Preacherdannie writes:
so, what was said? was it really racist?
PJHarvey writes:
But, that's the point. You can't make people agree that you are not a racist because you "don't mean to be". It's THEIR decision if you offend, numbskull.
Basil writes:
I guess the Rotary membership door swings out as well as in.
rlockey writes:
If we would learn to ignore instead of making an issue out of nothing, racism might start to wane. Until then, nothing is changing. Ms. Nichols needs to lighten up. If she was offended, it would have been more adult like to simple pull Mr. Johnson aside, privately, afterwards and calming mention to him that he might want to use a different joke next time. Now, how hard would that have really been? Time to grow up and move forward.
jlc_62454#621340 writes:
in response to PJHarvey:
But, that's the point. You can't make people agree that you are not a racist because you "don't mean to be". It's THEIR decision if you offend, numbskull.
You can be offended by anything you choose to be offended by. If we have to live our life trying not to offend someone, then we would all have to just stay home, because some people can be offended by anything.
tkdmavrick#407157 writes:
Mike Tyson is not what one would call a "model citizen", so it is easy to imagine jokes about him. But the story itself doesn't indicate what was said, so people can't form an opinion, as to the comment by Joe Johnson really being racist, or Phyliss Nichols being overly sensitive.
I remember a video clip of a town council somewhere where they were discussing their budget, a while council member used the term "niggardly" referring to someone as "miserly". The black council member got highly offended because he thought the word referred to something racist. Who was ignorant? Should the black guy learn the correct meaning of the word? Should the white guy have beem more "sensitive" because the black guy was ignorant of the correct meaning?
Without further reporting no one can tell what was really said and meant.
Normal writes:
in response to PJHarvey:
But, that's the point. You can't make people agree that you are not a racist because you "don't mean to be". It's THEIR decision if you offend, numbskull.
I am deeply offended by your comment and am reporting it to the authorities.
rlockey writes:
in response to tkdmavrick#407157:
Mike Tyson is not what one would call a "model citizen", so it is easy to imagine jokes about him. But the story itself doesn't indicate what was said, so people can't form an opinion, as to the comment by Joe Johnson really being racist, or Phyliss Nichols being overly sensitive.
I remember a video clip of a town council somewhere where they were discussing their budget, a while council member used the term "niggardly" referring to someone as "miserly". The black council member got highly offended because he thought the word referred to something racist. Who was ignorant? Should the black guy learn the correct meaning of the word? Should the white guy have beem more "sensitive" because the black guy was ignorant of the correct meaning?
Without further reporting no one can tell what was really said and meant.
I'll take that thought further. Regardless of whatever was said, they were just words and meant as a joke. If we all would just Cowboy the xxxx up and grow up, we might move forward. Pitching a fit by storming out and resigning is about as childlike as you can get. Perhaps Ms. Nichols was not mature enough to hold the position she held and maybe now, someone who may be able to move forward will be appointed.
MDAlerts writes:
in response to rlockey:
If we would learn to ignore instead of making an issue out of nothing, racism might start to wane. Until then, nothing is changing. Ms. Nichols needs to lighten up. If she was offended, it would have been more adult like to simple pull Mr. Johnson aside, privately, afterwards and calming mention to him that he might want to use a different joke next time. Now, how hard would that have really been? Time to grow up and move forward.
You can't really tell her to lighten up if you don't know what was said. Also you cannot tell people what they should and should not be offended by. If they are offended, they are offended.
rlockey writes:
in response to MDAlerts:
You can't really tell her to lighten up if you don't know what was said. Also you cannot tell people what they should and should not be offended by. If they are offended, they are offended.
I never said she shouldn't have been offended. Storming off and resigning was childish. This could have and should have been handled more maturely. Offended has different meaning to all of us. Some, like myself, have a high tolerance and some do not. However, since there is no set level, we all need to learn how to handle and calmly inform the offending party how you feel. That is the adult way to handle this situation.
MDAlerts writes:
in response to rlockey:
I'll take that thought further. Regardless of whatever was said, they were just words and meant as a joke. If we all would just Cowboy the xxxx up and grow up, we might move forward. Pitching a fit by storming out and resigning is about as childlike as you can get. Perhaps Ms. Nichols was not mature enough to hold the position she held and maybe now, someone who may be able to move forward will be appointed.
I didn't read anything in the article that indicated she "stormed out" or "pitched a fit". She made a personal decision that this club was not a good fit for her and even paid her respects to the organization as a whole. Calm down.
papabob writes:
in response to rlockey:
If we would learn to ignore instead of making an issue out of nothing, racism might start to wane. Until then, nothing is changing. Ms. Nichols needs to lighten up. If she was offended, it would have been more adult like to simple pull Mr. Johnson aside, privately, afterwards and calming mention to him that he might want to use a different joke next time. Now, how hard would that have really been? Time to grow up and move forward.
rlockey,I agree with you in substance but not in principle.
Untill people learn that negative implications both ethnic and racial are offensive to others,we won't move very far forward.
Maybe some are just too sensitive,but that is just the way life. I would say that many are just too insensitive.
I grew up in a small town with many diferent nationalities and ethnic groups.
The best way to get your chops busted was to denigrate someone because of where their parents or grandparents came from or their manner of speech.The chop busting didn't come from the offended,it came from your parents.
We called it just plain old good manners or courtesy to not carry our prejudices out on the street.That is what seems to be missing here.
