This will be a touchy subject but I thought it is a pertinent topic that can be discussed properly and should be discussed.
I would like to get others thoughts on their impressions about the recently released limited edition versions of the Scotty Cameron US Open head covers. He released 2008 head covers. 1908 were white, 90 were black and 10 were black with a gold tooth. See photos below: photos were originally posted on on another forum, a Cameron only forum by the sites owner and others and are just some of the photos that were posted.
My question is do you think there are any racial or cultural overtones with the recent black gold toothed limited edition head cover?
Have you asked yourself why the black head cover was given the gold tooth treatment instead of the white head cover and was this decision, consciously or sub-consciously, influenced by racial, cultural or social stereotypes? I want to be clear that I am not saying this decision was based on any racial, cultural or social stereotype. I am just looking for input from others on their thoughts.
Here are a couple of links relating to the stereotypical views towards gold teeth.
http://www.destee.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29402
"I remember stories about how during slavery gold teeth helped to distinguish a "free" Black person from an enslaved one. Once a slave was freed, he/she may get a gold tooth to signify emancipation. "
"My wife is from Ghana and she told me in Ghana that once a Muslim makes al'hajj, he may get a gold tooth to signify his pilgrimmage. Louisiana, during slave trading days, imported many Africans from the Senegambia area, which even during those times was populated by Islamic African people."
"Hey fellas, could it be possible that the arabic tradition of giving out a gold tooth for a reward was influenced and started by africans who converted to islam?"
http://www.boston.com/yourlife/articles/20...ulture_machine/
"If you see somebody who has gold teeth," says Cobb, "you can then use this shorthand. 'This person is ghetto.' And in the list of defining characteristics of ghetto it includes wearing gold teeth and doing car jackings."
"As a result, there remains a stark contrast between those who recognize racism and those who don't."
"The people who are oppressed say, 'How can you say this?' or 'How can you do this kind of thing?' " says Graves. "The structural aspect is so obvious to them because it's holding them down every day. And the people with privilege go, 'What's the big deal? Maybe it's wrong, but let's not get upset about this because it's just one incident,' because they're not aware of the structure in place that gives them privilege in the first place."