Since We’re Just Throwing The Word Around…

October 7th, 2011 by Latoya Peterson

Wyatt Cenac breaks down racism in American geography, pointing out that Rick Perry’s dumb ass ranch is only the tip of our racially charged cartographic iceberg:

Stewart: Wyatt, what does this say about America?

Cenac: (yelling) It says there aren’t enough black people making maps!

That’s my new answer to everything.

Triple Awesome Score for the America the Beautiful remix. Lord, Wyatt’s going to make me start DVRing The Daily Show again…

Next week, we will discuss why it’s not just about the damn word, but I’m too burned from the week to do it now. Also, file under things to look up when we have time – why “fuck” is bleeped out on TV, but nigger is cool. I’ve been wondering that since the Chappelle’s Show, and then the Boondocks, so at some point, I need to get an answer.

Posted in everyday racism, history, humor, racism | 9 comments

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  • Ike

    As a fellow native Texan who now lives in the northeast, I agree with Wyatt’s statement that there is racism all over the country, not just in “the South”.

  • k.eli

    My great home state of Florida also has a place called Negrotown Knoll. I believe the place is pretty much abandoned now but that didn’t stop Google Maps from listing it anyway.

  • k.eli

    My great home state of Florida also has a place called Negrotown Knoll. I believe the place is pretty much abandoned now but that didn’t stop Google Maps from listing it anyway.

  • Anonymous

    You must not read here very often – we use fuck way, way more than any other term. If I forgot to put quotes around both, it’s because I was typing it on a bus.

  • Tryptaminebutterfly

    There are a lot of place names that are not as obvious, as well.  Recently in my city, there was a big debate about whether or not to rename large sections of town.  The founder they were named after, it had been revealed to the white community by a local paper, was an early member of the KKK who may have benefited from the worst race riot in American history at the expense of affluent black people: http://thislandpress.com/09/01/2011/tate-brady-battle-greenwood/ I doubt the places that have been named after him will be renamed, but it makes me wonder how many other places have seemingly innocuous names that, when traced historically, honor the lives and actions of racists and bigots.

  • Tryptaminebutterfly

    There are a lot of place names that are not as obvious, as well.  Recently in my city, there was a big debate about whether or not to rename large sections of town.  The founder they were named after, it had been revealed to the white community by a local paper, was an early member of the KKK who may have benefited from the worst race riot in American history at the expense of affluent black people: http://thislandpress.com/09/01/2011/tate-brady-battle-greenwood/ I doubt the places that have been named after him will be renamed, but it makes me wonder how many other places have seemingly innocuous names that, when traced historically, honor the lives and actions of racists and bigots.

  • Tryptaminebutterfly

    There are a lot of place names that are not as obvious, as well.  Recently in my city, there was a big debate about whether or not to rename large sections of town.  The founder they were named after, it had been revealed to the white community by a local paper, was an early member of the KKK who may have benefited from the worst race riot in American history at the expense of affluent black people: http://thislandpress.com/09/01/2011/tate-brady-battle-greenwood/ I doubt the places that have been named after him will be renamed, but it makes me wonder how many other places have seemingly innocuous names that, when traced historically, honor the lives and actions of racists and bigots.

  • Anonymous

    LOL – happens all the time.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NQVPALVKL5MCK4HK2OZ276UL7I Alan

    I used to know someone who lived in Oregon who used to have this favorite trail to go hiking. The name of the place? “N**ger Tom Mountain.” Actually, it had recently been changed to “Black Tom Mountain.” But still…fucked up.