Of course that seems to be missing in a great part of our "American" culture. "In your face" is the name of the game today.
"Get over it" is always the answer unless we are the ones told to "get over it."
I would say to Mr Johnson; "This is the twenty first century,not the nineteenth ot early twentieth,so get over it."
rlockey writes:
in response to MDAlerts:
I didn't read anything in the article that indicated she "stormed out" or "pitched a fit". She made a personal decision that this club was not a good fit for her and even paid her respects to the organization as a whole. Calm down.
"Phyllis Y. Nichols walked out after speaker and businessman Joe Johnson made a reference to fighter Mike Tyson and used what she thought was a stereotypical mockery of the black dialect."
This, to me, states that she got up before he finished his speech (or maybe after but left early all the same). It's ok to get offended but we have to effectively communicate the point if we want anything to change.
No need to ask me to calm down, I'm not excited or riled. I'm just voicing an opinion. I'm sorry if you are offended by my opinion or comments. Please feel free to skip over any further posts I may leave on this subject. That will not offend me in the least.
Enjoy your weekend!
stopignorance writes:
"reference to fighter Mike Tyson and used what she considered stereotypical mockery of the black dialect"
IF he was talking like Mike Tyson it was probably more mockery of the female voice! Mike Tyson sounds like a girl or small child when he talks. Everybody makes fun of Mike's voice and it has nothing to do with his skin color!! Its because he is a large male boxer with a female voice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
rlockey writes:
in response to papabob:
rlockey,I agree with you in substance but not in principle.
Untill people learn that negative implications both ethnic and racial are offensive to others,we won't move very far forward.
Maybe some are just too sensitive,but that is just the way life. I would say that many are just too insensitive.
I grew up in a small town with many diferent nationalities and ethnic groups.
The best way to get your chops busted was to denigrate someone because of where their parents or grandparents came from or their manner of speech.The chop busting didn't come from the offended,it came from your parents.
We called it just plain old good manners or courtesy to not carry our prejudices out on the street.That is what seems to be missing here.
Of course that seems to be missing in a great part of our "American" culture. "In your face" is the name of the game today.
"Get over it" is always the answer unless we are the ones told to "get over it."
I would say to Mr Johnson; "This is the twenty first century,not the nineteenth ot early twentieth,so get over it."
We are in agreement. I myself do not think I could be offended by much of anything said at a meeting not said to be purposely abusive. Then again, that's just me. I was toughened on the streets as a Firefighter/Paramedic (as I am sure you knew) so I know I have a thicker skin than most but many people today have some serious issues with effective adult communications. Not sure what the answer is but until we all learn to get along and communicate, we will continue to have these issues.
rlockey writes:
in response to stopignorance:
"reference to fighter Mike Tyson and used what she considered stereotypical mockery of the black dialect"
IF he was talking like Mike Tyson it was probably more mockery of the female voice! Mike Tyson sounds like a girl or small child when he talks. Everybody makes fun of Mike's voice and it has nothing to do with his skin color!! Its because he is a large male boxer with a female voice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've actually heard Mike Tyson make fun of his higher pitched voice before. Nothing new there.
MDAlerts writes:
in response to rlockey:
"Phyllis Y. Nichols walked out after speaker and businessman Joe Johnson made a reference to fighter Mike Tyson and used what she thought was a stereotypical mockery of the black dialect."
This, to me, states that she got up before he finished his speech (or maybe after but left early all the same). It's ok to get offended but we have to effectively communicate the point if we want anything to change.
No need to ask me to calm down, I'm not excited or riled. I'm just voicing an opinion. I'm sorry if you are offended by my opinion or comments. Please feel free to skip over any further posts I may leave on this subject. That will not offend me in the least.
Enjoy your weekend!
still didn't read anything in the quoted text that said she "stormed" out or "pitched a fit"....but I guess you can infer whatever you like to fit with your opinion of the situation.
You have a great weekend too!
rlockey writes:
in response to MDAlerts:
still didn't read anything in the quoted text that said she "stormed" out or "pitched a fit"....but I guess you can infer whatever you like to fit with your opinion of the situation.
You have a great weekend too!
No inference intended, we just have two different reading comprehension standards. Guess this article could have been written clearer but that's not a usual characteristic of a newspaper article. I appreciate your opinion and thank you for sharing yours with me as well.
red210 writes:
I bet Nichols, has a chip! and more than likely loves to use the word "racist". People that use that word ALOT needs to check them self!!!...
TN_Engineer writes:
My college having a black alumni group, but not a white or hispanic alumni group offends me.
rlockey writes:
in response to TN_Engineer:
My college having a black alumni group, but not a white or hispanic alumni group offends me.
Have you done anything to change this? Would you be an active member if they did?
5_and_15 writes:
I propose a new rule: when making fun of either Mike Tyson or Brittany Spears, you can say whatever you darn well please.
rlockey writes:
When I have the occasion to speak publicly and need a joke or humorous story, I frequently use myself as the subject (believe me, there is plenty of material to chose from). Hard to get offended when the speaker is making fun of himself. This is something a fellow North Carolinian, Andy Griffin, learned a long time before I started doing it.
docholliday1954 writes:
I am offended Cobbins is still breathing!
oldgrouch writes:
There a many cases where a white group of anything would be racist. those of other races wants it all there way.
rlockey writes:
in response to docholliday1954:
I am offended Cobbins is still breathing!
