Social After an investigation, Oakland A's commentator fired for saying the wrong word

[My Spot]

Nice, but...

https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/17/business/media/17adco.html#:~:text=The United Negro College Fund,initials and updating its logo.&text=MORE than 35 years after,recognized in American advertising history.

"MORE than 35 years after its debut, the slogan for the United Negro College Fund, “A Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Waste,” remains one of the most recognized in American advertising history.

The years, however, have not been as kind to the organization’s name, which has gradually become a source of alienation to the very people the group aims to serve. And while the fund is not prepared to drop the word “Negro” from its name, it plans to try to shift attention away from it."

Feels like a matter of time before this old hat name does actually change, despite the push back, no?

 

[LangfordBarrow]

History is a fucked up place sir, and I don't feel like hiding the atrocious nature of it does anybody any good.
I believe we need to see those things in order to make an informed decision on how to move forward.

I agree but a better place is museums and textbooks. Walking down by City Hall, the Courthouse, or out by the park I don't think we should have statues that were put up to commemorate pro-slavers or the type. I think it gets out of hand when people target things like the statue in Columbus Circle but Confederate statues put up by segregationists should come down just in the interest of public contentment.

 

[Volador]

Just watched the video (are allowed to post it? it's illustrative). Tricky situation, bro said it a little bit too naturally haha, like he had it in the chamber or something. Pretty weird, and terrible optics. I don't know, who drops the hard r version just by accident out of nowhere? I can see why they did what they did. Not sure about this guy's background or whether he had any precedents. If he doesn't have any he should get some sort of chance to explain himself.

 

[Fugazy]

I'm prepared to be taught on this one.

What is it I'm getting wrong/missing here in your opinion?

It's not my opinion, the Negro League is something that became proud part of American history after initially being seen as a "lesser" league that was in place obviously because of segregation.

The men that played in it are a massive part of sports history and as the other poster noted they played with honor and pride and used that platform to display their skills and fight for racial justice. Many would go on to be great baseball players and true activists that are proud of their time in that league. Every year at different points through the MLB season, teams and the league will pay respects to the Negro League, you'd see black players of today talk about it and players from the past who played the the league talk about it in this way. There was actually a while where the jerseys and hats were a big deal in pop culture.

They are referring to something that existed, and is an actual part of history. To be frank, you don't quite get it, and I wouldn't expect you to since you aren't American. You can't pick up every bit of information you have in regards to a matter from the internet and really understand the nuance and intricacies of what happened in the past and what it means today in something as niche as sports, baseball, race, and Americana. Doesn't make any sense to refer to something that existed in the past by a different name today. There is no value in that. The word Negro is pretty darn uncommon and just because it is used in the name of the Negro League or a few institutions does not mean it is a term that is used often or by most people at all.

Usually you'll hear the term used in context of some historical matter or something to do with education (United Negro College Fund) the writings of Frederick Douglass for example..etc., or religion "Negro Spirituals" or some similar matter, p4p some of the most stirring music ever made, btw.

 

[Deleted member 585708]

It's not my opinion, the Negro League is something that became proud part of American history after initially being seen as a "lesser" league that was in place obviously because of segregation.

The men that played in it are a massive part of sports history and as the other poster noted they played with honor and pride and used that platform to display their skills and fight for racial justice. Many would go on to be great baseball players and true activists that are proud of their time in that league. Every year at different points through the MLB season, teams and the league will pay respects to the Negro League, you'd see black players of today talk about it and players from the past who played the the league talk about it in this way. There was actually a while where the jerseys and hats were a big deal in pop culture.

They are referring to something that existed, and is an actual part of history. To be frank, you don't quite get it, and I wouldn't expect you to since you aren't American. You can't pick up every bit of information you have in regards to a matter from the internet and really understand the nuance and intricacies of what happened in the past and what it means today in something as niche as sports, baseball, race, and Americana. Doesn't make any sense to refer to something that existed in the past by a different name today. There is no value in that. The word Negro is pretty darn uncommon and just because it is used in the name of the Negro League or a few institutions does not mean it is a term that is used often or by most people at all.

Usually you'll hear the term used in context of some historical matter or something to do with education (United Negro College Fund) the writings of Frederick Douglass for example..etc., or religion "Negro Spirituals" or some similar matter, p4p some of the most stirring music ever made, btw.

Thank you.

I appreciate your thoughtful summary, stance, and corrections.

I'm grateful that you took the time.

 

[Michaelangelo]

He should have asked to borrow a pencil

 

[Yehudim]

what did the guy actually say?

 

[Rob Battisti]

But that’s what I’m saying, is that why he said or idk that quote was weird

 

[submerged88]

You can tell he is used to saying the slur at home and he let it slip on the job.

It's like when white people are drunk and get caught using racial slurs. They never ever are caught using racial slurs for white people when they are drunk because that's not how they ever talk. They just get caught using racial slurs because it's an everyday language for them

 

[Flower2dPeople]

He could be a commentator for La Liga.

 

[Yehudim]

He should have asked to borrow a pencil

 

[the ambush]

It's because being AA is so difficult

 

[the ambush]

You did it now. Prepare for the firing squad!

 

[Day Drinking]

Such an edgy badass right here

Correct yes.

 

[Misfit23]

Probably was just a cost cutting move considering this is the A's.

 

[CyberRubberDuck]

It's his job to talk, he fucked up while talking on air. Seek new employment.

Hard to feel to poorly for the guy tbh.

When a TV presenter accidentally says fuck or cunt on air, they get away with just apologising.
Why is this any different?

 

[koquerelle]

You literally can change history, and they did, sir.

That's why you now know the National Coloured Baseball League as Negro League Baseball.

Because they updated that shit.

The white saviour telling black people how to name their museum. You can't make this shit up.

 

[MicroBrew]

Yeah, I’m sure he woke up that day and decided “this is my chance. They have me talking about the Negro League’s. I’m going to do it”

yes, commentators have said that on Bay Area sports radio.

“He thought he was slick”

Oooo baby baby it’s a clowwwn world

I had to give you a like cause your opening sentence is funny.

 

[CyberRubberDuck]

This is one of the most stupid ways I've ever seen using the word being justified.
Changing the pronunciation doesn't change the word. It's the same as having a regional accent where you pronounce your R's more than other areas. Like me, if I were to say the word, I'd pronounce the R. Because I originate from an area where that is the accent. But I now live in an area where they don't pronounce the R's. So they'd say it with the 'A' no matter what.

So that hypocritical way of saying it's ok is just ridiculous.

 

[NoSmilez]

Is the United negro college fund still a thing? I was under the impression negro is still appropriate in some circumstances?