Monday, March 21, 2016

She Was Told This Was Racist(because everything is)

I often get asked about my lantern footman sitting in my front yard. I've had black people say you shouldn't have that out that way "it makes people think you are a racist" I laugh, or "its offensive to white people" again I laugh and then explain what the significance of the lantern footman really is.
Im really amazed at how a lot of people don't know the real meaning behind these statues, so they vandalize them, bitch about them being racist, etc. When the image of a black 'footman' with a lantern signified the home was a stop on the Underground Railroad. These are largely a northern thing, and weren't commonly found in the South until after WWII when northerners moved there and brought this custom with them. The clothing of the statue was also coded. A striped jockey's shirt meant that this was a place to swap horses, while a footman in a tailed coat meant overnight lodgings/food, and a blue sailor's waistcoat meant the homeowner could take you to a port and get you on a ship to Canada. I always laugh when I hear black folks talk about how racist these are, because honestly, the cats who had them were likely the LEAST racist. Later, these came back into popularity after WWII, and they were again coded to show the white homeowners supported early civil rights efforts, weren't Klan, etc.
By-Sandra Dee McNair

27 comments:

  1. We do not permit anyone to post insulting, personal remarks directed at other bloggers here. Public figures, of course Shaw Keawe is exempt from those rules.

    ReplyDelete
  2. "Life is a tragedy to him who feels [like a leftist]. but a comedy to him who thinks [like a conservative]".

    ~ Horace Walpole (emended by FT ;-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Apparently, she's full of it


      But this is the type of thing that happens on right wing blogs.

      Delete
    2. It's perspective. Your link didn't disprove what the article ,written by an African American,states

      Delete
    3. It's perspective. Your link didn't disprove what the article ,written by an African American,states

      Delete
    4. "Neither the Revolutionary War nor the Civil War legends are corroborated by historical records."

      I'd say that casts serious doubt on the claim, Lisa.

      Delete
    5. Mairzy doats and dozy doats
      
And liddle lamzy divey
      
A kiddley divey too,

      Wooden shoe?


      (Repeat)

      

If the words sound queer and funny to your ear,
      
A little bit jumbled and jivey,
      
Sing "Mares eat oats and does eat oats
      
And little lambs eat ivy.

      "

Oh mairzy doats and dozy doats

      And liddle lamzy divey

      A kiddley divey too,
      
Wooden shoe?



      Oh mairzy doats and dozy doats

      And liddle lamzy divey
      
A kiddley divey too, a kiddley divey too,
      
A kiddley divey too... Wooden shoe?

      Delete
  3. Replies
    1. Thanks, Lisa! Gotts keep that one little candle burning somehow. ;-)

      Delete
  4. I don't know Lisa - half of Harlem must think you are renting rooms.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Replies
    1. Of course not Lisa. Everyone knows that. It's a given.

      Delete
    2. At Les Carpenter's soft, fallen ass

      Not one person would dare make a pass.
      
It's flesh shriveled and sank

      And my God how it stank!

      What a burden for him 'twas, Alas!

      Delete
  6. Trump is actually the only candidate I trust with the bomb...because it should be used.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. To bomb your hideout redass. We're sure as hell on board with that.

      Delete
    2. A jerkoff who deemed himself rational
      Made of his life a poor hash. And all
      He could do after that
      Was sit on his prat
      And bash those who still had their cash and all.

      Delete
    3. I do feel your pain FreeThinke. It must be a bi*ch being you and down on your luck and all. But don't worry FreeThinke, it will all work out for you I'm sure.

      BTW, I'll be pulling for you to have a good life in your old age.

      Delete
    4. Ha ha ha! Ho ho ho
      ___ and a couple of Tra la la's
      that's how we laugh the day away
      ___ in the merry old land of Oz
      Bzzz bzzz bzzz! Chirp chirp chirp!
      ___ and a couple of la-di-da's
      That's how the crickets crick all day
      ___ in the merry old land of Oz

      We get up at twelve
      ___ and start to work at one
      Take an hour for lunch,
      ___ and then a two we're done
      Jolly good fun!

      Ha ha ha! Ho ho ho
      ___ and a couple of Tra la la's
      that's how we laugh the day away
      ___ in the merry old land of
      ______ merry old land of
      _________ Merry Old Land of Oz!

      Delete
  7. Here's an interesting tidbit.B&G foods the distributor of that yummy breakfast cereal Cream of Wheat has announced that to honor Barack Obama as he leaves office they will replace the current likeness of the beloved Rastus on the front panel of the cereal box with a picture of Obama.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And Gorilla Glue will replace its ape with the Mooch!

      Delete
  8. The problem is that racists wouldn't know racism if it bit them in the ass.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pookie Toot-Toot, you wouldn't know if a cobra bit your behind.

      Delete
  9. Did not know that Lisa. Beautiful

    ReplyDelete