You got me on that one, I share that offense with you...
Sherry writes:
All I can say is "OH, BROTHER"!
Sherry writes:
I'm offended by the word luncheon. Do people really say that word without a smirk?
red210 writes:
in response to docholliday1954:
I am offended Cobbins is still breathing!
LMAO.
docholliday1954 writes:
in response to Sherry:
I'm offended by the word luncheon. Do people really say that word without a smirk?
I saw that word in the grocery store but it said meat right after it!
rlockey writes:
in response to docholliday1954:
I saw that word in the grocery store but it said meat right after it!
And you know what, I'm not sure the "meat" actually is. Now that's offensive on many levels...
docholliday1954 writes:
in response to rlockey:
And you know what, I'm not sure the "meat" actually is. Now that's offensive on many levels...
I guess I'm kinda offended you can only eat it for lunch!
rlockey writes:
in response to docholliday1954:
I guess I'm kinda offended you can only eat it for lunch!
That would be one the the levels...
Now, isn't it a lot funner to be "offended" and be able to talk/laugh about it than to leave a meeting and quit an important position over something someone else said?
Wish we all could just get along like man of us do on this website! Even when we occasionally get on each others nerves, we usually will still continue to talk to each other. Maybe it will be contagious one day.
hockeyham writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
EdB writes:
"speaker and businessman Joe Johnson made a reference to fighter Mike Tyson and used what she thought was a stereotypical mockery of the black dialect."
It sounds as if the speaker was simply talking like Mike Tyson and many (?most?) other blacks.
I speak American English with a Tennessee drawl, or so I'm told. I even like Jeff Foxworthy, and other comedians' 'mockery of my dialect'. I can laugh at myself and I don't hate on folks that tell it like they hear it. Why can't this black woman do the same?
Also, why can't this 'black dialect' be used by a white man? Could this lady be ... racist?
Wake up folks...
Sherry writes:
doc, Hi there, You have me laughing. You and the rlock man are too funny!
docholliday1954 writes:
in response to Sherry:
doc, Hi there, You have me laughing. You and the rlock man are too funny!
Hi Sherry ,happy to be of service!
rlockey writes:
in response to Sherry:
doc, Hi there, You have me laughing. You and the rlock man are too funny!
Evening Sherry! Glad we are keeping you amused. With all the heavy articles KNS has had all week, it's fun to have a less than serious one to start a playful rant on again. Please feel free to chime in any time!
EdB writes:
in response to rlockey:
Have you done anything to change this? Would you be an active member if they did?
I doubt that a whites-only group of ANY type could be formed today. Its racist, dontcha know.
There's a Miss Black America pageant, why not a Miss White America? How about a TV network exclusively for whites. Maybe name it WET. White restaurants? White clubs?
Why not?
goldmoon writes:
When I was a young adult, I attended a church that my then husband's parents belonged to. The preacher had attended our wedding, my MIL was his secretary. My maiden name is jewish. The preacher said, verbatum as I have never forgotten this, "There are three kinds of people. Those that do good when you are watching and those that do good when you aren't. They are (the church's denomination). There are those that do bad when you are watching and bad when you aren't. Those are athiests." While looking straight at me he continued, "And there are those that do good when you are watching and bad when you aren't. Those are Jews." I stood up and walked out. To my X's credit, he did too.
I can understand where this woman is coming from, BUT, Rotary is a fabulous international service organization that has done great things for people of all races, colors and creeds (would it be more politically correct to say ethninticities) all over the world. It is in no way a prejudiced organization. She may have been offended, but I agree with other posters, there are better ways to handle it. Instead of leaving this Rotary club, she should have taken it up with the speaker. I was but 19 when I walked out of that church, figured if the preacher felt that way, then the congregation did too. I know better now. You cannot paint everyone with the same wide brush strokes.
I do not know why KNS thought that this was newsworthy, and maybe, without the coverage, she might have slept on it and reversed her opinion. An apology for an offense, perceived or not, can go a long way.
docholliday1954 writes:
in response to EdB:
I doubt that a whites-only group of ANY type could be formed today. Its racist, dontcha know.
There's a Miss Black America pageant, why not a Miss White America? How about a TV network exclusively for whites. Maybe name it WET. White restaurants? White clubs?
Why not?
I do know of one whites only club! K.K.K. but everyone calls you the R word if you are a member!
rlockey writes:
in response to EdB:
I doubt that a whites-only group of ANY type could be formed today. Its racist, dontcha know.
There's a Miss Black America pageant, why not a Miss White America? How about a TV network exclusively for whites. Maybe name it WET. White restaurants? White clubs?
Why not?
Sad but there is a lot of truth to your statement. I think "WET" has been used before (possible in the 80s before rooftop satellites) but I doubt the bible belt would have allowed reception of that one for other reasons.
I've often wondered what would happen is a white man or woman asked to join the NAACP. Wonder if there is actually something in their bylaws that prohibits this from being allowed?
Sherry writes:
Hey doc, I'll bet the rlock says luncheon. What do you think? laughing...
I wonder what word red would use? Never mind. Laughing way too much.
Hey rlock at 5:28, I doubt it. Some people have no sense of humor.
docholliday1954 writes:
in response to Sherry:
Hey doc, I'll bet the rlock says luncheon. What do you think? laughing...
