By Jay Anderson on Dec 16th 2010 4:18PM
Filed under: News
Even in "post-racial" America, some people find their rights to freedom of expression constantly under attack by the PC police. Not a week goes by that we don't find some business owner being criticized by a clueless, oppressive public for merely putting up a sign (or selling "Darkie" soap). A business owner is certainly entitled to his or her freedom of speech, right?
There was the Maryland restaurant that put up a "Country First. McCain/Palin" sign during campaign season. A Florida doctor who posted a sign telling anyone who voted for Obama to "seek care elsewhere." A Georgia bar owner put the word "n*gger" on a sign outside his business. And just last week, I told you about some ingrate in Wisconsin who essentially put a "No Coloreds Allowed" sign on the front of his strip club.
And now this guy. Seriously, what is it with quasi-racist small business owners and their signs:
The fuss over a sign in Alabama at an electronics store reading "BBQ PORK RESTURANT (sic) IS SAFEST NO MUSLIMS INSIDE" shocked its longtime owner who said he doesn't understand why it's such a big deal.
Electronic Repair Company owner Chuck Biddinger, who put up the sign last week, said he meant the message as a joke. But he said this sign, which has garnered national attention, has gotten more positive reaction than negative -- and he has no plans to apologize to anyone offended.
He told local television station ABC 33/40 that while it was meant as a lighthearted joke, it was true.
"Muslims do not eat pork," he told the television station. "It's a known fact that Muslims have tried to commit crimes in this country."
On Friday, Biddinger said he planned to take the sign down sometime soon, but hadn't quite had the time to do it -- and was still looking for something equally eye-catching. Signs outside his shop are changed every week, usually with jokes he receives via e-mail chains.
When asked if he understood why this sign might have gotten more attention than other racist or sexist signs he may have posted, he replied, "No, ma'am." After all, he said, he wasn't worried about people's feelings. "For the local area, if I offend a few Muslims, there will be a lot of people who support it," he said.
Not to mention, all the coverage of his repair shop from the sign is good for business.
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Vintage Racist Advertising
The Authentic History Center
AP
BlackVoices.com
Vintage Racist Advertising
Top left LOS ANGELES - DECEMBER 1: Brigitte Nielsen and Flavor Flav present onstage at the VH1 - Big in '04 on December 1, 2004 at the Shrine Auditorium, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) Top right: 1899 -- Uncle Tom's Cabin: Topsy Illustration --- Image by © CORBIS; Bottom right: 1930s AC spark plugs ad in The Saturday Evening Post -- Photo by The Authentic History Center; Bottom left: This cartoon image provided by the New York Post appeared in the Post's Page Six Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009. The cartoon, which refers to Travis the chimp, who was shot to death by police in Stamford, Conn. on Monday after it mauled a friend of its owner, drew criticism Wednesday on media Web sites and from civil rights activist the Rev. Al Sharpton. (AP Photo/New York Post) ** NO SALES ** Credit: Getty Images / Corbis / Authentic History Center / AP
Vintage Racist Advertising
Advertisement for an African-American slave sale.
Although the enslavement of mankind in general has been recorded as early as 1200 BC; the first African slaves were reportedly transported to the 'New World' in 1517. This is 76 years after the first black slaves were captured and taken to Portugal.
Vintage Racist Advertising
African American Stereotypes: Products and Advertising c.1880s Tin of Nigger Hair Tobacco
For decades this product was sold in stores as chewing tobacco or for smoking. It was advertised as 'pure, unadulterated, fine old burley leaf.'
Photo Source: The Authentic History Center
Vintage Racist Advertising
1888 -- Seal of North Carolina Tobacco - The Darktown Bowling Club Poster -- Image by © Swim Ink 2, LLC/CORBIS Seal of North Carolina Tobacco - The Darktown Bowling Club Poster
Vintage Racist Advertising
ca. 1890 -- Zoulou Powder Poster (French advertisement)
Because offensive advertising was permeated throughout the world for many years, (and still is, as you will see in a few upcoming slides) it should come as no surprise that in more modern times 'racism has become the scourge of European soccer stadiums.'
