Maryland NAACP protests city’s Halloween ‘lynching’ display.
Maryland NAACP protests city’s Halloween ‘lynching’ display.
The Parks and Recreation Department of the city of Frederick, MD recently decided to hang three dummies from a tree as part of its Halloween program. The dummies’ “overstuffed shirts, blue jeans and white, faceless heads” sparked concern from Frederick residents who complained that “the figures evoke images of lynchings.” According to one resident:
“It instantly reminded me of the pictures of the lynchings that happened in the ’20s and ’30s in the United States,” he said. “I found it very offensive as a white person.”
Guy Djoken, president of the Frederick County chapter of the NAACP, said “people are angry” about the display, noting that it’s a problem that they are “hanging on city property.” Djoken said he sent the mayor of Frederick, William Holtzinger, an email asking for their “immediate removal.” See Djoken’s comments here:
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October 30th, 2009 at 2:26 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Hi STORM
October 30th, 2009 at 2:27 pmIt’s wrong even if it was put up by dems stormoran.
October 30th, 2009 at 2:28 pmGee, 3 posts and storm, and stormoran has 3 down votes. take a hint moran.
October 30th, 2009 at 2:29 pmIs that Hakeem Olajuwon pointing to the tree?
It doesn’t get much more ghoulish than a lynching….looks like that town’s Leslie Nope is getting fired today.
October 30th, 2009 at 2:34 pmIt never ceases to amaze me how stupid and insensitive people can be. Why anyone thought this was a good idea is a mystery.
October 30th, 2009 at 2:35 pmHuh. It took until almost 230 today before DRIZZLE showed up.
I can understand how this is offensive (particularly because it was a municipal organization), but I don’t think racism was intended.
I grew up in a town in NJ where 20% of the population is black. A few houses would have stuffed dummies hanging from posts. It’s tacky, but not outright racist.
Then again, the dummies weren’t hanging from trees.
October 30th, 2009 at 2:35 pmSTORM says:
Where is the part where this is the republicans fault somehow?
You know which “republican” was behind this or something? LOL! Guilty conscience much patsy? ;)
October 30th, 2009 at 2:36 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Classy.
October 30th, 2009 at 2:45 pmCoward
October 30th, 2009 at 2:46 pmStange Fruit.
And I don’t expect “race expert” backup to understand this at all.
October 30th, 2009 at 2:48 pmIt’s one thing if this kind of vulgar display is the result of sick pranksters. But this is the Frederick Parks and Recreation Department (?!?!?!?!?!?).
I find it absolutely appalling that a division of the city government would find this appropriate.
October 30th, 2009 at 2:48 pmThat’s some cheesy crap; it ought to just be taken down without comment and not fracking done again.
They run out of jack’o'lantern pumpkins for the vandals to steal and smash all over town?
October 30th, 2009 at 2:52 pmSTORMFRONT’s pissed because his halloween display was a bust. right, you racist piece of garbage?
October 30th, 2009 at 2:52 pmMaybe I’m missing something, but I’m not sure what people hanging from trees has to do with Halloween. I get tombstones, graveyards, wolfman, dracula, ghosts…the regular type crapola, but people hanging from trees?
October 30th, 2009 at 2:55 pmSide note to STORM (not that it will have any effect):
You seem to think we operate on a “anything a member of my party does is good and anything a member of the other party does is bad” system. While I realize this is the type of litmus test you live by, please know that thinking people have a different set of standards.
The idea of a lynching display is offensive, no matter who authorizes or executes it. We don’t wait to find out what political party the perpetrators are from before judging the act for what it is — obscene and contemptible.
You may be confused because so many offensive words and deeds DO have Republicans behind them.
October 30th, 2009 at 2:56 pmIt’s like a racist joke or a joke about women. If everyone doesn’t find it amusing then it is wrong.
They are using a childs holiday to sneak in thier evil joke.
October 30th, 2009 at 2:56 pmWTF is it with Dug HuffnPuff, that he comes on the post to post that he’s not going to post…geezzuts.
