dinner together.” He said the important thing was to respect the office of the presidency, regardless of who happened to be occupying the White House. “No matter who is in the office, you may like, dislike, personality or the politics, but we all must respect the office,” Woods said. — AFP