I wonder what word red would use? Never mind. Laughing way too much.
Hey rlock at 5:28, I doubt it. Some people have no sense of humor.
I don't know but he does know more than one level of why luncheon meat is wrong!
rlockey writes:
in response to goldmoon:
When I was a young adult, I attended a church that my then husband's parents belonged to. The preacher had attended our wedding, my MIL was his secretary. My maiden name is jewish. The preacher said, verbatum as I have never forgotten this, "There are three kinds of people. Those that do good when you are watching and those that do good when you aren't. They are (the church's denomination). There are those that do bad when you are watching and bad when you aren't. Those are athiests." While looking straight at me he continued, "And there are those that do good when you are watching and bad when you aren't. Those are Jews." I stood up and walked out. To my X's credit, he did too.
I can understand where this woman is coming from, BUT, Rotary is a fabulous international service organization that has done great things for people of all races, colors and creeds (would it be more politically correct to say ethninticities) all over the world. It is in no way a prejudiced organization. She may have been offended, but I agree with other posters, there are better ways to handle it. Instead of leaving this Rotary club, she should have taken it up with the speaker. I was but 19 when I walked out of that church, figured if the preacher felt that way, then the congregation did too. I know better now. You cannot paint everyone with the same wide brush strokes.
I do not know why KNS thought that this was newsworthy, and maybe, without the coverage, she might have slept on it and reversed her opinion. An apology for an offense, perceived or not, can go a long way.
I still say you and your husband should have asked for a meeting with the preacher and voiced your distain. For the record, I would have had the same feelings that you and you husband (yes I realize he is your X but he wasn't then). Bullies and bigots usually back down is actually confronted. Either that or I'm a lot more intimidating that I like to believe because I have never had anyone beat me up for calming talking to them about things that bother me. Thanks for sharing.
goldmoon writes:
in response to rlockey:
Sad but there is a lot of truth to your statement. I think "WET" has been used before (possible in the 80s before rooftop satellites) but I doubt the bible belt would have allowed reception of that one for other reasons.
I've often wondered what would happen is a white man or woman asked to join the NAACP. Wonder if there is actually something in their bylaws that prohibits this from being allowed?
I agree, I think most whites (caucasions? do they still use that word?) are offended by the double standard of racism. I have had those exact same thoughts, I think I will look up the NAACP and see if whites can join. But I doubt it cause whites aren't supposed to say "colored people" anymore. It is racisist don't ya know. Does anyone know if Knoxville College accepted whites? I always wondered about that. Don't get me wrong, I am not a racist. I just don't like double standards.
rlockey writes:
in response to Sherry:
Hey doc, I'll bet the rlock says luncheon. What do you think? laughing...
I wonder what word red would use? Never mind. Laughing way too much.
Hey rlock at 5:28, I doubt it. Some people have no sense of humor.
Nope, I don't use that word. I have trouble with long words, especially one's describing food of questionable origin.
Yes, I can think of a few with no sense of humor, especially your nemesis who was in rare form this morning, by the way. She really needs to increase her meds. The current level is not working for her.
jonathan#509413 writes:
From the article, it doesn't sound as if Ms. Nichols was offended by anything that Mr. Johnson actually SAID. Instead, it sounds as if she chose to jump to a conclusion that he was making fun of her race due to the way (affected dialect) in which he said it. As others have said, I believe that if Mr. Johnson was discussing Mike Tyson then there is a very good chance that he was simply mocking Tyson's individual voice/dialect. Tyson has a high voice, a bit of a lisp and often seems to go to pains to use big words - such as 'ludicrous' (which comes out sounding something like 'ludicruths'.) Making fun of an INDIVIDUAL who happens to be black does not, necessarily, equate to making fun of an entire race. The issue would really come down to the question of "Was Mr. Johnson making fun of him for being black or simply for being Mike Tyson?"
In his stand-up routine years ago, Damon Wayans (who is, of course, black) made fun of Mike Tyson's voice/dialect. Does that make him a rascist?
Some people ARE ridiculously sensitive and seem to be looking for reasons to be offended. Such individuals are as much a part of the 'race relations' problem as those who spout rascist views.
rlockey writes:
in response to jonathan#509413:
From the article, it doesn't sound as if Ms. Nichols was offended by anything that Mr. Johnson actually SAID. Instead, it sounds as if she chose to jump to a conclusion that he was making fun of her race due to the way (affected dialect) in which he said it. As others have said, I believe that if Mr. Johnson was discussing Mike Tyson then there is a very good chance that he was simply mocking Tyson's individual voice/dialect. Tyson has a high voice, a bit of a lisp and often seems to go to pains to use big words - such as 'ludicrous' (which comes out sounding something like 'ludicruths'.) Making fun of an INDIVIDUAL who happens to be black does not, necessarily, equate to making fun of an entire race. The issue would really come down to the question of "Was Mr. Johnson making fun of him for being black or simply for being Mike Tyson?"
In his stand-up routine years ago, Damon Wayans (who is, of course, black) made fun of Mike Tyson's voice/dialect. Does that make him a rascist?
Some people ARE ridiculously sensitive and seem to be looking for reasons to be offended. Such individuals are as much a part of the 'race relations' problem as those who spout rascist views.
Well said, thanks for your post!
us43137415#376444 writes:
Well, I see Knoxville's ignorant has had access to a computer keyboard again.....