October 30th, 2009 at 3:02 pmHey Doug, I don’t recall hall monitor being an elected position.
October 30th, 2009 at 3:03 pmGotta wonder if Duggy is running for dogcatcher or village idiot.
October 30th, 2009 at 3:04 pmRU, it’s just that I recognize that there are smarter, more abler people (such as backup) who can speak to this subject with more expertise and understanding then I can.
I just don’t understand why he hasn’t arrived on the scene yet.
October 30th, 2009 at 3:05 pmDuggy, why would you post that you aren’t going to post?
October 30th, 2009 at 3:07 pmWould you somehow think anyone here would give 1/3 of a crap about that?
I would say that a hanging is not necessarily a lynching. So I am willing to give the city the benefit of the doubt.
Although I would certainly hope that being given the informatipon, they could readily see where some may take offense and immediately remove it. Failure to do so would give a lot of credence to the idea that it is racially motivated.
October 30th, 2009 at 3:07 pmExcuse me, I’m going over to TPM to see what that latest good news is about my upcoming election. Wish me luck!
October 30th, 2009 at 3:14 pmWow I remember seeing that at the age of 7 while taking a train to the South with my Grandmother. I saw people enjoying a picnic and trees with long vines hanging and as I looked up I saw a figure of a black man hanging but his face was a weird color and the rope had blood on it. The conducter quickly closed the shades but it was too late. None of those enjoying the picnic seem to have a problem as they were laughing and the kids were playing. I guess this picture just brought back memories of that day. The man hanging from the tree I saw a human.
October 30th, 2009 at 3:15 pmThe Mayor is a Republican. Just scroll down to “City Officials”.
October 30th, 2009 at 3:18 pmAnd all of the liberal groups that try to help minorities are under attack by the “vast rightwing conspiracy”.
Looks like bachmann spilled the beans. The GOP has been working for 25 years in getting liberal organizations “defunded”, just like they’re doing with ACORN. What a bunch of insecure d**chebags!
http://rawstory.com/2009/10/conservatives-25year-goal-defunding-left-revealed-acorn-controversy/
October 30th, 2009 at 3:18 pmThe people or person who did this knew exactly what they were doing. Ever since Obama won, the Righties have been on a anti-minority crusade. Right-wing talk radio, Faux News, Lou Dobbs. The list goes on and on. Even I never thoguht the Repugs and Righties would be this offensive. From Limpballs ‘Brack the Magic negro’ to Pat Bucahan bemoaning how were losing ‘White America’. Unreal.
October 30th, 2009 at 3:25 pmmy gawd…
it would have been much easier – and made a WHOLE not more halloween sense – to have used some sheets fashioned into ghosts…
i’m sure white sheets are easy to find…
that “display” makes absolutely no sense… ANYwhere…
October 30th, 2009 at 3:25 pmbut city property is completely unjustifiable.
That’s pretty damned sick. If you’re going to put up “things hanging from trees” as Halloween decor – why not giant spiders instead (of people)?
Teh Stoopit strikes again!!!!
October 30th, 2009 at 3:29 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
@33, Now I know haw you got your screen name.
October 30th, 2009 at 3:35 pmThere are more tasteful if less provocative ways to celebrate Halloween than lynching effigies. Better to be cliche than gratuitously offensive.
October 30th, 2009 at 3:37 pmdumbstruck says:
I hope you are just trying to be provocative. Otherwise you are just being incredibly ignorant.
October 30th, 2009 at 3:37 pmFor 200 years it was in America.
Again, if it offends anyone then it is not amusing and should be removed for the sake of decency. If not then it becomes “in your face” racism.
I live in Okla and for years the football teams were named Chief’s, braves, etc.
It has come to light that this behaviour is offensive to Native Americans and the practice is being banned in lieu of inoffensive names. As it should.
October 30th, 2009 at 3:37 pmI’d guess you don’t know what “dumbstruck” means.
And
…at least I can spell.
October 30th, 2009 at 3:39 pmwell, anyone can spell “dumb”
October 30th, 2009 at 3:41 pmI’m not defending lynching but If you believe that only blacks were lynched in America then you are terribly naive.
