February 12, 2007
COUNTY LEGISLATOR CLINTON YOUNG’S RESOLUTION TO
ELIMINATE USE OF ‘N’ WORD PASSES
---Resolution Aims At Abolishing The Use Of A Word That
Perpetuates Racism And Connotations Of Hate---
Contact: Betsy DeSoye
Director of Communications
Tel: (914) 995-3277
Acting on the call by its Vice Chairman Clinton I. Young, Jr. (D,I-Mt. Vernon), the Westchester County Board of Legislators passed a resolution eliminating the use of the “N” word in the County.
Young, who drafted the resolution in honor of Black History Month, said that while the ban was “symbolic,” it was still “significant.”
“It’s intended to raise awareness that the continued use of the “N” word perpetuates the memory of a shameful chapter in American history and needs to be completely abolished,” Young explained.
“The “N” word was a term slave masters used to label their African slaves. It was degrading then and continues, centuries later, to be damaging, divisive and derogatory,” said Young. “The point is that regardless of who is using it, the “N” word is offensive and doesn’t belong in the vocabulary of a free people whose great heritage owes so much to the accomplishments of Africans here in America. The continued use of this racial slur desecrates and defiles the proud history of a noble race and elicits condemnation from the larger society. I’m calling on the people of Westchester County who still use this word to choose to abolish the “N” word once and for all.”
Young said he was pleased that his colleagues agreed to step out in front on this issue that has been the subject of some recent high profile incidents. “I do not accept any label created from the hate of slave traders,” said Young. “People need to understand that the “N” word demeans us all.”
See the text of the full resolution below.
Resolution introduced by Vice Chair Clinton I. Young, Jr. calling on the Westchester County Board of Legislators to declare a symbolic elimination on the use of the “N” word in Westchester County beginning in the month of February, also known as Black History Month. RESOLUTION _________ - 2007 WHEREAS, it must be recognized that Black History did not begin with the arrival of Africans to the shores of America brought over as slaves. The etymology of the “N” word is often traced to the Latin word “niger” or the French word “negrè,” both meaning black; when used as a noun, the “N” word is used in an ignorant and derogatory fashion to demean a person of African descent, and WHEREAS, it is recognized that prior to the slave trade Africans were a free, rich, learned and accomplished people who were descendents of Kings, Queens, Princes and Princesses, and WHEREAS, the “N” word cannot be traced to any African dialect, and WHEREAS, the first documented written use of the word was in 1786, when the “N” was a term slave masters used to label their African slaves; thus, the word has its origins in the contempt that slave masters had for their African slaves, and no matter how it is spelled, the word carries throughout the centuries these connotations of hate, and WHEREAS, many recent high-profile incidents involving use of the “N” word have elicited condemnation from the larger society. The use of the “N” word regardless of the user denotes ignorance of self worth, disrespect for the rich history of Africa as well as to the meaningful accomplishments of Africans here in America and throughout the history of the world, and WHEREAS, the use of the “N” word remains damaging, divisive and derogatory and a demonstration of the acceptance and agreement of this gift to American History by slave traders, therefore be it RESOLVED, that the Westchester County Board of Legislators declares a symbolic elimination on the use of the “N” word in Westchester County beginning this day forward as we celebrate Black History Month, and be it further RESOLVED, that the Clerk of the Board is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Governor and members of the Westchester delegation. |
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