'Yankee' debate touches a nerve
Wow. The discussion over whether the word "Yankee" is a slur or not generated the most heated discussion this young blog has ever seen.
Clearly, feelings run deep around this word. It touches on issues of insider vs. outsider, native vs. newcomer, South vs. everywhere else. For some people, it's a test of how welcoming a person or a region is.
I plan to revisit the issue in an upcoming column in the paper. Feel free to e-mail some more thoughts on the subject.
I'm on vacation this coming week, so it may be a little while before my next entry. But you're welcome to drop me a line with any questions or concerns, and I'll get back to you when I return.
Clearly, feelings run deep around this word. It touches on issues of insider vs. outsider, native vs. newcomer, South vs. everywhere else. For some people, it's a test of how welcoming a person or a region is.
I plan to revisit the issue in an upcoming column in the paper. Feel free to e-mail some more thoughts on the subject.
I'm on vacation this coming week, so it may be a little while before my next entry. But you're welcome to drop me a line with any questions or concerns, and I'll get back to you when I return.
posted by Leigh at
10:43 PM
25 Comments:
I think some of the 'townies' here would be disappointed to find out that people are the same pretty much anywhere. Southern Heritage? Whatever. Every place has its own 'heritage'. As someone who has lived in Charlotte for almost 20 years, and the South much more than that, I found that out big time when I lived in Connecticut for three years. Get out of New York, Boston and all the rich coastal towns, and you'll see it's no different anywhere else. I lived in Bristol which was 15 miles outside of Hartford. I lovingly called it 'High Point without the twang' because of all the similarities I saw. Very blue collar, insular small town mentality, and rather boring culturally. What's even funnier was that I met more NASCAR and country music fans up there than I ever knew here. I even saw a few drunken fights among the locals over stupid things. All the stereotypes people have about the South were very much present up there. Only the accents were different. On a final note, I moved back about a year ago. The city has changed a lot during my absence, in my opinion, for the better. I like new people, new cultures and new ideas. We are never going to be New York or Chicago, etc., but we're never going to be like High Point again either (thank goodness).
Danimal
Leigh Dyer, you are lame. Drop it and move on. This is such a waste of time.
Leigh Dyer, ya reb!
Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten
From the Battery to the top of Manhattan
Asian, Middle-Eastern and Latin
Black, White, New York you make it happen
Brownstones, water towers, trees, skyscrapers
Writers, prize fighters and Wall Street traders
We come together on the subway cars
Diversity unified, whoever you are
We're doing fine on the One and Nine line
On the L we're doin' swell
On the number Ten bus we fight and fuss
'Cause we're thorough in the boroughs and that's a must
I remember when the Duece was all porno flicks
Running home after school to play PIX * 1
At lunch I'd go to Blimpies down on Montague Street
And hit the Fulton Street Mall for the sneakers on my feet
Dear New York I hope you're doing well
I know a lot's happen and you've been through hell
So, we give thanks for providing a home
Through your gates at Ellis Island we passed in droves
Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten
From the Battery to the top of Manhattan
Asian, Middle-Eastern and Latin
Black, White, New York you make it happen
The L.I.E. the B.Q.E
Hippies at the band shell with the L.S.D.
Get my BVD's from VIM
You know I'm reppin' Manhattan the best I can
Stopped off at Bleeker Bob's got thrown out
Sneakin' in at 4:00 am after going out
You didn't rob me in the park at Dianna Ross
But everybody started looting when the light went off
From the South South Bronx on out to Queens Bridge
From Hollis Queens right down to Bay Ridge
From Castle Hill to the Lower East Side
From 1010 WINS to Live At Five
Dear New York this is a love letter
To you and how you brought us together
We can't say enough about all you do
'Cause in the city were ourselves and electric too
Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten
From the Battery to the top of Manhattan
Asian, Middle-Eastern and Latin
Black, White, New York you make it happen
Shout out the South Bronx where my mom hails from
Right next to High Bridge across from Harlem
To the Grand Concourse where my mom and dad met
Before they moved on down to the Upper West
I see you're still strong after all that's gone on
Life long we dedicate this song
Just a little something to show some respect
To the city that blends and mends and tests
Since 911 we're still livin'
And lovin' life we've been given
Ain't nothing gonna take that away from us
Were lookin' pretty and gritty 'cause in the city we trust
Dear New York I know a lot has changed
2 towers down but you're still in the game
Home to many rejecting know one
Accepting peoples of all places, wherever they're from
Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten
From the Battery to the top of Manhattan
Asian, Middle-Eastern and Latin
Black, White, New York you make it happen
"Yankee" actually has an interesting etymology, tracing back to the Dutch. Even more interesting is the story of "Yankee Doodle Dandy," which was quite a slur in London in the olden days. It carried some interesting connotations that have been left in the history bin. Here's a question for you: Why did that Yankee Doodle Dandy call it "macaroni"?