Let's turn the tables.. What if it were a Black Person, who used a REDNECK dialect? How would you feel then?
What if it were a redneck who made a derogatory comment about the Jewish people? How should the Jewish people feel?
What if your child overheard an outright racist comment at school directed at them? How do you
feel?.. Wait, don't answer that, I already know the answer..... You'd drag the news media down to the principal's office and decry to the cameras how that child needs to be disciplined, not to mention the big stink you're planning to raise at the next school board meeting..
Unless you are black, you really don't know how embarrassing the reference could be to other black people.
But oh yeah, I forgot.. this is Knoxville, and you're ignorant.
When will culture and sensitivity FINALLY come to Knoxville?
oldjarhead writes:
I don't see how anyone could be offended by a mike tyson joke! He are one.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Something to NOT Misspell on a Street Sign in Atlanta
A City of Atlanta employee holds the misspelled sign that hung on the corner Vine and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009. The sign was replaced before noon. Johnny Crawford/jcrawford@ajc.com
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Obama Criticized No Matter What
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Why is it that anything the president does he is condemned for one reason or the other? What can he do that would please Helen Taylor, go to church and confess that he had a beer and it was offered to three adults, one of whom had a non-alcoholic beer? Let’s give him a chance to get it right. Bush had eight years, and we did not badger him the way Obama has been badgered. Come on, people, lighten up and wait and see what he can do. Stop the hatred, please.
Cecilia Henderson
Kingsport
Why is it that anything the president does he is condemned for one reason or the other? What can he do that would please Helen Taylor, go to church and confess that he had a beer and it was offered to three adults, one of whom had a non-alcoholic beer? Let’s give him a chance to get it right. Bush had eight years, and we did not badger him the way Obama has been badgered. Come on, people, lighten up and wait and see what he can do. Stop the hatred, please.
Cecilia Henderson
Kingsport
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Kingsport: An Impressive Destination Community
Jeff Fleming, Kingsport's City Manager for Development, sent this article from a publication in Asheville, North Carolina about the rising redevelopment of Kingsport's downtown, and its popularity.
A reminder... RIVERVIEW is part of Downtown Kingsport
CLICK ON THE ARTICLE TO ENLARGE IT TO READ
A reminder... RIVERVIEW is part of Downtown Kingsport
CLICK ON THE ARTICLE TO ENLARGE IT TO READ
Sunday, August 16, 2009
A Black Woman Caught in the City Park With No Place to Hide
Readers may write Gene Owens at 315 Lakeforest Circle, Anderson S.C. 29625 or e-mail him at WadesDixieco@AOL.com
Given the occasion for her arrest, it might be inappropriate to invite Lula Mae Battle to the White House for beer, but maybe a little sweet tea and banana pudding in the mayor’s office would help ease the hurt.
Ms. Battle was arrested in Mobile, Ala., on the morning of June 3 for ducking into some bushes for an emergency rest stop. She was 50 feet short of the comfort station she was headed toward after her bank denied her access to its restroom.
Ms. Battle is 81. She is black in a nation with a black president and was arrested in a city with a black mayor whose administration is defending the young white police cadet who called an officer to arrest her. This does not seem to be a racial matter. It’s more a matter of sensitivity toward the aged and infirm.
The scene of Ms. Battle’s ordeal was Bienville Square, an oasis of live oaks and azaleas in the heart of downtown Mobile. Mobilians who want to underscore their local roots like to boast that they were conceived under an azalea bush in Bienville Square during Mardi Gras (appropriately enough, the square is bordered by Conception Street).
I have walked the park many times, en route to lunch on restaurant-studded
Dauphin Street or to my bank on St. Joseph Street. I have walked past lunchtime
brown-baggers feeding their leftovers to squirrels and pigeons, avoided the eccentric preacher who consigned to hell all those whose understanding of scripture contradicted his, and averted my eyes when I saw scruffy men relieving themselves against live oaks. And I have availed myself of the city-maintained restroom under the bandstand in the middle of the park. It’s open during daylight hours for all to use.
The city has sought to curtail the tendency to use the live oaks as urinals. It has a police substation on the premises, where a cadet keeps watch on the behavior of its two-legged denizens. The substation is surrounded by bushes. It was in these bushes that Lula Mae Battle sought seclusion when her bladder told her, “Time’s up.” The alert police cadet spotted her in the act and called an officer.
The elderly lady pleaded with the cops not to take her to jail. She had a problem with incontinence, she told them. When her bank turned her away, she made for the comfort station in the square, but when she realized that she could hold out no longer she tried to hide in the bushes surrounding the substation.
“Should have worn Depends,” clucked some of the bloggers who responded to the story in the Mobile P r e s s - R e g i s t e r.
Maybe. But sometimes incontinence manifests itself unexpectedly when you haven’t had the foresight to wear absorbent underwear. Or maybe your money runs out before you have a chance to replenish your supply.
And maybe the cops should be trained to show empathy and solicitude toward the elderly.
Lula Mae Battle is not a wealthy Harvard professor with a friend in the Oval Office. She’s a simple black woman who lives with her niece in a predominantly black section of Mobile. She grew up in an Alabama where the people she knew ate poke sallet instead of arugula. She came of age in a South where people of her complexion were denied access to public accommodations that weren’t labeled “colored.” She was 28 years old when Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr. and their allies brought the Montgomery bus system to heel.
