Is "uppity"

[emzie]

a word that strikes you as having a racist connotation?

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats are calling on a Republican congressman from Georgia to apologize for referring to Barack and Michelle Obama as "uppity," but the lawmaker stood by his comments and said he meant no offense.

Speaking to reporters Thursday, Rep. Lynn Westmoreland of Grantville, Ga., described the Obamas as members of an "elitist-class ... that thinks that they're uppity," according to The Hill, a Capitol Hill newspaper.

Asked to clarify whether he intended to use the word, he said, "Yeah, uppity."

In a statement Friday, Westmoreland — a white man who was born in 1950 and raised in the segregated South — said he didn't know that "uppity" was commonly used as a derogatory term for blacks seeking equal treatment. Instead, he referred to the dictionary definition of the word as describing someone who is haughty, snobbish or has inflated self-esteem.

"He stands by that characterization and thinks it accurately describes the Democratic nominee," said Brian Robinson, Westmoreland's spokesman. "He was unaware that the word had racial overtones and he had absolutely no intention of using a word that can be considered offensive."

The Obama campaign had no immediate response. But the head of the Georgia Democratic Party called on Westmoreland to apologize, saying his comments were "more of the same, tired old politics that are dividing this country."

"The fact is, political attacks like this don't lower gas prices one cent, they don't give one more American access to affordable health care, and they don't get one more Georgian a job that pays the mortgage," Jane Kidd said. "Lynn Westmoreland should be ashamed of himself."

Westmoreland is one of the most conservative members of Congress. He has drawn criticism from civil rights advocates on a number of issues, including last year when he led opposition to renewing the 1965 Voting Rights Act. He also was one of two House members last year who opposed giving the Justice Department more money to crack unsolved civil rights killings.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g8eMUng8c9fRJPvGHYOeolqH-uzwD930N50G0

 

[MobBoss]

In a word.... no.

Then again, I dont walk around looking for the next thing to be insulted about either.

 

[emzie]

In a word.... no.

If used to describe a black man? As a northern-bred white boy, I've only ever heard that term in this context: "uppity negro"

 

[MobBoss]

If used to describe a black man?

Still no. Its use isnt indicative of a persons skin color. Last time I used this term was to describe a white guy from New Jersey who tended to mouth off to NCOs senior to him.

 

[Babbler]

Same here.

And I never been to the South! I heard it by osmosis, I guess.

 

[Perfection]

Any criticism of Obama is racism.

 

[dwaxe]

Yes, it definitely has a racist connotation. Deny it all you want, MobBoss. I bet that the racists using that word don't even know it's dictionary meaning.

Still no. Its use isnt indicative of a persons skin color. Last time I used this term was to describe a white guy from New Jersey who tended to mouth off to NCOs senior to him.

That's the dictionary definition, which you used. Hopefully, you're not a racist, and have never called a black person "uppity"

If disparaging skin color is the only type of racism, I guess you don't count saying "CHING CHONG WHAT SIR?" to your Asian neighbor is racism.

 

[emzie]

Still no. Its use isnt indicative of a persons skin color. Last time I used this term was to describe a white guy from New Jersey who tended to mouth off to NCOs senior to him.

Well context is everything. You don't think that calling a black man uppity could be heard as having a certain context?

 

[Perfection]

Still no. Its use isnt indicative of a persons skin color. Last time I used this term was to describe a white guy from New Jersey who tended to mouth off to NCOs senior to him.

The last time I used it on the forums was in the context of you!

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=6240009&postcount=9

 

[MobBoss]

That's the dictionary definition, which you used. Hopefully, you're not a racist, and have never called a black person "uppity"

No, I am not a racist, and despite being born and raised in rural Arkansas in a farming community, I never once, EVER, heard this used in reference to a black person.

Thats why I disagree that its a racial slur.

Oh, and my wife has used it a few times on our kids in a 'dont get uppity with me' usage....and fwiw, my kids arent black.

 

[MobBoss]

The last time I used it on the forums was in the context of you!

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=6240009&postcount=9

Gah! How dare you use a racial slur against me! Where is teh banstick!

 

[Perfection]

Speaking of uppity...

