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Brown University Should Consider Name Change Due to Slave Ties, Critics Say

GottaHurt

GottaHurt

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Faculty at Brown University — the seventh-oldest and arguably the most progressive of America's higher learning institutions — caved into pressure by students and teachers trying to right the perceived wrongs of history by voting earlier this month to rename the Columbus Day holiday as "Fall Weekend."

Proponents cited Christopher Columbus' enslavement and violent treatment of Native Americans, and argued the name of the Italian explorer should be expunged from the day of celebration.
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Brown’s founder, the Rev. James Manning, was a slave owner who accepted donations from many slave owners and traders, including the Brown family. The four Brown brothers, a wealthy family from Providence, made their fortune in part by trading slaves.

John — the second born — was the college's treasurer and used slave laborers to construct campus buildings, including University Hall. Eldest brother Moses — supported by family money — freed his slaves and became an abolitionist, as did his nephew, Nicholas Jr., who became the university's namesake.
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FOXNews.com - Brown University Should Consider Name Change Due to Slave Ties, Critics Say - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News

I'm amazed at the stupidity of some people in academia. I wonder if they're going to quietly change the name back to Columbus Day?
 
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GottaHurt said:
I'm amazed at the stupidity of some people in academia. I wonder if they're going to quietly change the name back to Columbus Day?
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What exactly is stupid about trying to change the name of a school because it's namesake was a slave trader and used slave labor to construct parts of the school?

I don't agree with the name change. They should embrace the school's history and learn from it. Not try to run or hide from it. But, just because I don't agree with something doesn't automatically make it stupid.

One thing that pisses me off related to Columbus is the whole "Indians" label. Calling Native Americans "Indians" because some guy thought he landed on India is just plain ignorance.
 
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Better idea.

They should just shut down Brown University. I mean, the univeristy wouldn't be there if it wasn't for its roots in slavery, and as such if you're going to change the name because you're so offended by that history it seems rather hypocritical to still revel and take the benefit of using such an insitutiton does it not?
 
Zyphlin said:
Better idea.

They should just shut down Brown University. I mean, the univeristy wouldn't be there if it wasn't for its roots in slavery, and as such if you're going to change the name because you're so offended by that history it seems rather hypocritical to still revel and take the benefit of using such an insitutiton does it not?
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The school can be turned over as government housing for ancestors of slaves. :2wave:
 
Gibberish said:
What exactly is stupid about trying to change the name of a school because it's namesake was a slave trader and used slave labor to construct parts of the school?

I don't agree with the name change. They should embrace the school's history and learn from it. Not try to run or hide from it. But, just because I don't agree with something doesn't automatically make it stupid.

One thing that pisses me off related to Columbus is the whole "Indians" label. Calling Native Americans "Indians" because some guy thought he landed on India is just plain ignorance.
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I think the point is the following. They are not trying to change the name of Brown University. They changed Columbus day to Fall Weekend because of Columbus's actions towards the Native Americans. They don't think his name needs to be recorded basically because he enslaved and abused Native Americans. However, their indignant attitude towards Columbus does not extend towards their own founder of the University. Founders who made their vast fortune predominately off the slave trade. If they wanted to be consistent, they would also have to change the name of Brown University since the Brown family were noted slavers. But they aren't, and may actually be offended if you suggested as much.

American Indians is a fine term, BTW. Why should they be "native American" when there are plenty of people native to this country.
 
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Ikari said:
I think the point is the following. They are not trying to change the name of Brown University. They changed Columbus day to Fall Weekend because of Columbus's actions towards the Native Americans. They don't think his name needs to be recorded basically because he enslaved and abused Native Americans. However, their indignant attitude towards Columbus does not extend towards their own founder of the University. Founders who made their vast fortune predominately off the slave trade. If they wanted to be consistent, they would also have to change the name of Brown University since the Brown family were noted slavers. But they aren't, and may actually be offended if you suggested as much.

American Indians is a fine term, BTW. Why should they be "native American" when there are plenty of people native to this country.
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Because it's an ignorant label. No different then if we called the Native Americans, American Swedens or American Brazilians. They have no direct connection to India.

They are the Native Americans. Unless there is a group of people that occupied North America before them that they did not descend from.
 
I'm Native America, I was born here. Several generations of my family were born here. I have no loyalty to whatever part of Europe my family had come from. Besides, the "Native Americans" were originally from Asia.