There were no portable johns beside the cotton fields of her youth, where rural laborers earned their beans and fatback. The trees and bushes on the fringes of the fields provided privacy for those who had to go. In her salad years, even white folks didn’t find restrooms conveniently arrayed along Interstate highways or in BP convenience stores or Hardee’s burger joints. When things got urgent along rural roads, they often pulled to the shoulder, made for a big tree or a clump of sparkleberry bushes off the right of way, and found relief.
Lula Mae Battle surely knows that those days are behind. That’s why she sought comfort in her bank. That’s why she tried to make it to that rest room in Bienville Square.
But when you’re nearly 82 years old and ancient muscles are not up to the task of controlling a full bladder, 50 feet is a long way to go.
What she did was an act of desperation. Yes, it was against the law. Yes, the law is a reasonable one. And, as Barbara Drummond, a black woman who speaks for Mobile Mayor Sam Jones, told me by e-mail, “We ... have empathy for her, but the police was doing their job.” So Ms. Battle, who has no record of previous arrests, was taken to the Mobile County Metro Jail. She was booked and released under $500 bond. She is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 15 to answer charges of public lewdness. I agree that it’s the job of police to enforce the law and, in this case, to keep a public park clean and presentable. I also think it’s their job to use understanding and discretion in dealing with weaker members of our society, and especially those who have reached an advanced age. As Lula Mae Battle put it: “When you got to go, you got to go.” How about that sweet tea and banana pudding, Mayor Jones?
Given the occasion for her arrest, it might be inappropriate to invite Lula Mae Battle to the White House for beer, but maybe a little sweet tea and banana pudding in the mayor’s office would help ease the hurt.
Ms. Battle was arrested in Mobile, Ala., on the morning of June 3 for ducking into some bushes for an emergency rest stop. She was 50 feet short of the comfort station she was headed toward after her bank denied her access to its restroom.
Ms. Battle is 81. She is black in a nation with a black president and was arrested in a city with a black mayor whose administration is defending the young white police cadet who called an officer to arrest her. This does not seem to be a racial matter. It’s more a matter of sensitivity toward the aged and infirm.
The scene of Ms. Battle’s ordeal was Bienville Square, an oasis of live oaks and azaleas in the heart of downtown Mobile. Mobilians who want to underscore their local roots like to boast that they were conceived under an azalea bush in Bienville Square during Mardi Gras (appropriately enough, the square is bordered by Conception Street).
I have walked the park many times, en route to lunch on restaurant-studded
Dauphin Street or to my bank on St. Joseph Street. I have walked past lunchtime
brown-baggers feeding their leftovers to squirrels and pigeons, avoided the eccentric preacher who consigned to hell all those whose understanding of scripture contradicted his, and averted my eyes when I saw scruffy men relieving themselves against live oaks. And I have availed myself of the city-maintained restroom under the bandstand in the middle of the park. It’s open during daylight hours for all to use.
The city has sought to curtail the tendency to use the live oaks as urinals. It has a police substation on the premises, where a cadet keeps watch on the behavior of its two-legged denizens. The substation is surrounded by bushes. It was in these bushes that Lula Mae Battle sought seclusion when her bladder told her, “Time’s up.” The alert police cadet spotted her in the act and called an officer.
The elderly lady pleaded with the cops not to take her to jail. She had a problem with incontinence, she told them. When her bank turned her away, she made for the comfort station in the square, but when she realized that she could hold out no longer she tried to hide in the bushes surrounding the substation.
“Should have worn Depends,” clucked some of the bloggers who responded to the story in the Mobile P r e s s - R e g i s t e r.
Maybe. But sometimes incontinence manifests itself unexpectedly when you haven’t had the foresight to wear absorbent underwear. Or maybe your money runs out before you have a chance to replenish your supply.
And maybe the cops should be trained to show empathy and solicitude toward the elderly.
Lula Mae Battle is not a wealthy Harvard professor with a friend in the Oval Office. She’s a simple black woman who lives with her niece in a predominantly black section of Mobile. She grew up in an Alabama where the people she knew ate poke sallet instead of arugula. She came of age in a South where people of her complexion were denied access to public accommodations that weren’t labeled “colored.” She was 28 years old when Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr. and their allies brought the Montgomery bus system to heel.
There were no portable johns beside the cotton fields of her youth, where rural laborers earned their beans and fatback. The trees and bushes on the fringes of the fields provided privacy for those who had to go. In her salad years, even white folks didn’t find restrooms conveniently arrayed along Interstate highways or in BP convenience stores or Hardee’s burger joints. When things got urgent along rural roads, they often pulled to the shoulder, made for a big tree or a clump of sparkleberry bushes off the right of way, and found relief.
Lula Mae Battle surely knows that those days are behind. That’s why she sought comfort in her bank. That’s why she tried to make it to that rest room in Bienville Square.
But when you’re nearly 82 years old and ancient muscles are not up to the task of controlling a full bladder, 50 feet is a long way to go.
What she did was an act of desperation. Yes, it was against the law. Yes, the law is a reasonable one. And, as Barbara Drummond, a black woman who speaks for Mobile Mayor Sam Jones, told me by e-mail, “We ... have empathy for her, but the police was doing their job.” So Ms. Battle, who has no record of previous arrests, was taken to the Mobile County Metro Jail. She was booked and released under $500 bond. She is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 15 to answer charges of public lewdness. I agree that it’s the job of police to enforce the law and, in this case, to keep a public park clean and presentable. I also think it’s their job to use understanding and discretion in dealing with weaker members of our society, and especially those who have reached an advanced age. As Lula Mae Battle put it: “When you got to go, you got to go.” How about that sweet tea and banana pudding, Mayor Jones?
