Bush Making Big Return To White House
Annette Insdorf: The Central Park Five Premieres in Cannes
Too often, as a society, we insult our young people, labeling them as a lost generation. Here's a young man who has taken leadership in to his 11-year-old hands.
Jonathan E. McCoy gave a rousing speech earlier this year to his church in Baltimore about why our community needs to drop the 'N' word. His speech, "A New Petition," called for the discontinuation of that six-letter word, and the slang usage of the word.
"I'm sending a message to everyone who knowingly or ignorantly uses this word to describe our people, whether you're a gangster rapper who uses it to communicate with your boys, or someone who looks down on us who haven't got a college education," said the pint-sized orator. "Whatever the case, it's time to discontinue the use of this word. It is implausible that 40 years after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we still use this word that holds no worth in our lives nor our future."
Watch McCoy's speech:
According to his Facebook fan page, Jonathan has always been a gifted child. At an early age, he learned about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and was immediately drawn to Dr. King's commitment to justice for all. Jonathan's early desire to effect change, inspired him to use petitioning as a way to call out injustice.
His first act of petitioning apparently involved hand washing. While in the second grade, says his Facebook profile, Jonathan asked his fellow classmates to sign a petition that would allow students the choice to opt out of the school's enforced hand sanitizer policy and instead wash their hands with soap and water. When his teacher found out about the petition, she settled the request in the children's favor.
Since presenting a "New Petition" to the 1,500 plus congregants at Empowerment Temple in Baltimore, Jonathan has appeared on Black America Web with Tom Joyner, and spoken at numerous events around the country. Through his relationship with Morehouse College, Jonathan has promoted what is called a "Free Zone" initiative which discourages sagging, cursing, and use of the "N" word.
According to his fan page, Jonathan maintains a high GPA and has been the recipient of a plethora of awards, citations, and acknowledgments for his academic achievements. All of this comes at the encouragement of his parents, who support his talents.
Vintage Racist Advertising
Top left LOS ANGELES - DECEMBER 1: Brigitte Nielsen and Flavor Flav present onstage at the VH1 - Big in '04 on December 1, 2004 at the Shrine Auditorium, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) Top right: 1899 -- Uncle Tom's Cabin: Topsy Illustration --- Image by © CORBIS; Bottom right: 1930s AC spark plugs ad in The Saturday Evening Post -- Photo by The Authentic History Center; Bottom left: This cartoon image provided by the New York Post appeared in the Post's Page Six Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009. The cartoon, which refers to Travis the chimp, who was shot to death by police in Stamford, Conn. on Monday after it mauled a friend of its owner, drew criticism Wednesday on media Web sites and from civil rights activist the Rev. Al Sharpton. (AP Photo/New York Post) ** NO SALES ** Credit: Getty Images / Corbi / Authentic History Center / AP
Getty Images / Corbi / Authentic History Center / AP
Advertisement for an African-American slave sale.
Although the enslavement of mankind in general has been recorded as early as 1200 BC; the first African slaves were reportedly transported to the 'New World' in 1517. This is 76 years after the first black slaves were captured and taken to Portugal.
Bettmann / Corbis
African American Stereotypes: Products and Advertising c.1880s Tin of Nigger Hair Tobacco
For decades this product was sold in stores as chewing tobacco or for smoking. It was advertised as 'pure, unadulterated, fine old burley leaf.'
Photo Source: The Authentic History Center
The Authentic History Center
1888 -- Seal of North Carolina Tobacco - The Darktown Bowling Club Poster -- Image by © Swim Ink 2, LLC/CORBIS Seal of North Carolina Tobacco - The Darktown Bowling Club Poster
Swim Ink 2, LLC / Corbis
ca. 1890 -- Zoulou Powder Poster (French advertisement)
Because offensive advertising was permeated throughout the world for many years, (and still is, as you will see in a few upcoming slides) it should come as no surprise that in more modern times 'racism has become the scourge of European soccer stadiums.'
Swim Ink 2, LLC / Corbis
ca. 1899 --- Uncle Tom's Cabin: Topsy Illustration --- Image by © CORBIS Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
Topsy was a stereotypical pickaninny character in the book, 'Uncle Tom's Cabin.' Uncle Tom was a slave in the book. The term 'Uncle Tom' is recognized to be offensive and a derogatory name for a black man who is abjectly servile and deferential to whites.
Corbis
ca. 1899 --- George Thatcher's Greatest Minstrels Poster --- Image by © CORBIS George Thatcher's Greatest Minstrels Poster
Early definition of minstrel: a medieval poet and musician who sang or recited while accompanying himself on a stringed instrument, either as a member of a noble household or as an itinerant troubadour.
