Orlando city commissioner takes offense at historical photo showing barefoot black caddy

[Hugabear]

http://www.local6.com/news/16837899/detail.html



<snip>
A historical photo of a barefoot caddy at a popular Orlando golf course is offensive and should be removed, a city commissioner said.

The photo shows a shoeless black caddy in the 1930s that depicts a time when black people were forced to remove their shoes before stepping on the golf course, Local 6's Jessica Sanchez reported.

"There is a photograph of the history of Dubsdread but there is a black caddy with no shoes on," Commissioner Daisy Lynum said. "I find the picture insulting and I would like for someone to take it down. We don't have to change the history but we could sure change how it looks now."
<snip>


Does anyone else here find this photo offensive? I'm curious when Ms. Lynum is going to demand that all photos showing segregation be removed from all of our local governmental buildings and museums. If anything, one would think that it's good to have these photographs as a constant reminder of our past, and how far we've come so far.

[bullimiami]

1. it may be offensive but its also historic reality.

i dont like sanitizing history. better to face it and remember what lessons weve learned.

[cosmik debris]

2. It is just a failure to properly spin.

That photo is a perfect example of the abuse dealt out at the hands of the white majority.

It is not as dramatic as Toby getting lashed or the "Strange Fruit" borne by Southern trees, but it is a powerful image when presented in the right context.

[GodlessBiker]

3. It's offensive because it happened, not because it is shown as having happened.

[annabanana]

13. You have it on the nose.

These two will be endlessly confused by those who don't appreciate the study of history.

[Freddie Stubbs]

4. It should be kept up to remind us what this country used to be

[exothermic]

5. It's fine with me but then I'm not on a crusade searching for something to be offended

over.
:eyes:

[Hugabear]

9. Apparently some people will look for anything to be offended over

I present to you this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3388215&mesg_id=3388215


I agree with you though. There are serious racial issues that still exist in this country, but it doesn't help when some people are on a "crusade" to look for offensive things. If anything, it only takes attention from the serious issues and focuses them on trivial ones.

[exothermic]

11. Exactly. I mean, shit, it's not like there are actually any -serious- problems

in this country...
:shrug:

[AngryAmish]

6. When I caddied we were forced to keep our shoes on

Bare feet left bigger indentations on the greens than shod feet. (BTW, walking on a golf course in bare feet is one of the great pleasures in life. That said making people caddy barefoot as a mark of servitude is obviously wrong).

[gratuitous]

7. Commissioner Lynum has another demand

Could the original poster please change handles to "Paint It African American"? Thank you.

[lpbk2713]

8. He's black?

Someone has better eyes than me. :shrug:

[The Stranger]

10. The Commissioner should go buy a nice new pair of golf shoes and walk all over the course in them.

Have the press snap some good photos. Put this picture up on the wall as well.

I hate golf, but that is my suggestion.

[1monster]

12. Those of us who study history can only watch, appalled, as fools who don't

relive it.

Destroying all evidence that racism was once institutionalized doesn't mean it never happened.