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Texas County Bans 'Jap Road'

By Ken L. Spear | Writer/Editor, Tolerance.org

July 21, 2004 -- The controversy over "Jap Road" in rural Texas ended Monday as Jefferson County commissioners bowed to criticism that the name was offensive.

Nearly four dozen people gave testimony before county leaders voted 4-1 to rename the road that has generated criticism since the 1970s from people of Japanese descent.

"Any era in which the term 'Jap' was considered acceptable is long past," said John Tateishi, executive director of the Japanese American Citizens League, who traveled to Beaumont for the public hearing that drew about 150 people.

Commissioners were also presented a petition with more than 4,300 signatures in favor of a name change.

A committee, headed by two residents who live along the 4.3-mile road, has been assigned to come up with a new name and deliver the proposal to County Judge Carl Griffith by July 29.

In 1905, residents named the road to honor Japanese rice farmer Yasuo Mayumi, who returned to Japan in the 1920s.

Tateishi's group noted in a press release the history behind the name is understood, but times have changed and a more appropriate name would be "Mayumi Road."

From Florida to Oregon
Texas isn't the only state wrestling with racist place names.

Earlier this year, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush signed off on legislation that would ban the names of geographic locations that contain racial, ethnic or religious slurs. The law went into effect July 1; the accompanying review process means no name changes actually will happen until 2005.

"I was shocked and appalled to learn that such offensive names were still present throughout the state," said Sen. Steven Geller, who authored the legislation.

Echoing the tone of both sides of the arguments, he added: "While I believe it is vital to preserve our history and that we not allow political correctness to run wild, it is appropriate to remove names that are hurtful and offensive to the majority of Floridians."

In Florida, "Negro" appears in 13 names listed in the U.S. Geological Survey's national name database. That change from the other "N-word" reflects a move in 1963 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to declare the racial epithet universally offensive.

"A lot of this has to be based on historical context," Geller said. "There is some interpretation and local governments might decide that if it's susceptible to interpretation that they might want to eliminate it."

In the western part of the United States, citizens were on a quest to remove the word "squaw" in the names of public property, such as street signs, maps and public buildings.

Oregon lawmakers took steps in 2001 to eliminate the derogatory reference that, although interpretations differ, some contend refers to female genitalia in the Algonquin language. At the time, there were 173 references to "squaw" in Oregon — more references than any other state.

Maine and Minnesota have similar bans.

Oregon Sen. Kate Brown said the bill is about "cultural sensitivity and respect. It is about much more than just being politically correct. The Geographic Name Change Bill strives to restore the dignity of Native Americans and to raise awareness of all Oregonians as to the offensive nature of this word."

The timeline for changes to be made in Oregon is 2005, giving authorities time to update maps or replace signs due to wear or vandalism.

'Determined to eradicate it'
Derogatory and culturally offensive places names have been changed in numerous locales, both by citizen-driven activism campaigns and by changes proposed by elected officials.

Had such campaigns not been successful, travelers through Florida's Hendry County would have to cross the two-lane Nigger Jim Hammock Bridge. And fishermen would cast a line from the island of Nigger Head. Or, across the country, outdoor enthusiasts in Oregon would be hiking Squaw Mountain.

While there are often arguments on both sides — honoring history vs. dishonoring people — the U.S. Board on Geographic Names is open to adopting local names, excepting those highly offensive or derogatory.

And two words won't get a second thought.

"The board will not adopt a name proposal that includes the word 'Jap' or the word 'Nigger,' whether or not it is in current local usage and regardless of by whom proposed," the board policy states.

In 1986, the U.S. Congress also determined Jap is an ethnic slur and passed a resolution prohibiting the term for use on any federally owned land or building.

The Japanese American Citizens League now is lining up for another battle — targeting some 2,000 businesses in the state of Florida that carry "Jap" as part of their monikers.

"The governor doesn't seem concerned by it. I've talked to some of the businesses, and they say they'll keep the name as long as the state allows it," Tateishi said. "We're determined to eradicate it wherever we find it.'

Beyond places
Place names and business names are not the only battles being waged.

Three years ago, the American Fisheries Society changed the name of Florida's largest grouper from its objectionable "jewfish" to "goliath grouper."

The Society's Committee of Names of Fishes changed the name after receiving a petition saying "jewfish" was offensive. The Society, based in Bethesda, Md., resists changing fish names unless they "violate the tenets of good taste," according to its rules.

No one knows for sure how the jewfish got its name, but several of the theories involved indicate the name was based on bigoted cultural stereotypes.

The first time a fish name was changed for such reasons, the St. Petersburg Times reported, was the late 1990s when the squawfish of the American Northwest became the pike minnow.

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>> DO SOMETHING
:: Do culturally offensive or racist place names exist in your region? If so, consider using the Southern Poverty Law Center's 10 Ways to Fight Hate publication to help guide your campaign for change.

:: Research the names of places in the U.S. Board of Geographic Names' database and propose a new name or name change.


>> DIG DEEPER
:: Read Randall Kennedy's book, Nigger: The Strange Career of a Troublesome Word.

:: Contact the Japanese American Citizens League or sign up for its newsletter.

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