October 30th, 2009 at 3:43 pmIgnorant about what?
I believe that that quite a few of you know very little about the history of the South other than what you read in Uncle Tom’s Cabin and Br’er Rabbit.
October 30th, 2009 at 3:46 pmThat seems to be the extent of your knowledge. I grew up in the south in the 50’s. I remember white men with nooses in the cab of thier truck, just waiting on an opportunity to use them. I didn’t read about it. I saw it.
October 30th, 2009 at 3:52 pmThese imagines do somehow invoke images of black lynchings of the past.
There is a guy down the street from me that has a stuffed dummy hanging in the middle of his halloween display that for whatever reason does not conjure a similar reaction for me.
I don’t know what the difference is, but I understand the reaction against this display and it makes sense to take it down.
October 30th, 2009 at 3:53 pmyeesh… what would make this TP blog place near perfect?
an EDIT button feature thingy (love that about C&L)…
31. should be: … made a WHOLE Lot more halloween sense…
thanks…
October 30th, 2009 at 3:55 pmdumb…
gallows – hanging
trees – lynching
please stop making excuses for really bad behavior.
October 30th, 2009 at 3:58 pmJust insensitive and ignorant behavior from morons.
October 30th, 2009 at 4:14 pmdumbstruck. I understand the point you’re trying to make, but I think the issue of black lynching is different.
It’s different because there is still a question of discrimination or repression of black people involved. (Where the issues of cowboys and indians or white lynchings have been resolved)
Whether you see it or not, many other people still feel the discrimination of blacks exists.
Because there is still a prevalence of that idea, the images of lynching could be used (or could be viewed) as attempts to intimidate black people and propagate discrimination.
Until that atmosphere of discrimination is more clearly dispelled, we need to be sensitive to the issue.
October 30th, 2009 at 4:16 pmFred says:
——————————————————————————–
That seems to be the extent of your knowledge. I grew up in the south in the 50’s. I remember white men with nooses in the cab of thier truck, just waiting on an opportunity to use them. I didn’t read about it. I saw it.
There were 6 lynchings of any race in the entire United States during the decade of the 1950’s.
That’s 6 too many but you must have grown up in a very different part of the South than I did during that period.
October 30th, 2009 at 4:18 pmDumb..
“Lynching Statistics”
“Most of the lynchings that took place happened in the South.”
“Throughout the late 19th century racial tension grew throughout the United States. More of this tension was noticeable in the Southern parts of the United States. In the south, people were blaming their financial problems on the newly freed slaves that lived around them. Lynchings were becoming a popular way of resolving some of the anger that whites had in relation to the free blacks.”
October 30th, 2009 at 4:26 pmDumb – please educate yourself – this from my referenced site at 49:
“From 1882-1968, 4,743 lynchings occurred in the United States. Of these people that were lynched 3,446 were black.”
“These numbers seem large, but it is known that not all of the lynchings were ever recorded.”
October 30th, 2009 at 4:34 pmThe white racists of this country are confused and outraged, (Scared stupid?), because their pointy little heads just can’t grasp the fact that a person who’s not entirely Caucasian is in the White House. I fear it will get much worse before it gets better.
October 30th, 2009 at 4:35 pm48 Dumbstruck,
He didn’t say that he saw lynchings. He said he saw people with nooses (apparently with the intent of lynching).
Carrying nooses and axe handles were a not-so-subtle way of telling them darkies that they’d better not do anything I don’t like, or else.
As any chess player knows, the threat is stronger (more effective and consuming of the defendant’s resources) than the actual action/ implementation.
October 30th, 2009 at 4:45 pmbad idea = definitely
meant to resemble lynching = maybe
i don’t even like seeing skeletons and mummies and the like hung that way, but this time of year it’s a pretty common sight. it might just be benign ignorance.
October 30th, 2009 at 5:00 pmWhen did lynchings or any kind of hanging of human effigies become Halloween fare? Outside of the current lynching mentality of the wing-nuts, this seems off the wall to me.
