Hurricane names raise a warning; not enough black names in it.

hillnews ^ | 08/01/03 | Bill Thomas

[Pikamax]

Hurricane Latonya? Hurricane names raise a warning The 2003 hurricane season is here, and that means a whole new list of names such as Larry, Sam and Wanda ready to make tropical-storm history.

Although Spanish and French names are included in this year’s lineup, among them Juan and Claudette, which struck Texas last week, popular African American names, like Keisha, Jamal and Deshawn, are nowhere to be found.

Some black lawmakers don’t seem to mind, but Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) does. “All racial groups should be represented,” said Lee.

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The World Meteorological Organization began naming tropical storms after women in 1953. That made sense to scientists at the time who thought women and storms were both unpredictable. After feminist groups protested, men’s names were added in 1979.

The National Weather Service says hurricane names are derived from languages spoken in areas that border the Atlantic Ocean, where such storms occur. Yet that doesn’t explain why Gaston, Ernesto and Cindy were chosen and Antwon, Destiny and Latonya were passed over.

Lee said she hoped in the future the weather establishment “would try to be inclusive of African American names.”

That could take a while. The current roster of hurricane names isn’t due to be updated until 2007.

[Alouette]

Jamal is not African but Arabic.

Why aren't there more hurricaines with Muslim Names?????

[kstewskis]

Cool Pic! What happened to Flip Wilson? He had the hit show on NBC for a couple or three years. And then...???

Bless his heart....he passed away recently, like within a few years now. Can't remember what from.

His show was funnier than all get out.

[Ciexyz]

Hurricane Kenya, Kenyatta and Latrina.

[Ciexyz]

In the name of diversity, we should immediately revise the list. The first hurricane of next season should be named ANTWONE. or ANTWANN. (/sarcasm)

[BradyLS]

Cuz it's UNAMERICAN! The U.S. gets slammed with THE BEST DAMNED HURRICANES IN THE WORLD!!!

[BradyLS]

Was that 'Good Times?' Most shows from the mid-seventies were sumthin' else!

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Follow the link in my post above (139). He died from cancer. The quote is from a story after he died.

[BradyLS]

Actually, what the National Weather Service should do is try to sell the honor of naming hurricanes to corporate sponsors and movie stars.

"Hurricane Mustafa, brought to you by Walt Disney Studios, struck the Gulf cities of Mobile and Beloxi today..." :-D

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

LOL - good one.

[woofie]

Hurricane Aunt Jemima?

[tet68]

YOu know it's a bad hurricane season if,

"Hurricane Zebidiah approaches Florida Panhandle."
"Weary residents, just now recovering from hurricanes
Xerses and Yvonne begin the well known exodus up I-85."

[BradyLS]

LOL! :-D

The proper form of address, in speech and in print, would probably be: "Hurricane Aunt Jemima Pancake Mix, brought to you by Quaker Oats, ..." or it could simply be "Hurricane Aunt Jemima," sure!

But there is no doubt people would find all sorts of ways to shorten it in private conversations: Hurricane Auntie Jem', Hurricane Jemima, Hurricane Aunt Jemi, etc.

[xp38]

Hurricanes are named in the order they appear during a season...so you get Abner Beatrice Carl Deborah etc. Drop the names and call them by the year they appear and the letter of the alphabet for order of appearance. So its 2003A 2003B 2003C or maybe A2003 B2003 C2003. Or even 003-A 003-B 003-C

[reg45]

Why not give hurricanes African names. After all hurricanes are nothing but rapidly moving hot air that usually get started off the coast of Africa!

[Amelia]

The World Meteorological Organization began naming tropical storms after women in 1953. That made sense to scientists at the time who thought women and storms were both unpredictable. After feminist groups protested, men’s names were added in 1979.

Feminist groups thought it was insulting that these damaging storms were only named after women, so the WMO decided to 'insult' men as well....now Sheila Jackson Lee (Is Sheila a 'black' name? All the Sheilas I know are white...) wants blacks to be able to share the insult?

*sigh*

[Dr.Deth]

Most Popular U.S. Baby Names

Boys

White: Cameron, Brandon, Austin, Dakota
Black: Antwaine, Dacron, Newport, LaPrell
Asian: Michael, Tim, Chris, Rick

Girls

White: Caitlin, Brianna, Ashleigh, Madison
Black: Shawanda, Tamiqua, Propecia, Sinutab
Asian: Sue, Lisa, Michelle, Amy

[reg45]

I'd like to protest the use of Arabic numerals

The Arabs appropriated the so called Arabic numbers from the Hindus.

[reg45]

Drop the names and call them by the year they appear and the letter of the alphabet for order of appearance.

Good idea, except that the PC's (Perpetual Complainers) will gripe that we used the Christian (Gregorian) year instead of the Islamic, Hindu, Jewish or Chinese year!

[BradyLS]

The Arabs appropriated the so called Arabic numbers from the Hindus.

So you agree, of course, that a Arab-Hindu naming scheme using numbers is patently absurd! ;-)

[right way right]

Throw Sheila a bone.

Call one of the hurricanes Buckwheat.