Freddie Boom Boom Washington
Posted on 02/21/2011 6:01:03 PM PST by Germanicus Cretorian
George Washington's name is inseparable from America, and not only from the nation's history. It identifies countless streets, buildings, mountains, bridges, monuments, cities — and people.
In a puzzling twist, most of these people are black. The 2000 U.S. Census counted 163,036 people with the surname Washington. Ninety percent of them were African-American, a far higher black percentage than for any other common name.
The story of how Washington became the "blackest name" begins with slavery and takes a sharp turn after the Civil War, when all blacks were allowed the dignity of a surname.
Even before Emancipation, many enslaved black people chose their own surnames to establish their identities. Afterward, some historians theorize, large numbers of blacks chose the name Washington in the process of asserting their freedom.
Today there are black Washingtons, like this writer, who are often identified as African-American by people they have never met. There are white Washingtons who are sometimes misidentified and have felt discrimination. There are Washingtons of both races who view the name as a special — if complicated — gift.
And there remains the presence of George, born 279 years ago on Feb. 22, whose complex relationship with slavery echoes in the blackness of his name today.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Makes sense -- but I would have also expected a fair number of Lincolns, for that same reason.
Freddie Boom Boom Washington
How do you know that you are driving in the ‘hood? The street name is Martin Luther King Blvd
How do you know that you are driving in the ‘hood? The street name is Martin Luther King Blvd
Williams seems to be the most popular Black surname.
“Afterward, some historians theorize, large numbers of blacks chose the name Washington in the process of asserting their freedom.
Makes sense — but I would have also expected a fair number of Lincolns, for that same reason.”
You would think so. But it didn’t happen. The people of the time, both black and white respected Washington. My Cherokee ancestors took the name Washington, Madison as well, not a ‘Lincoln’ in the bunch.
King County, Washington is named after Martin Luther King.
Well, not always. Just since a couple of years ago. Before that it was known as King County - named after one of the early (and very white) settlers - Rufurd B. King or some-such.
I forget how many millions were spent redoing the logo, stationary, repainting county vehicles, etc.
William Rufus DeVane King, senator from Alabama and Vice President under Franklin Pierce.
I was called as a juror in a Judge Washington’s courtroom and was surprised to find that he was white.
Safonda Cox?
What a wonderful tribute to the real black slaves who honor George Washington as their savior!
Not the present day race baters; not the black folks that believe they need reparations for what whitey did to them a few centuries ago; not the hot head rappers that try to incite a division between white and black; not the NAACP who tries to seperate the races by establishing black infrastructure that wants to emulate white infrastructure.
Washington, what a wonderful name, for black or white!
I always thought it was motherf***er.
Likely named after Rufus King, signer of the Constitution, VP Candidate of the Federalist party against both Jefferson and Madison’s tickets, last Presidential candidate of the Federalist Party.
William Rufus Devane King was named after Rufus King.
Nathan Bedford Jones.
That’s what I meant. Interesting. Everybody knows the first Federalist Presidential candidate, very few know the last.
As far as first names (for guys) it has to be the “Shawn” derivatives...(recently beat out the Jamals).
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