October 30th, 2009 at 5:33 pmThat lynching dummy has a white head. … I guess I am supposed to be offended. … will some liberal please stand up and say Halloween must be cancelled … there, now I feel so much better. …
October 30th, 2009 at 6:09 pmI’m not defending lynching or the use of this sort of intimidation to terrorize any particular group of people.
I’m just saying that any time someone sees a human figure in a tree suspended by a rope it’s become “fashionable” to claim it’s been put there to intimidate blacks.
If you’ll go to the news story and enlarge the photo it’s clear that the human figure in the tree is suspended by a rope that is tied to its back and not by the neck for what I’d think would be to scare passers-by.
Is it in good taste considering the social climate these days?
October 30th, 2009 at 6:13 pmProbably not.
Was it meant to intimidate blacks instead of being a Halloween decoration?
Probably not.
Does anyone truly think the Parks and Rec dept. of Frederick Md. put these things in these trees for anything other than to decorate for Halloween? Really?
This is unbelievable.
October 30th, 2009 at 6:14 pmebbAndflow @ 50 says:
And I said…
Thanks for proving my point.
October 30th, 2009 at 6:20 pmdumbstruck. I don’t think the dummies were put up to intimidate black people. I think they were put up as innocent halloween decorations.
But, after seeing them up, I can see how they may unintentionally invoke images of black lynchings. I can see how that could be objectionable. And it makes sense to me they should be taken down.
October 30th, 2009 at 6:33 pmdumbstruck says:
Lynchings happened to all races – it’s not solely a black thing.
October 30th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
No, it’s not just “a black thing.” But it is an offensive thing — to people of all colors, and especially to black people.
Please don’t try to minimize the impact of this.
October 30th, 2009 at 7:19 pmI just want to know when “Hanging from a Noose” became a Halloween prop?
October 30th, 2009 at 9:30 pmWell there goes my “Blair Witch” display, might offend some of the “progressive” women I’ve seen.
October 30th, 2009 at 10:53 pm… is it GONE yet…???
October 31st, 2009 at 12:07 amMr.Duke says:
… will some liberal please stand up and say Halloween must be cancelled
yeeeah… that would be the fundie/evangelical (f)righties…
and you know it.
October 31st, 2009 at 12:09 amBeefeater says:
Well there goes my “Blair Witch” display, might offend some of the “progressive” women I’ve seen.
Seen? Is that when you’re stalking them through their bedroom window patsy? LOL!
October 31st, 2009 at 2:46 ambackup says:
dumbstruck. I don’t think the dummies were put up to intimidate black people. I think they were put up as innocent halloween decorations.
You think “racist” symbols are “innocent”? So you’re arguing that the racism is so ingrained that the racists don’t know they’re racists?
Based on your constantly racist whiny posts, that may be true.
October 31st, 2009 at 2:47 amDon’t understand what all the fuss is about. This is just a Halloween decoration. It is displayed as many decorations are for the fun of Halloween. There are many real issues to deal with today. Why not focus your attention on them instead of a Halloween Decoration that is put up for the fun.
October 31st, 2009 at 8:40 amIf this Halloween display was put up to intimidate a group of people, then it has served its purpose.
October 31st, 2009 at 8:49 amUntil we, as a nation, learn to ignore such displays and put the past behind us then those who truly do mean to intimidate will only be encouraged.
At some point, we have to say it’s time to move on and say that those things in the past that used to scare us, no longer scare us.
It’s the only way we can move ahead and heal.
That has been my point all along.
Dumbstruck
YOU are a moron. Lynching DID take on a racial aspect when used against blacks inextricably linked to the attacks on civil rights. Talk about cowboys all you want. Its like telling Jews they are too sensative about swasikas because a thousand years ago it was a good luck symbol to the Hindus. Either get a clue or STFU and stop wasting the time of the adults
October 31st, 2009 at 8:03 pm@69
So your solution is to feign outrage and that’s it?
Idiots who do this type of stuff, do it for the reaction they get from knee jerks like you.
