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Summary

The Augusta National Golf Club has been an all-male club since it was created, but recently there had been an issue concerning women. Many women want to admit themselves as members, but they cannot. There is no way for a woman to become a member, but they can play the course (golf course) if they are invited by a male member. This creates a controversial issue because many women that support the Club and the Masters competition are still not allowed to be members. Also, while being interviewed, the chairperson, Billy Payne remained silent on question regarding membership issues. Payne stated, “"Once again, that deals with a membership issue and I'm not going to answer it."

IBM is a large supporter of the Masters, so for the past four years, the Augusta National Golf Club has granted membership to the Chief Executive Officer of IBM. This presented an issue when the new CEO of IBM was a woman, Ginni Rometty. This situation presents a new issue. The Club now has to figure out whether they are going to change their policy in order to allow Rometty to become a member.

The Club is very secretive with their traditional ways, and the fact that they do not reveal who belongs to the Club. Although the estimate is that, the Club holds about 300 members at any given time. Many members are thought to be “...powerful men from industry and finance, including Bill Gates and Warren Buffett. Another situation presented it that it was not until 1990 that the first black man, Ron Townsend was invited to play. Racial and sex discrimination are forms of slavery and are present every day.

Relevance

//Masters chairman sidesteps female membership issue //is relevant to the course because discrimination has been going on for thousands of years, and it is apparent that it is a reoccurring cycle. African Americans first came over in late 1800’s, and resulted in slavery. The African Americans were forced to provide labor for no payment, and they were sold, traded and beat. In the early 1900’s the African American population was still heavily discriminated against. They were seen lower than everyone else at this time. One group that showed complete hatred to the African Americans was the KKK. The only people that were allowed to be in the discriminatory group were white Anglo-Saxon Protestant, or W.A.S.P. Discrimination was going on all over the United States, but it was most common in south. In the southern part of America, the KK held their meetings and performed the lynchings,

Not only were Africans discriminated against, but women were as well. In class, we talked about the roles that women took on in the early 1900’s. Women were being dominated by the men and were forced to stay home in work. The men left the women with the children, and they were responsible for the cleaning and the cooking. This was a form of slavery to women because they were confined to their homes and the markets. In addition, women had to obey what their husbands told them, and they were not allowed to speak out or voice their opinions.

Theme

Slavery is the act of being a slave, and a slave is, “A person who is the legal property of another and/or is forced to obey them.” The article focuses on where women stand when it comes to the Augusta National Golf Club. Women are not allowed to be become members of the club, only men are. In addition, towards the end of the article, it discusses the relationship between the Masters Golf tournament and blacks. Blacks could not be invited until 1990. This article accurately shows that the slavery of women and African Americans lead to discrimination that still occurs today.

Questions

1. Why was the chairperson avoiding questions concerning the membership of women?

2. Do the members of the Club feel the same way about women becoming members?

3. Will the new CEO of IBM, Ginni Rometty be offended or press charges against the Club, if she is not allowed to become a member?

4. When will Rometty find out whether or she will be invited?

Linden, Julian. "Masters Chairman Sidesteps Female Membership Issue." //Fox News//. FOX News Network, 04 Apr. 2012. Web. 05 Apr. 2012. .