Proper use of the name “Negro”

by YankeeJim | October 7, 2011 at 05:16 am

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Rick Perry is jawing about the name of his hunting lodge, “Niggerhead,” that he eventually painted over, he said. Who named it that? Who painted that sign? What was the purpose?

There is a mountain in West Virginia called Negro Mountain. It is in coal country. Given that coal is black, did someone name the mountain because it appeared black? Why was it called “Negro”

Is “negro” a bad name?

When I was raised in north central Ohio, there were no Negroes, no colored people of any kind. The only black character that I knew was “Little Black Sambo,” and he ate pancakes. I think he was from India.

My town and my culture included Quakers. Quakers hosted the Underground Railroad in my part of Ohio. The “coloreds” or the “negroes” settled in a nearby town where trains came through.

When we moved to the city, a boy next door became my best friend. He was a handsome kid with a little dark complexion like his mother. His brother was a little darker. His dad was white. One day, he took me to his aunts’ house and introduced me to two lovely black women. My best friend was black and white.

I was taught not look at people as a race as much as seeing them as persons.

In my Mother’s family who came from deep southern Virginia, her family lived on an old plantation where there were Negroes and Cherokees all living together. Her family was mixed, and while they were predominantly white, there were exceptions and as rule, people didn’t judge one another by their color, more by how hard they worked.

Here is a story about an entire mountain named “Negro,” more than just a rock at a hunting lodge.

“The Naming of Negro Mountain. Nemesis, a black frontiersman, was killed here while fighting Indians with Maryland frontiersman Thomas Cresap in the 1750s. Legend tells us that he had a premonition of his death. In his honor, they named this mountain after him.”

“ne·gro/ˈnēgrō/

Noun:

A member of a dark-skinned group of peoples originally native to Africa south of the Sahara.

Adjective:

Of or relating to such people.

Synonyms:

black – darkey”

“Negro Mountain Summit - West Virginia Mountain Peak Information

Negro Mountain Details

Negro Mountain is a mountain summit in Monroe County in the state of West Virginia (WV). Negro Mountain climbs to 2,835 feet (864.11 meters) above sea level. Negro Mountain is located at latitude - longitude coordinates (also called lat - long coordinates or GPS coordinates) of N 37.644013 and W -80.290341.

Anyone attempting to climb Negro Mountain and reach the summit should look for detailed information on the Negro Mountain area in the topographic map (topo map) and the Glace USGS quad. To hike and explore the West Virginia outdoors near Negro Mountain, check the list of nearby trails.

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“

Negro Mountain
The Highest Point on the National Road

Inscription. You have reached the highest point on the National Road. Here, in the far western mountains of Maryland is the backbone of eastern America. In 1817, the National Road construction crew took on the challenge of crossing this tough terrain by laying a crushed stone road surface and building a stone bridge over nearby Puzzley Run.

By the 1930s, the National Road evolved into an asphalt and concrete ribbon. This improved road surface inspired a new generation of travelers to “hit the road,” and a new road culture began to emerge. Although the curves were straightened, and the grade a bit gentler, travel was still tough over Negro Mountain.

At almost 3000 feet, this is the highest point on the National Road through all six states. Descending Negro Mountain required early drivers to pay close attention to their brakes.

High Point camp catered to travelers that commonly packed camping gear and joined other auto campers in grounds provided by entrepreneurs.

The Naming of Negro Mountain. Nemesis, a black frontiersman, was killed here while fighting Indians with Maryland frontiersman Thomas Cresap in the 1750s. Legend tells us that he had a premonition of his death. In his honor, they named this mountain after him.”"

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YankeeJim

at 05:28 on October 7th, 2011

In Memory of Mike McCandless, Lance Corporal, Killed in Vietnam, 1968

"thirty-aught-six" (not verified)

at 11:24 on October 7th, 2011

One rock with the word niggerhead painted on it, buried knee deep in grass some place in Texas, doesn't represent racism in America to me. Or racism as being Republican. Or proof that Perry is a racist.

What it proves to me, is that the racist card is so worn out from use that Democrats have to dig deeper and ever deeper to find ways to bring it back from the dead.

Democrats have broken all the windows in the glass menagerie of their idealism. And every now and then the sun shines on some broken fragment of glass lying on the ground. Democrats like groundhogs in spring, see their shadow, frightened, rush to their stone piles gathering fistfuls, firing blindly into the dilapidated, shattered remains. As the last of the stones are cast at the mirage Democrats hold as an idealism they clasp hands, hug, cry, rejoice in their victory. And before the dawn of a new day rises Democrats are out collecting stones and piling them near. Prepared for the time when they next give name to the shadows.

YankeeJim

at 11:57 on October 7th, 2011

I'll stick with my story.

"thirty-aught-six" (not verified)

at 12:07 on October 7th, 2011

Of course you will, because you have found the proper use for the word. LOL.

"thirty-aught-six" (not verified)

at 14:20 on October 7th, 2011

Around North Carolina alone there's Nigger Bay, which lies between Swan Island and Currituck Banks in northeast Currituck County. Nigger Head, a mountain on the Clay-Macon County line, climbs to 4,900 ft. Niggerhead Creek rises in east Union County and flows into northwest Richardson Creek. Nigger Mountain, also known by its proper name, Mount Jefferson, is in Ashe County. Niggerskull Creek rises in central Jackson County and flows southwest into Tuckasegee River.

And there is Nigger Skull Mountain (not to be confused with (Niggerskull Mountain) in west Haywood County on the head of East Fork. Niggerskull Mountain (for Nigger Skull Mountain, see above) is in central Jackson County between Niggerskull Creek and Gladie Creek. Nigger Spring, in south Haywood County, feeds into the Little East Fork Pigeon River.

Truth is Nigger Mountain wasn't renamed "Negro" Mountain until the 1960's. Oh well, let's not have these truths have us stray from our sanctimonious and self-righteous attack on Gov. Perry as a racist. Truth and the bending of American history should never stand in the way of Democrat attacks on Republicans. Self-righteous Hypocritical Democratic Party Propaganda.

"thirty-aught-six" (not verified)

at 14:30 on October 7th, 2011

Last nail in the coffin; North Carolina voted almost exclusively Democratic from 1876 through 1968 and was a swing vote victory for Obama and one he expects to capitalize on for 2012. So much for the continued Democratic denouncement of Republicans as racist. Self-righteous Hypocritical Democratic Party Propaganda.