Until we start ignoring the people who get off on this kind of stuff instead of giving them the reaction they set out for, we are complicit.
November 1st, 2009 at 9:17 amThe NAACP could have a separation of church and state issue with the Frederick County Halloween display, moronic as that display is. Halloween was, once upon a time, a Celtic festival of the dead and was done under the auspices of the Druids, The Celtic priests. Even though the Celtic religion ha mostly disappeared as a major religion it may be practiced to this day by some individuals. If it can be proven that the Celtic religion is in practice in America. them the County has indeed violated the separation of church and state Right by providing a Halloween display using County money and having he display on County property. Sometime in the past, the Catholic Church founded All Saints Day to replace Halloween. All Saints Day is observed on November 1 each year. Paganism is adn was a form of religion and as such cannot be promoted by and governmental unit.
November 1st, 2009 at 10:33 pmdumbstruck says:
If this Halloween display was put up to intimidate a group of people, then it has served its purpose.
Until we, as a nation, learn to ignore such displays and put the past behind us then those who truly do mean to intimidate will only be encouraged.
At some point, we have to say it’s time to move on and say that those things in the past that used to scare us, no longer scare us.
It’s the only way we can move ahead and heal.
That has been my point all along.
dumbstruck:
The first part of your name is apt. If we simply move on, as you suggest, we are accepting the racial intimidation that is at the heart of the Frederick County display. Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it. Those who ignore history are also ignorant. I suppose you feel that we should have simply moved on from Pearl Harbor and let the Imperial Japanese navy have its way. Yours is a dangerously foolish argument.
November 1st, 2009 at 10:40 pm@72
Yours is a dangerously foolish analogy and you are making a dangerously foolish assumption – that “the racial intimidation that is at the heart of the Frederick County display.”
Feigned outrage does no good. It only gives racists more of the attention they need.
Often when Anne Coulter or some other attention whore is discussed here the majority agrees that ignoring hose types is the best policy. But now it seems it’s a different story when dummies are suspended from trees. Apparently the majority here thinks they deserve the attention they crave.
November 2nd, 2009 at 11:18 amIf I lived in that town I would be pretty annoyed at the waste of taxpayers money on decorating for a Pagan Holiday. I’m sure that town doesn’t allow Hannukah or Christmas decorations. There’s a clear trend of removing God from this nation and when God obliges us, we will be in great trouble.
But of course it is OK to decorate for Satan’s Holiday. This is not a white vs. black issue. This should be a clear indication of where this country is headed when we acknowledge Halloween but make it politically incorrect to honor God.
November 2nd, 2009 at 12:51 pmI like to tell you white people have been hung in their life time too, for stealing horses, murder etc. The dummies were hung from their chest not their necks, I don’t see how this resembles lynching. Jesus Christ was nailed to a cross and HUNG until he died. So I guess we got to get rid of telephone poles because they resemble the cross now. Also we have to get rid of buses, water fountains, restrooms, tabacco fields, cotton fields etc because they resemble bad memories. I think the NAACP always wants to throw a pity party for a certian amount of citizens instead of helping them get into the community to help others. You are stuck in the past.
November 4th, 2009 at 3:44 pmI forgot to say, I think your being over emotional about something that doesn’t resemble lynching to begin with. Psyhcologically you shouldn’t have anything wrong with you to begin with, you never seen a lynching in real life, those should be the people that are offended.
November 4th, 2009 at 4:04 pmOh I read and see somebody thinks like me and has been here before me, hangings have happen to both races. What I mean if you seen a hanging real life is you were actually there, pictures mean nothing
November 4th, 2009 at 4:08 pmIf you think im ignorant anybody can say that, I have opinion and it counts in america, im impreavlous to your psyhcologically and generally impreavlous to psyhcology to begin with.
November 4th, 2009 at 10:05 pmLast, there wasn’t any use of noose hanging from the neck area as I said before, this can’t resemble lynching, just a rope tied around the chest of a body stuffed with hay or something and they were white too.
November 4th, 2009 at 10:08 pm