I agree with the second comment, Leigh get a life.
To my fellow native New Yorker, I feel you! There is no place like New York. New York, Chicago and L.A. are successful world class cities, because they've embraced the WORLD.
This topic only displays the supidity that exists in Charlotte.
Why would you want to be like New York? The South has the ability to remain a huge power of business and wealth without giving into the northern mentality. Altanta is already headed the way of the North, which is a shame. I hope Charlotte never becomes like Atlanta. Filled with gangs, gangsta rap, crime, liberalism, and no sense of it's past.
Gangs and crime are a much bigger problem in the South than other parts of the country. Look at statsor Richmond, New orleans, Birmingham, Little Rock and other southern cities comapred to the rest of the country and it's pretty clear. Saying that the south is 'more civilized' than the north is nothing but a myth.
As for sense of the past, go to any northeastern town where there is a strong sense in pride for the revolutionary war, inventions, etc. and you'll see that the past is very important to people up there.
It's way over due for Charlotte, and other towns aroud here to let go of this 'Southern' mentality and assimilate with the rest of the country. I'll take liberalism, gangsta rap and letting go of the past over rampant poverty, ignorance and racism any day.
To each his own.
Why would you want to be like the south?
I guess it's not so much a north/south issue, as it is a big city vs. small town issue. Charlotte remains a large city in numbers, but a small town at heart in my opinion.
I am born and raised NC, but have lived elsewhere. During a year's stay in Europe, I was called a "Yankee" by the Brits and other Europeans, and found myself very defensive as it IS a derogatory word we in the south use for our Northern counterparts. I would explain how I AM SOUTHERN! It did not matter to them, all Americans were Yankees...
Then lived in Boston and would teasingly call the natives there Yankees... as you can imagine, with the baseball rivalry, that did not go over well...
The point is we all have different intentions and definitions for the word. We Southerners should not use it in a derogatory sense, and the "transplants" (thank yall, by the way, for our booming economy!) should not be offended by those who do not know any better. Let's just all get along and enjoy what we have COLLECTIVELY created here in Charlotte!!
If Yanks don’t like living among us southerns, go back north and leave this wonderful culture alone! But, this here Yankee is staying. I've lived here for 20 years and when I go back up north, I'm taken aback with the rudeness and me-me attitude of everyone, even my own family. The south isn't perfect, nowhere is. But, a blogger suggesting that the south needs to assimilate with the rest of the country is absolutely absurd. This way of life should be a model for everyone else. We need to all slow down, smell the magnolias and care for each other. Life is way to short.
I don't find southern people any nicer than people anywhere else.
Charlotte's hipness will, for the forseeable future, be tempered by the fact that it's in the Bible Belt. "Hipness" implies, to a degree, a lack of restraint that is at odds with the checks imposed by the traditionally social conservative character of the area. All the young, Jesus loving people here who dress like they are 40-year old golfers furthur emphasize my statement. It's quite sad...
Charlotte caters WAY too much to the traditional, white bread, nuclear family concept. There's needs to be more things for young singles to do here!
And YES, I am from here. Thank all of you for moving here! The more people that do, the more things I will have to do!
So Leigh... where did you go on vacation? Dixie Outfitters in South Carolina???
Dear Leigh,
This is for you and your new love: Yankee debates...
I want you to know that I'm happy for you
I wish nothing but the best for you both
An older version of me
Is she perverted like me
Would she go down on your in a theatre
Does she speak eloquently
And would she have your baby
I'm sure she'd make a really excellent mother.
Leigh loves yankee debates.
Let it go.
Hey Leigh, do you and Chrystal Dempsey hang out? I bet you guys go to South Park mall and eat at the Panda Express and shop at Belk. I guess afterwords you guys drive around in your Honda and listen to 107.9 and talk about the crazy people on Charlotte.com and how you love your job. I <3 u Leigh Dyer.
Leigh, we love your work and we want you to come work for us.
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to the person who said:
Why would you want to be like New York? The South has the ability to remain a huge power of business and wealth without giving into the northern mentality. Altanta is already headed the way of the North, which is a shame. I hope Charlotte never becomes like Atlanta. Filled with gangs, gangsta rap, crime, liberalism, and no sense of it's past.
I answear you by saying, I want to be like New York because people like Leigh Dyer don't work for the newspapers.
Oh, and because in New York, someone like would would have probably fallen off the subway platform by now.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Stonewall Jackson said, "So Leigh... where did you go on vacation? Dixie Outfitters in South Carolina???"
I actually think she visited the Southern Legal Resource Center, a Confederate heritage legal advocacy group, based in Black Mountain, North Carolina.
And Dixie Outfitters has its headquarters in Georgia and has more dealers in North Carolina than South Carolina.
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