Monday, August 10, 2009
Subject: SAGGIN PANTS
Saggin Pants
Pass this on to Our Youth, Our Parents, Our Black Men and Women
Letter from a college student
The other day, a friend of mine visited me in the lobby of my dorm just to chat while her laundry was drying. As we were chatting, two young freshmen came by. One of the 2 boys wanted to 'talk' to my friend (as in date). She asked him how old they were, and both of the boys replied 18. My friend and I both laughed hysterically because we are both 22 years old.
After my friend left, the young men were still hanging around and one wanted to know how he could gain her interest.
The first thing I told him to do was to pull up his pants! He asked why, and then said he liked saggin ' his pants. I told him to come over to my computer and spell the word saggin'. Then I told him to write the word saggin ' backwards.
S-A-G-G-I-N
N-I-G-G-A-S
I told him the origin of that look was from centuries ago. It was the intent of slave owners to demoralize the field workers by forbidding them to wear a belt as they worked in the fields or at any other rigorous job. In addition, men in prison wore their pants low when they were 'spoken for'. The other reason their pants looked like that was they were not allowed to have belts because prisoners were likely to try to commit suicide. And, saggin' pants prevents you from running.
We as young Black people have to be the ones to effect change. We are dying. The media has made a mockery of the Black American. Even our brothers and sisters from Africa don't take us seriously. Something as simple as pulling up your pants and standing with your head held high could make the biggest difference in the world's perception of us. It is time to do right by ourselves. We need to love and embrace each other. No one is going to do that for us.
It all comes down to perception. What people perceive is what reality to them is. We have to change not only the media's perception of us, but we need to change our perception of ourselves.
Remember all eyes are on you Black Man. All eyes are on you Black Woman. All eyes are on your Black Child. People point the finger at us and expect us to engage in negative and illegal activities, to manifest loud, boisterous behavior, to spend our hard earned money in their stores, buying goods we don't need, or really want. We have allowed not only the media, but the government and the world to portray us as a 'sub-culture. ' They have stripped our culture down to the point where the image of Black people is perpetuated as rappers, athletes, drug users, and consumers of junk food, expensive tennis shoes, expensive cars, expensive TVs, cell phones and not investing in homes for our families.
We are so much more!!!!!!!
To all our Black Men: It's time to stand up. There are billions of Black Women who want to do nothing more than worship the ground that you walk on. We are so in love with your potential. We want to have your back, we want to love, support20and cherish every ounce of your being. But with that you have to show that you are willing to be the head of our households. You have to prove yourselves worthy of our submission. We need you to be hard working...Not a hustler. We need you to seek higher education, to seek spirituality. We need you to stand! And trust us; we will have your back. We know that it gets hard. We know you get weary. Trust and believe that there is nothing that a Black Man and a Black Woman can't handle with GOD on their side.
To all our Black Women: It is also time for you to stand up. It is time for you to stop using our bodies as our primary form of communication. It is time to be that virtuous woman that Proverbs spoke of. You cannot sit by the wayside while our men are dying by the masses. You are the epitome of Black Love. It starts within you. You need to speak with conviction to let not only our Black Men know, but the world, that you are the Mothers of this world. You are so powerful. You are so beautiful. You need to love and embrace every blessing God has given us physically, emotionally and spiritually.
For all our Black Children: We need to love them. We need to teach them. We need to stand up for them. We need to protect them. We need to show them that there are no 'get rich quick' schemes. We need to tell them that they WILL die trying if they submit to a life of crime and deceit. We need to teach our children that no one will love them the way we can. And be ing a basketball player, a rapper, or a drug dealer is not reality. It's not realistic and only a small percentage of people ever make it as a rapper or professional athlete. We need to teach our children that we can be more than rappers and athletes. We can be the owners of these sports teams. We can be the CEO's of OUR fortune 500 companies. We need to believe in literacy.
Please Keep This Going & Have a wonderful day
Pass this on to Our Youth, Our Parents, Our Black Men and Women
Letter from a college student
The other day, a friend of mine visited me in the lobby of my dorm just to chat while her laundry was drying. As we were chatting, two young freshmen came by. One of the 2 boys wanted to 'talk' to my friend (as in date). She asked him how old they were, and both of the boys replied 18. My friend and I both laughed hysterically because we are both 22 years old.
After my friend left, the young men were still hanging around and one wanted to know how he could gain her interest.
The first thing I told him to do was to pull up his pants! He asked why, and then said he liked saggin ' his pants. I told him to come over to my computer and spell the word saggin'. Then I told him to write the word saggin ' backwards.
S-A-G-G-I-N
N-I-G-G-A-S
I told him the origin of that look was from centuries ago. It was the intent of slave owners to demoralize the field workers by forbidding them to wear a belt as they worked in the fields or at any other rigorous job. In addition, men in prison wore their pants low when they were 'spoken for'. The other reason their pants looked like that was they were not allowed to have belts because prisoners were likely to try to commit suicide. And, saggin' pants prevents you from running.
