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.

[HassanBenSobar]

Oh my gawd. I was so shocked when--several months ago--she died, and do you know how she was eulogized on the radio? They had a sound bite from Sanford and Son in which Red Foxx told her something like, 'You're so ugly, I could take your face, put it in some dough...and make gorilla cookies!'

I cracked up but the completely anti-PC shock of the joke was...well...it made me really think how much things have changes in a couple decades. And some on the left act like we haven't made any progress in centuries. Sheesh.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Oh wow... I used to watch that show as a kid, and I remember the line to this day... ROTFL...

[Paul Atreides]

What is wild is some of the stuff they got away with in the hyper-sensitive 70s. Especially, the episode about Lamont's traffic ticket and the courtroom scene.

[Oorang]

Hurricane Bill, first black president.

[Paul Atreides]

Fred was forever calling Esther variations of King Kong. He also called her a lot of other stuff.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Yeah... Redd Foxx was hilarious - Personally, I'm glad I had the opportunity to watch him... insensitive or not, he was funny...

[Paul Atreides]

Esther is one of my favorite characters on there. She really holds her own against Fred. It's also funny when she gets into a fight with Grady.

[Saints fan]

Don't forget ORANGEJELLO AND LEMONJELLO

[Chad Fairbanks]

Ester, Grady... Sure, Ester was ugly, but yeah, she pretty much held her own... LOL

[Paul Atreides]

Esther lives on in Maxine Waters.

[DC native]

Hurricane Old Dirty B*stard?

[Pikamax]

Aunt Esther: Fred Sanford, the wrath of God will strike you down!
Fred Sanford: And this Louisville slugger will knock you out!

Aunt Esther: Woodrow and I are going to have a baby.
Fred Sanford: Well somebody better call the zoo.

Aunt Esther: Fred Sanford why is it every time I come over to your house you call me ugly?
Fred Sanford: Because I'm not the type to lie.

[Fred comes home drunk]
Aunt Esther: You are a messy fool!
Fred Sanford: You are a sessy pool!


http://us.imdb.com/Quotes?0068128

[Paleo Conservative]

Frankly we don't know whether to wind the watch or to
bark at the moon. It looks like Texas is getting Hurricane
Buckwheat now.

[Chad Fairbanks]

As a member of a minority group that is under-represented in the Hurrican Naming Convention, I want a Hurricane named teiowerata:se... We need more Mohawk names...

[Tauzero]

It's long past time for...

Hurricane Shanaynay

[HassanBenSobar]

God help me, I can't stop cracking up about that line now!

Now I remember the context: (Esther) "Who you callin' ugly...suckah?" (lots of canned laughter)

(George): "You. You so ugly, I could take your face, put it in some dough, and make...gorilla cookies!"

[Paul Atreides]

One of Esther's best is when she says Fred's face looks like a Brillo pad with eyes.

[maui_hawaii]

"Hurricane Tyrone"

What about "Hurricane Kunta Kinte"?

This so reminds me of that commercial where the football team is about to pray and the coach has a long line of religious leaders lined up out the door... There was Jewish, and Eskimoes, and Tibetans...just to make sure everyone is "represented"... "not going anywhere for a while?"

If they DID name hurricanes after "black" names half of the black community would call it racist...

I could hear it now..."Every time somthin' bad happens they ALWAYS gotta pin it on the black man..."

[Thud]

Name 'em after gubernatorial candidates in the California recall election.