The Black Militant's Golfbag: 'Club Negro' satirizes stereotypes

Charles McGill matter-of-factly stated he owns the world's first black militant golf bag.  Charles McGill displays several of his figure drawings during a recent visit to Orazio Salati's gallery in Binghamton -- where he will have a show this summer. Behind McGill is a golf bag and clubs altered to express relationships between culture, racial profiling and mass-media stereotypes. That caused a skip of silence. What is the correct response to a statement like that? Laughter? Alarmed confusion? McGill smiled, but he wasn't kidding about the golf bag. It is covered in a variety of historical images, including lynchings and the Rodney King beating. Inside, one of the clubs is decorated with dreadlocks shorn from McGill's head; others have phrases glued to them, such as "darkie," "lawn jockey" and "porch monkey." Call it satirical. Call it shocking. Call it funny. Call it what you will. McGill, who holds a master's degree from the Maryland Institute College of Art, uses golf -- popularly perceived as a white man's sport -- as a vehicle to express relationships between culture, racial profiling and mass-media stereotypes. The stereotyping of African Americans, McGill said, is often at odds with his personal identity and objectives. As a result, the theme is prominently displayed in his work. "Looking at race and ethnicity is not that new in the art world," said Joe Lewis, a friend and colleague of McGill's for the past 20 years. "But Charles has a great take on it. He can stand back and let you in on little jokes, and in on the big joke -- that we're all really the same." McGill's "militant" golf bag and clubs are part of an exhibit of work collectively called "Club Negro: Experience the Freedom" that was last shown in New York City in 2003. [more]