We as young Black people have to be the ones to effect change. We are dying. The media has made a mockery of the Black American. Even our brothers and sisters from Africa don't take us seriously. Something as simple as pulling up your pants and standing with your head held high could make the biggest difference in the world's perception of us. It is time to do right by ourselves. We need to love and embrace each other. No one is going to do that for us.
It all comes down to perception. What people perceive is what reality to them is. We have to change not only the media's perception of us, but we need to change our perception of ourselves.
Remember all eyes are on you Black Man. All eyes are on you Black Woman. All eyes are on your Black Child. People point the finger at us and expect us to engage in negative and illegal activities, to manifest loud, boisterous behavior, to spend our hard earned money in their stores, buying goods we don't need, or really want. We have allowed not only the media, but the government and the world to portray us as a 'sub-culture. ' They have stripped our culture down to the point where the image of Black people is perpetuated as rappers, athletes, drug users, and consumers of junk food, expensive tennis shoes, expensive cars, expensive TVs, cell phones and not investing in homes for our families.We are so much more!!!!!!!
To all our Black Men: It's time to stand up. There are billions of Black Women who want to do nothing more than worship the ground that you walk on. We are so in love with your potential. We want to have your back, we want to love, support20and cherish every ounce of your being. But with that you have to show that you are willing to be the head of our households. You have to prove yourselves worthy of our submission. We need you to be hard working...Not a hustler. We need you to seek higher education, to seek spirituality. We need you to stand! And trust us; we will have your back. We know that it gets hard. We know you get weary. Trust and believe that there is nothing that a Black Man and a Black Woman can't handle with GOD on their side.
To all our Black Women: It is also time for you to stand up. It is time for you to stop using our bodies as our primary form of communication. It is time to be that virtuous woman that Proverbs spoke of. You cannot sit by the wayside while our men are dying by the masses. You are the epitome of Black Love. It starts within you. You need to speak with conviction to let not only our Black Men know, but the world, that you are the Mothers of this world. You are so powerful. You are so beautiful. You need to love and embrace every blessing God has given us physically, emotionally and spiritually.
For all our Black Children: We need to love them. We need to teach them. We need to stand up for them. We need to protect them. We need to show them that there are no 'get rich quick' schemes. We need to tell them that they WILL die trying if they submit to a life of crime and deceit. We need to teach our children that no one will love them the way we can. And be ing a basketball player, a rapper, or a drug dealer is not reality. It's not realistic and only a small percentage of people ever make it as a rapper or professional athlete. We need to teach our children that we can be more than rappers and athletes. We can be the owners of these sports teams. We can be the CEO's of OUR fortune 500 companies. We need to believe in literacy.
Please Keep This Going & Have a wonderful day
MAXINE HAS ALL THE ANSWERS...
FROM FLOYD PERRY:
Everyone concentrates on the problems we're having in this country lately --- illegal immigration, hurricane recovery, alligators attacking people in Florida...... Not me --- I concentrate on solutions for the problems -- it's a win-win situation.
* Dig a moat the length of the Mexican border.
* Send the dirt to New Orleans to raise the level of the levees.
* Put the Florida alligators in the moat along the Mexican border.
Any other problems you would like for me to solve today? Yes !
Think about this:
1. Cows
2. The Constitution
3. The Ten Commandments
I just love this one!
COWS
Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that during the mad cow epidemic our government could track a single cow, born in Canada almost three years ago, right to the stall where she slept in the state of Washington? And, they tracked her calves to their stalls. But they are unable to locate 11 million illegal aliens wandering around our country. Maybe we should give each of them a cow...
THE CONSTITUTION
They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq .... Why don't we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it has worked for over 200 years, and we're not using it anymore.
THE 10 COMMANDMENTS
The real reason that we can't have the Ten Commandments posted in a courthouse is this -- you cannot post 'Thou Shall Not Steal' 'Thou Shall Not Commit Adultery' and 'Thou Shall Not Lie' in a building full of lawyers, judges and politicians ... It creates a hostile work environment.
Also, think about this ... If you don't want to forward this for fear of offending someone -- YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM!
It is time for America to speak up!
Everyone concentrates on the problems we're having in this country lately --- illegal immigration, hurricane recovery, alligators attacking people in Florida...... Not me --- I concentrate on solutions for the problems -- it's a win-win situation.
* Dig a moat the length of the Mexican border.
* Send the dirt to New Orleans to raise the level of the levees.
* Put the Florida alligators in the moat along the Mexican border.
Any other problems you would like for me to solve today? Yes !
Think about this:
1. Cows
2. The Constitution
3. The Ten Commandments
I just love this one!
COWS
Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that during the mad cow epidemic our government could track a single cow, born in Canada almost three years ago, right to the stall where she slept in the state of Washington? And, they tracked her calves to their stalls. But they are unable to locate 11 million illegal aliens wandering around our country. Maybe we should give each of them a cow...
THE CONSTITUTION
They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq .... Why don't we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it has worked for over 200 years, and we're not using it anymore.
THE 10 COMMANDMENTS
The real reason that we can't have the Ten Commandments posted in a courthouse is this -- you cannot post 'Thou Shall Not Steal' 'Thou Shall Not Commit Adultery' and 'Thou Shall Not Lie' in a building full of lawyers, judges and politicians ... It creates a hostile work environment.
Also, think about this ... If you don't want to forward this for fear of offending someone -- YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM!
It is time for America to speak up!
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