The black-face minstrel act was a very popular form of entertainment in 19th-century America. White audiences were receptive to the portrayals of Blacks as singing, dancing, grinning fools. T.D. 'Daddy' Rice, the original Jim Crow, became rich and famous because of his skills as a minstrel. Interestingly though, when he died in New York on September 19, 1860, he was broke.
Corbis
African American Stereotypes: Products and Advertising 1899 Durkee's Salad Dressing advertisement, Harpers Magazine
Notice the broken English purportedly spoken by black Americans, 'We're gwine ter live high ter-night ...'
Photo Source: The Authentic History Centerr
The Authentic History Center
Advertisement for Clarence Brooks and Co.'s Fine Coach Varnishes uses racist stereotypes to depict a group of African-American adults and children as they cheer and watch two shirtless boxers, one of whom appears unconscious, accompanied by the text "the Championship Fight, Sullivan Wins," late 1800s. The Sullivan in the text is a reference to boxer John L. Sullivan, who fought bare-knuckled in several famous bouts.
Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images
Advertisement for the St. Louis Beef Canning Company features an illustration of a stereotyped African-American character sitting on a can of beef, accompanied by phonetically rendered, stereotypical dialect-style text that reads: 'No Sah! dont jine no Exodus so as dis Beef lasts,' late 1800s.
Showing blacks to massacre the English language, further perpetuated the false idea that African Americans were somehow unable to be educated.
Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images
Comments: (2230)
Add a comment
By: Elaine on 9/30/2009 8:40AM
This little boy shouldn't have to get rid of the 'H' word as you bluntly said. Hunger should be everyone concern and would be a way for everyone to pitch in and help the less fortunate.
Report This
By: jim on 9/30/2009 6:27AM
This is great i'm white but I have many friends who are not. I hear this word and I WONDER WHY THEY SAY IT. SEEM'S THEY THINK IT'S COOL. BUT I SAY IT'S NOT. THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT ANIMAL'S OR INFIREOR THEY AR HUMAN AN DESERVE TO BE TREATED AS SUCH .JESUS DIED FOR US ALL. GREAT JOB JOHNNY.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Elaine on 9/30/2009 8:40AM
I totally agree that all racist slurs should be stopped and removed from the vocabulary. I don't approve of any of it. I am black and I hate to see anyone being called names because it's not right, no matter what color. Racist is still around and it's not only the whites that are doing it because I have heard blacks doing it to white people as well. It all should stop!
Report This
By: quinana2001 on 9/30/2009 10:08AM
Amen Jim- Jesus does loves us all. Next time your friends use the N-Word, call them out on it and ask why they think it's ok! I am an AA female, and I am quick to correct others if they use this or any other type of stereotypical insults. Not only does it make them think, but it also show syou won't accpet it! Continue to spread the Love, and God will continue to take care of you!
Report This
By: jamie on 9/30/2009 11:36AM
That word is used by blacks more than any other race. Oh and by the way did you see them in Chicago beating an honor student? Just like them to kill someone doing something better in life than themselves.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Yhda on 9/30/2009 6:28AM
It is just too bad that white people teach their children to carry on their legacy of hate. What crimes did the black people do to deserve what their ancestors went through. You just have to be born in Anerica of color to be put in the category of the N.... word. What will the white people call their children. At this rate many of them look of color. I guess they will hate them too..........
Look at our president, is he not an honor for both races???????
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: breeze on 9/30/2009 6:59AM
...And what exactly did my Native American ancestors do to be treated so poorly, for that matter? It's not like blacks were the only ones. You just have to move past that...it's not like you were there anyway. Quit using the race card and the 'my ancestors were treated like crap' card. It's old and pathetic.
Plus, everytime I hear the 'n' word used, it's being used by a black person.
Report This
By: J Peacock on 9/30/2009 7:00AM
I am a white middle class male and I would never teach my children hate we are not racist and I don't like the idea that you are clumping all white people into this narrow minded uneducated class of people. That is how racizum is spread I have black relitives and black friends I have never been accused of being racist and I never will. I feel that the N word is a totaly unneeded word and should be banned from the english language. The first step is to stop blacks from useing it in music and as a term of brotherhood in the everyday speech. I hope that something can be done to change the world and the way we treat other people we may have different cultures but we all are human.
Report This
By: Qtztutz@aol.com on 9/30/2009 7:49AM
I agree with "breeze". Drop the rock! Move on.
Report This
By: renuelcrow on 9/30/2009 7:54AM
Of course there are "white" people who teach hate--there are "black" people who teach hate, there are "latin" people who teach hate--all people have those who are evil and hate. The hip hop community teaches hate in a far more far reaching manner. If the Klan put their hate filled messages to music would it be called "art" and the expression of a "culture"?? I would surely hope not--but then I never dreamed any "community" would embrace the hate and degradation of Hip Hop.
Report This