 

[MobBoss]

Well context is everything. You don't think that calling a black man uppity could be heard as having a certain context?

I think calling anyone something could have a certain context, but not all context is racial.

You know, I get real tired of this race sensitivity thing. People need to get over it already.

 

[emzie]

Oh, and my wife has used it a few times on our kids in a 'dont get uppity with me' usage....and fwiw, my kids arent black.

My mom always said "don't get smart with me" as calling an 8-year-old uppity is so... uppity.

I think calling anyone something could have a certain context, but not all context is racial.

You know, I get real tired of this race sensitivity thing. People need to get over it already.

Do you believe the Congressman really didn't know that 'uppity' had ever been used in such a way?

 

[MobBoss]

Do you believe the Congressman really didn't know that 'uppity' had ever been used in such a way?

I have no real reason to not believe him, especially based upon my own history with its usage.

Again, people need to get over crap like that. Constantly looking for a reason to be racially insulted isnt any way to do that.

 

[dwaxe]

I think calling anyone something could have a certain context, but not all context is racial.

You know, I get real tired of this race sensitivity thing. People need to get over it already.

Racism exists, believe it or not.

And until racism is less than a memory, words with a history of being a derogatory word used by racists should be avoided at all costs.

 

[dwaxe]

I have no real reason to not believe him, especially based upon my own history with its usage.

Again, people need to get over crap like that. Constantly looking for a reason to be racially insulted isnt any way to do that.

Do you think that people look to be racially insulted? I hope you're not that twisted. It's a result of history that African Americans have been abused, enslaved, and attacked for a portion of history by whites.

You cannot rewrite history, but you can stop acting so ignorant. If you honestly believe that such hatred does not exist, I think you need to remember a few African Americans who you know, and ask if they think racism is still an issue today.

 

[MobBoss]

Racism exists, believe it or not.

I never said it didnt. But not all of your racism is indeed 'racism'. Playing the 'race card' has grown into a pastime for any situation in which a person of color feels they have been disabused, either with or without cause.

My office gets a lot of complaints from people and a lot of those involve allegations that race was a factor in something or other...from lack of promotion, to negative counseling, and guess what....very rarely is race actually a legitimate factor in such complaints. Playing the race card has gotten to be the 'catch all' allegation since we are all so hyper-sensitive to it.

My point is if we are going to try to eliminate racism further, then people need to ease up about being so easily insulted over silly things like this. Being hyper-sensitive about it has gotten to where it actually propagates/promotes racism...not lessen it.

And until racism is less than a memory, words with a history of being a derogatory word used by racists should be avoided at all costs.

I disagree. Its by acknowledging what was incorrect, and eliminating hyper-sensitivity to racial insults will normalize things more. I personally feel its a shame that things are actually so tense today that no one except a black man could make a flim like Mel Brooks did in 'Blazing Saddles'. If a white guy tried to make a movie like that today, people would wig the hell out.

 

[MobBoss]

Do you think that people look to be racially insulted? I hope you're not that twisted.

In my job I can assure you that there are indeed people who PRECISELY do.

I hope your not so naive to not realize such people do indeed exist.

It's a result of history that African Americans have been abused, enslaved, and attacked for a portion of history by whites.

I am part Irish. Dont preach to me about a history of abuse. Again, GET OVER IT ALREADY.

You cannot rewrite history, but you can stop acting so ignorant. If you honestly believe that such hatred does not exist, I think you need to remember a few African Americans who you know, and ask if they think racism is still an issue today.

Guess what? I work with more than a few. Know what I find? Black guys know the best racist jokes. Absolutely. Is racism still an issue? Absolutely. Will racism always be an issue? Most likely to some extent. Is racism over-hyped today? Absolutely.

 

[emzie]

I am part Irish. Dont preach to me about a history of abuse. Again, GET OVER IT ALREADY.

Yeah... the Irish had a real tough time compared to those uppity negros

Guess what? I work with more than a few. Know what I find? Black guys know the best racist jokes. Absolutely. Is racism still an issue? Absolutely. Will racism always be an issue? Most likely to some extent. Is racism over-hyped today? Absolutely.

I generally agree with this. And I'm all for racist jokes.