Posted on 02/21/2010 2:58:33 PM PST by Steelfish
Century-Old Slur Erased From Santa Monica Mountains Maps February 20, 2010
A century-old slur was erased Saturday as authorities ceremoniously renamed a Santa Monica Mountains peak to commemorate a black pioneer who established a homestead at its base in 1880.
What had long been designated on "Negrohead Mountain" on official maps is now "Ballard Mountain" in honor of John Ballard, who worked as a blacksmith and firewood vendor from his 160 acres in the Seminole Springs area.
About 25 of Ballards descendants were among a crowd of 90 who watched as a plaque bearing the settlers name was unveiled near the site of his onetime homestead. It will be permanently placed next to Kanan Roads north tunnel near the top of the 2,031-foot volcanic peak.
Reggie Ballard, the 85-year-old great-grandson of the pioneer, said he was pleased to see the old name wiped away.
"I dont know what it means to Los Angeles as a whole but it means a lot to me," said the retired Los Angeles Fire Department captain who now lives in Banning.
"Its not often you get a chance to right an historical wrong," said Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, who helped nearby residents win approval of the name change with the U.S. Geological Survey. Marcia McNutt, the surveys director, traveled from Washington to attend the ceremony.
Descendant Christopher Ballard, 19, of Long Beach said he and six others climbed Ballard Mountain, climbing over rocks and carving their own trail through brush. When he reached its peak, he said, it felt like he was on top of the world.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimesblogs.latimes.com ...
Negrohead Mountain”
LOL! I bet it had a different name years ago! Kind of like Negro Andy Canyon in NW New Mexico or “Bull shirt” springs in Nevada and “Naughty girl” meadows! AKA Bull$#!t springs and Whorehouse meadows, Nev.
You'll be blackballed to the black hole of Calcutta.
butthead.....my favorite tv show
***I have yet to go to a mexican restaurant on either coast that doesnt have a Speedy Gonzalez dish. ***
Any of them have nachos by THE FRITO BANDITO?
Anyway, nearly 100% of the place names with “Negro”, sure weren’t called “Negro” 100 or more years ago.
Same thing here in Nevada. I used to hunt chukar with my dad at N-word Creek, which was later changed to Negro Creek. Haven’t looked lately to see what it’s been changed to now, if at all. At least it wasn’t as bad as M-fer Mountain down in Central NV near Tonopah.
***Can we still say “blacksmith?” ***
I’m OFFENDED! I will go outside and cry on may anvil! I feel so slighted I might lame the next horse I shoe!
I got this great urge to start up the coal forge and create CO2 and SO2 while heating iron!
LOL! Haven't seen that.
I should have stated that I mean the little local mom and pop shops. The national chains wouldn't be caught dead with "Speedy Gonzalez" meals, even for the kids.
(PS: I really, really love authentic mexican food.)
I live in Indiana. We have a cave named with the “N” word included, as well as a road in the county I live in. The road is only known by that name by old timers. No one else would know. More revisionist history. No racial intentions.
My Mom has a 50 year old cook book called the “Ni$$er Toe Cook Book”. (cooking with brazil nuts) I’d better tell her to change the name to the “African American Toe Cook Book”!
“Is negrohead a slur?”
Many of the “offensive” names on maps were revised around the 1970’s or so.
Have seen changes such as S*** Creek becoming Nasty Creek. One, in Arizona, is marked Negro Creek, but older maps show it as *i*g*r Creek!
One mountain range, inside the Air Force Gunnery Range in Arizona, now know as the Outhouse Mountains, IIRC, was know at the S*** House Mountains.
From a distance it looked like a giant outhouse! lol
We have a lake in sullivan county PA that was called niger lake on the map.I dont know if it has been changed yet but it propably has. I have to check on that.
I’m fine as long as they leave Nellies Nipple alone...
Negro Creek will now be known as “Welfare Wash”.
***the Ni$$er Toe Cook Book. (cooking with brazil nuts)***
In my youth that is what they were called! Not Brazil nuts!and certan fireworks were NOT known as rat chasers.
Have you noticed that certain thissle seed for birds is not known by the simple name Niger seed but NYGER seed!
Outside Austin, there’s a creek that was once called “N——r Creek”. Wonder why they called it that? It was because if you followed it east it took you to “N——r Cemetary”. The libs got them changed in the 1970s.
What about changing these names.
White river.
White sands beach
White hills
so on and so on.
When I was a kid a long time ago we had a hell of alot of fun going to Nigger bar on the American river in Caly. Still call it that even though they changed the name. Screw PC.
I don’t think it was considered a slur 100 years ago.
“renamed the Hills of Color.”
Jesse will want 20M and the name Rainbow Hills.
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