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In reply to the discussion: Virginia lawmaker uses "tar baby" in speech about Medicaid debate [View all]Nye Bevan
(25,406 posts)26. Should words and phrases such as "tar baby" and "picnic" be avoided
just because some ignorant people wrongly consider them to be racist?
Although not taught in American learning institutions and literature, it is noted in most Black history professional circles and literature that the origin of the term "picnic" derives from the acts of lynching African-Americans. The word "picnic" is rooted from the whole theme of "Pick A Nigger." This is where individuals would "pic" a Black person to lynch and make this into a family gathering. There would be music and a "picnic." ("Nic" being the white acronym for "nigger." Scenes of this were depicted in the movie "Rosewood."
.....
Meanwhile, things are not peachy on the campus of SUNY/Albany. The university wanted to honour baseball legend Jackie Robinson by having a picnic. But the university's equity office said this must not occur because the word "picnic" referred originally to gatherings held to lynch Blacks. In fact, as one of their own English professors (rather less committed to historical revisionism than RMC's Dr. Robinson) pointed out, the word "picnic" actually comes from a 17th-century French word that denotes a party at which everyone brings food. But Zaheer Mustafa, the equity officer, nevertheless decreed that "picnic" not be used because "the point is the word offends." So the university decided to call it an "outing." Then, homosexual students took objection to that, and SUNY decided to publicize the event without using any noun to describe it.
http://www.snopes.com/language/offense/picnic.asp
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Virginia lawmaker uses "tar baby" in speech about Medicaid debate [View all]
TexasTowelie
Mar 2014
OP
Your "proof" that it is racist is a politician placating ignorant people calling it racist
joeglow3
Mar 2014
#19
I did not grow up in the south, but rather out west. I did not know this term was racist
Drahthaardogs
Mar 2014
#58
I use the term "tar baby" for situations that are difficult to get away from once involved.
Throd
Mar 2014
#4
That's my childhood recollection as well.I also read some of Joel Chandler Harris's stories as a kid
Hekate
Mar 2014
#52
I guess screaming one more fucking time that the term is not racist would be a waste
CBGLuthier
Mar 2014
#3
are you sure you want to post this kind of claim on a progressive message board?
alp227
Mar 2014
#22
That's where I learned the story of Tar-Baby, from Uncle Remus stories. I do not consider it an,,,
northoftheborder
Mar 2014
#54
It's dismaying to see how many people are, apparently, incredibly ignorant.
Spider Jerusalem
Mar 2014
#51
I think you may have the situation reversed - I think it was used by some in the South
hedgehog
Mar 2014
#61
Look up The Story of Little Babaji for an update of Helen Bannerman's lost classic
Hekate
Mar 2014
#59
Brer Rabbit is the direct descendent of the Trickster Hero Anansi, from West Africa
Hekate
Mar 2014
#56
Sad that he felt that he had to apologise, and shame on the people who condemned him.
Donald Ian Rankin
Mar 2014
#60