Vintage Racist Advertising
ca. 1899 --- Uncle Tom's Cabin: Topsy Illustration --- Image by © CORBIS Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
Topsy was a stereotypical pickaninny character in the book, 'Uncle Tom's Cabin.' Uncle Tom was a slave in the book. The term 'Uncle Tom' is recognized to be offensive and a derogatory name for a black man who is abjectly servile and deferential to whites.
Vintage Racist Advertising
ca. 1899 --- George Thatcher's Greatest Minstrels Poster --- Image by © CORBIS George Thatcher's Greatest Minstrels Poster
Early definition of minstrel: a medieval poet and musician who sang or recited while accompanying himself on a stringed instrument, either as a member of a noble household or as an itinerant troubadour.
The black-face minstrel act was a very popular form of entertainment in 19th-century America. White audiences were receptive to the portrayals of Blacks as singing, dancing, grinning fools. T.D. 'Daddy' Rice, the original Jim Crow, became rich and famous because of his skills as a minstrel. Interestingly though, when he died in New York on September 19, 1860, he was broke.
Vintage Racist Advertising
African American Stereotypes: Products and Advertising 1899 Durkee's Salad Dressing advertisement, Harpers Magazine
Notice the broken English purportedly spoken by black Americans, 'We're gwine ter live high ter-night ...'
Photo Source: The Authentic History Centerr
Vintage Racist Advertising
Advertisement for Clarence Brooks and Co.'s Fine Coach Varnishes uses racist stereotypes to depict a group of African-American adults and children as they cheer and watch two shirtless boxers, one of whom appears unconscious, accompanied by the text "the Championship Fight, Sullivan Wins," late 1800s. The Sullivan in the text is a reference to boxer John L. Sullivan, who fought bare-knuckled in several famous bouts.
Vintage Racist Advertising
Advertisement for the St. Louis Beef Canning Company features an illustration of a stereotyped African-American character sitting on a can of beef, accompanied by phonetically rendered, stereotypical dialect-style text that reads: 'No Sah! dont jine no Exodus so as dis Beef lasts,' late 1800s.
Showing blacks to massacre the English language, further perpetuated the false idea that African Americans were somehow ineducable.
Vintage Racist Advertising
Ahhh, the money phrase: "all the coverage of his repair shop from the sign is good for business." Seriously -- this guy sees pissing off a segment of the population as "good for business," even though the business of note (BBQ joint) isn't one Biddinger even owns?
Because the sign isn't related to hiring or directly serving patrons, I doubt there's technically anything illegal about Biddinger's expression of free speech. Tasteless? Sure. Ignorant? Definitely. Racist? Probably. Illegal? Not so much.
If there were any justice in Birmingham, this moron's "electronic repair company" would be out of business.
Questions:
-Do small business owners have the right to put any sign they want onto a business even though it may offend the community?
-What rights to people have to enjoy public spaces free of negative discrimination, even if it is not directly threatening?
Leave your comments below.
Jay Anderson is a freelance writer from Washington, DC, whose work has been featured in the Washington Post and on NPR. When he's not busy talking smack here, he runs the award-winning blog
AverageBro.com. Follow him via Twitter @AverageBro.
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Comments: (26)
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By: The Truth on 12/16/2010 5:08PM
A devout muslim may in fact abstain from pork, but some opinions are better left off public billboards.
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By: stare k on 12/16/2010 9:58PM
Remember white peopel say they are not RACIST . The way I see it , & I 'm black .As long as we stay in our place , we are okey .What ever they call in our place .Staying in our / place mean equal right 100% ,just as the have . GOD created every one .And who are you to judge us .
White peopel are the most racist peopel that ever walked the face of the earth .
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By: rh on 12/17/2010 4:59PM
I am black to with white relatives and beg to differ on whites being the most racist on the face of the earth, when black self hatred kills other blacks everyday over drugs, streets that do not belong to them, colors of clothing worn, any old stupid S@IT!It broke my heart,to read the story on Monique Nelson, the african american woman who was shot in the chest, protecting her two year old child, from a gang shot out by some black ni@@gas.
Now who is the threat to our survival, white racist or black gang bangers, who don't care where they shoot or who they hit.
