AUGUST 2008
Community Paper

RACISM OR HISTORY?
THE REAL STORY BEHIND THE “BLACK SHOELESS CADDY” AT
TAP ROOM AT DUBSDREAD!
by Susan Titour, Publisher, Community Paper

Exclusive Interview with Steve Gunter, owner of The Tap Room At Dubsdread. Forget what you’ve read in other newspapers, forget what you saw on the news, forget what you heard through the grapevine. This is the TRUE story of the controversy regarding a picture of a “shoeless black caddy” which hangs on the wall of The Tap Room.

While College Park celebrated the re-opening of our beautiful, historic Dubsdread Golf Course, behind the scenes the Orlando Sentinel, radio stations, and television stations were concentrating their energy on the "insulting" picture of a shoeless black young man who was a caddy for some golfers on Dubsdread Golf Course in the 1930's. Dubsdread has hosted golf legends such as Sam Snead, Ben Hogan. Babe Didrikson and others since opening in 1923. History is recorded in pictures on the walls of The Historic Dubsdread Ballroom, The Tap Room.

However, City Commissioner Daisy Lynum complained at a meeting that a picture depicting a "shoeless black caddy," which has hung in The Tap Room Restaurant for many years, was "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.” Lynum stated, "“They say it’s a part of history,” Lynum said, “but so is lynching and killing. Do we keep those pictures on display?” At the time of her statement, she had NEVER EVEN SEEN THE PICTURE.

What does "lynching and killing" have to do with this beautiful sepia period piece??? The caddy appears to be intently watching the golf shot. That young man was probably glad to get the money he earned from being a caddy and he was probably very proud of his job, as are most caddies, black OR white.

Channel 6 news reported that "the picture was taken at a time when black people were forced to remove their shoes before stepping on the golf course." NOT TRUE!
Remember that the 1930's was depression era America, and that many people did not even HAVE shoes! Also, NO ONE was allowed to wear hard toed shoes on the course, no matter what color their skin was... shoes tear up the greens! Many golfers would LOVE to go barefoot on the greens. Its cooler in the hot Florida sun, and the golfers can get a "feel" for the greens with bare feet. Also, Caddying was and is a lucrative and honored position. The fact that there was a black caddie in the 1930's should be a testament for the opportunity for an ambitious youth to earn money in a depression era.
The picture belongs to Tap Room owner Steve Gunter, whose dad caddied barefoot in the 1950's. It doesn't belong to the City of Orlando. However, Tap Room is located on City property. If it was located anywhere else it probably wouldn't have become an issue at all. However, Steve Gunter DID remove the picture during the celebration of the re-opening of Dubsdread out of respect, because he did not want the issue to overshadow what was such a beautiful day.

The Rev. Randolph Bracy, president of the NAACP’s Orange County branch and his wife Lavon Wright Bracy actually took the time to visit the Tap Room to view the picture for themselves. After viewing the picture, Reverend and Mrs. Bracy looked at the picture for a few minutes and exclaimed, "why, this is much ado about nothing!"

Byron Brooks, the city’s Chief Administrative Officer, who also happens to be an African American, also took the time to view the photo and refuted Lynum’s assessment of it, saying he “didn’t feel it depicted any kind of racial stereotype—it’s just a period picture.”

The picture is once again on display on the Tap Room wall. In conclusion, people should get their facts straight before passing judgment.

You might have seen the grainy, cropped picture in other newspapers and on television, below is the actual entire picture. What a beautiful, peaceful Florida day in the 1930's! Want to see more? The Tap Room displays many gorgeous historic pictures of golfers throughout Orlando's history. Visit them at 549 W. Par Street, phone 407-650-0100.