Anyway, weren't you talking about embracing history and learning from it? So Columbus got the continent wrong, it's not like they had satellite imaging and new how big the world was and where all the land mass was. American Indian works well and there's nothing ignorant about it.
 
Gibberish said:
Because it's an ignorant label. No different then if we called the Native Americans, American Swedens or American Brazilians. They have no direct connection to India.

They are the Native Americans. Unless there is a group of people that occupied North America before them that they did not descend from.
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Since you're making proclamations for them and not you, let me tell you as one of them, Indian is just fine. My grandmother was proud to be Indian. She could have given a hoot about India. Sorry you don't like it.

eta: I'm also a New Englander. NE isn't part of England, but we're not scrapping the name because of someone has too much time on their hands to look to be offended.
 
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They should hire Ward Churchill and increase tuition costs by 5000%.
 
I wonder if they're going to quietly change the name back to Columbus Day?
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Christopher Columbus was an evil psychopath. He does not deserve a day of recognition.
 
Did you spend $50,000 for that?
 
I'm not from India, no one in my family nor any of my of ancestors. For us its like calling Puerto Ricans, Mexicans and vise versa.
See how well that goes over.
 
cherokee said:
I'm not from India, no one in my family nor any of my of ancestors. For us its like calling Puerto Ricans, Mexicans and vise versa.
See how well that goes over.
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Get over yourself. Nobody thinks you're from India.
 
BulletWounD said:
Get over yourself. Nobody thinks you're from India.
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Get over myself? WTF

Maybe its just over your head and you need it in crayon to understand.

I'm not from India (did you follow that) hence Indian shouldn't be used to describe my race. (are you still following me I can go slower if you need)
 
Let's play nice. Cherokee wasn't making this about him. He was illustrating how people can be offended by things.
 
cherokee said:
Get over myself? WTF

Maybe its just over your head and you need it in crayon to understand.

I'm not from India (did you follow that) hence Indian shouldn't be used to describe my race. (are you still following me I can go slower if you need)
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Get over yourself. Nobody thinks you're from India. It's just easier to say "Indian" than "Native American" just like it's easier to say "black" than "African American" even though nobody's really black per se.
 
StandUpChuck said:
I'd say he's pretty qualified to say what he prefers to be called.
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The problem is, though, that he doesn't speak for all Native Americans. You mentioned earlier your grandmother was proud to call herself an "Indian." My father-in-law is part Native American, too, and takes no offense at the term "Indian."

It's like the African-American/black thing. Some people are offended when you call them one or the other so sometimes you just can't win.
 
BulletWounD said:
Get over yourself. Nobody thinks you're from India. It's just easier to say "Indian" than "Native American" just like it's easier to say "black" than "African American" even though nobody's really black per se.
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Again with the "get over yourself"? Ok how about GFY.

Maybe its even easier to call blacks niggers?
Whats the big deal its easy for you to say right, Thats all that matters right?
 
don'ttreadonme said:
The problem is, though, that he doesn't speak for all Native Americans. You mentioned earlier your grandmother was proud to call herself an "Indian." My father-in-law is part Native American, too, and takes no offense at the term "Indian."

It's like the African-American/black thing. Some people are offended when you call them one or the other so sometimes you just can't win.
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I don't think I ever said I did but I do speak for my family and my Native friends.
Did you know some old blacks don't mind being called negro, isnt that short for nigger?

But hell you said it yourself you cant please everyone......:roll:
 
cherokee said:
I don't think I ever said I did but I do speak for my family and my Native friends.
Did you know some old blacks don't mind being called negro, isnt that short for nigger?

But hell you said it yourself you cant please everyone......:roll:
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You're the one who seems to get some kind of charge out of typing the n-word, dude.
 
cherokee said:
I don't think I ever said I did but I do speak for my family and my Native friends.
Did you know some old blacks don't mind being called negro, isnt that short for nigger?

But hell you said it yourself you cant please everyone......:roll:
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Negro is actually the English translation from the Latin term meaning black. "nigger" actually came later.

So most blacks I know don't care about Negro. In fact I live in Florida and here the word "negro" often when referring to the color itself in Spanish.

Go figure.
 
don'ttreadonme said:
You're the one who seems to get some kind of charge out of typing the n-word, dude.
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That was way out of line considering the context of his statement don't you think?
 
Blackdog said:
That was way out of line considering the context of his statement don't you think?
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How is it out of line? I think he's insinuating that people who use the term "Indians" are as racist as people who use the term "nigger."
 
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