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By: Sis T 2011 on 12/18/2010 4:11PM
@Rh ok you have white relatives you takeing up for, where's your justification for the black side.
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By: Black woman on 12/18/2010 7:39PM
I agree with SIST2011 when she said
ok you have white relatives you takeing up for, where's your justification for the black side.
I don't have a side but I love my black peoples I am getting so sick of all the (Nigger) jokes it's not funny I have a young male child that I am raising that will be a black man and where is the freedom for him to see such things?
Now to be real about things if I had a business and put whites not allow or something stating about whites do people really think that the law will let me take it down when I got ready or will some white person be ready to sue me for the sign.
What would you think would happen to me as a black woman for doing the samething? I have a business and to tell you the truth it's not always our black men and women that need a bail bonds trust me sugar there have been more whites walking in my door then blacks but yet all are black men and women are in the prison system why race it's just not posted wake up black people worry about the signs that are not posted rather then the ones that are. The signs that you don't see are the ones that will hurt you.
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By: jeromequigley on 12/17/2010 1:12AM
@Jay: is this really a news worthy out cry? The guy said he puts up jokes he gets, hence the reason it was about a Resturant when if fact he owns and electronic shop. Like you did state, will it offend some people, sure it will. In todays Ultra PC world you can't say or do jack w/out offending some one so peepz get to a point where they get sick of walking on egg-shells and just say to hell with it! Again I don't really find the joke that funny, but I surely don't see it and then jump to this guy being a Racist!! I mean come on Jay, you have not been told or seen a joke or pic about white's or asian's that was not PC but it was funny and you laughed?? It was a joke and peepz need to stop with all this mess! Now had it been some thing that threatend Muslims or who ever than I would back up the out rage 100% but clearly that is not the case. Now can we move on to the more serious issues bringing this country to it's knee's?
@stare k: the fact that you seem to group ALL white people being the most racist on the earth is such a contradiction that it's too sad to even think about! Are there racist white's, OF Course. Just as their are racist of all color or whatever catagory you want to divide peepz up into! But to group them as you seem to view white's is about is correct as some one saying that Blacks are born criminals!! See my point? Not trying to start some posting war or slam you for your opinion because to me how some one feels is just that, It's how they feel and believe. And no one has a right to say it's wrong unless(my opinion) it causes physical harm(out of actions)! But not every one is going to agree if they feel the same way! So like I was saying, saying all whites are racist is being racist yourself, which I am sure was not your intent! No one's perfect and not all of any color, race, origin or what ever, is going to act the same way! Just a opinion of a different view! Peace!!
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By: fred on 12/17/2010 2:59PM
Or as I call it
FREE ADVERTISING!
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By: Umm Sanaa on 12/17/2010 9:46PM
firstly, just to clarify...this is not a racist action as muslims are not a race; rather, many different ethnicities from chinese, to australian, to african, to european, etc. are muslims...this dude's sign & his subsequent comments were ignorance & quasi hatred for muslims...i don't have a problem with him saying, "It's a known fact that Muslims have tried to commit crimes in this country" if he had followed it up with naming every other religion or ethnicity in this country...are people that intolerant to muslims where they overlook any crime committed by non-muslims?
what's also surprising is this dude is in alabama, which is one of the states best shamed for its participation & acceptance of hate crimes toward african americans...but are we supposed to forget about that?
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By: dsaqt4life on 12/18/2010 1:06AM
to be specific this latest guy isn't being "racist" as muslims can be black, white, arab, asian, inndonesian, etc, but he's definately an idiot. and a bad business man.
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By: lori on 12/18/2010 9:19AM
YES, HE HAS FREEDOM OF SPEECH, AND , WE THE PEOPLE, HAVE THE SAME "FREEDOM OF SPEECH" WHAT I SEE IS,THOSE FEW WHO ARE FIGHTING A LOOSING BATTLE,NOT ONLY WITH THOSE THEY ARE TRYING TO CONTROL, BUT ALSO WITH THEMSELVES. THEY CAN NOT, WIN WHICHEVER WAY THEY GO. WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT, WE WILL NEVER GIVE UP OR NEVER GIVE IN. FIGHT- FIGHT-AND FIGHT ON!!
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