Would you say anything to people who have a black jockey outside?

[adigal]

I drive by this house every day going and coming home from work. It is on a main street, and they always have a huge Christmas display. For the last 6 months or so, they have had one of the black jockey statues right out front. This is not a historic one. This is a new one. In upstate NY, you can still get them in garden centers; they hide them in the back. I understand that this statue symbolizes the slave who waited outside for his "Master" to come home late at night, and I think it is racist and inappropriate. I wonder if I should say anything?? Some people say to paint it, I would never do that to someone's property, even if I disagree. Others say to hang a sign around its neck, saying something like, "The people who live here are racist." Or should I put a letter in their mailbox? Or just continue to ignore it. It really does bother me, and I can't believe people put stuff like that up in the year 2011. BTW, we are in a lily white, rural, economically uneven area. Any ideas greatly appreciated.

[ScreamingMeemie]

1. The letter idea is a good one.

You could say something like,"I'm hoping that you are unaware of what your newest lawn ornament represents..." and go from there. I like to think that they are maybe just stupid.

[ChazII]

9. Excellent advice n/t

[adigal]

10. Yes, that is a great idea!! Pretend that they were just

ignorant. They probably love Palin, but I doubt they want everyone to know they are racists.

[Snoutport]

102. +1 EXCEPT...ignorant and stupid are two different things...I didn't know what lawn jockeys

represented.

I've only seen white lawn jockeys. But, now I kinda think the white ones might be worse.

[PCIntern]

2. when I was a student in Rochester, NY,

we were told not to drive our cars with hippie hair in the rural areas, b/c the Klan was mighty strong up there...we had some weird moments even in the suburbs which led me to believe that I was in school in Alabama or Misssissippi.

[adigal]

12. I lived in Orange County, NY, 1 1/2 hours north of Manhattan

and the head of the northeast branch of the KKK openly lived in our town. They had a march in NYC, and were allowed to have it even though groups sued to try to stop them, and the anti-Klan in NYC outnumbered the Klan about 100 to 1!! But I don't live in NYC now!

[B-Stupid]

38. That's complete bullshit

There was never Klan in Rochester NY. Please tell me you didn't attend U of R.

[adigal]

52. There are Klans and Klan members all over NY

It is NOT bull.

[B-Stupid]

61. I've lived here almost my entire life

barring college & grad school and I can tell you with up-most certainty that there is no organized clan in Rochester NY.

[JanMichael]

127. Some folks (me included) don't know all of the names for white supremists

groups. There are indeed such organized groups in Rochester, and frankly, if I didn't look up the name, I would just think of them as "klan."

http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/hate-map

PCIntern generally doesn't make stuff up. If you'll google "racism and Rochester," maybe you'll see some other intereting opinions about your area.

[Bluenorthwest]

129. So have you been to Susan B Anthony's home there? Or

Frederick Douglass's? I'd love to hear your impressions. Same goes for the others who live or have lived there. Who went to Susan and Fred's houses? Anyone? Democrats? Douglass? Anthony? Speak up, Rochester!

[Poll_Blind]

3. Yeah, "Looks like somebody stole that black jockey you had on the lawn outside."

PB

[adigal]

14. That is funny!!! Wish I had the guts! n/t

[JVS]

17. Oh. That can backfire.

Some friends of my brother kept seeing a black Santa in a neighbor's yard and eventually "liberated" it. Unbeknownst to them the real owners were the Jones family (who were black), and at one point both the Jones kids were at a party in the basement/recroom of the kid's house where they had stored it away.

[proud patriot]

84. or better yet tell them with sincere earnest

"Hey some racist Asshole put a jokey on your lawn"

[Poll_Blind]

120. LOL- I like that one better, heh heh!

:rofl:

PB

[TheKentuckian]

122. Perfect!

[Bluenorthwest]

133. Tee hee hee....

Winner of the thread, Abbie would approve of that method!

[proud patriot]

140. Thanks

:-)

[Brickbat]

4. No, not unless I knew them.

[gateley]

5. Screaming Meemie has a good suggestion about how to

present the letter. Be nice about it, don't attack. Let us know if it makes any difference.

Edit -- screwed up Screaming Meemie's name. :blush:

[MichiganVote]

6. Its their property. They can do what they like. Only makes them look small nowadays.

[Tesha]

37. And that (making them "look small") is precisely why good people should mention it to them. (NT)

[MichiganVote]

70. Really? Why? Why can't they put something you and I could find offensive but which is not illegal?

Your idea of "mentioning it" includes your values. Mine too. But don;t they have a right to theirs if its not illegal. Like I said, its their property.

[Tesha]

76. So if your fly were down/blouse were unbuttoned, you wouldn't want someone to tell you?

This is roughly analagous; a social faux pas is being
committed and they may not realize it. They may have
just thought the lawn jockey was cute/darling/etc.

Tesha

[readmoreoften]

97. Really? Why can't someone "mention it" if they get offended?

I love these bullshit one-sided free speech arguments.

[Upton]

7. Mind your own business..

[FLPanhandle]

13. +1

It's their property and if they want that on display, it's on them.

[adigal]

16. Thank you for your thoughtful advice!!! I appreciated your

reasoned and convincing argument!!!

:)

[Brickbat]

19. What it is you hope to accomplish?

[adigal]

21. I think they should put it away - how would you like

to drive past something that symbolized racism or hatred or abusing a people every day?

[Brickbat]

23. And if they don't?

If they're black, or claim the "George Washington helper" explanation?

[adigal]

25. Well, I won't destroy anyone's property

Maybe take a picture, send it to the local paper.

[Brickbat]

26. What's newsworthy about a black jockey lawn ornament in the yard?

[Upton]

31. You think they should put it away?

The jockey is on their property is it not? It's very simply not any of your business.

How would you feel if some stranger tried to tell you what you can or cannot display on your own property?

[wickerwoman]

43. Depending on where you live,

you can't display anything you like on your property if its visible from the street, has a negative effect on the environment and/or lowers property values.

There was a lawsuit here a few years back concerning a guy who wanted to paint a huge swastika on his garage door. His neighbors got a court order forcing him to remove it.

For the OP, if it really bothers you, maybe you can talk to your local council about it. There may be town/city ordinances or development covenants covering the kinds of things people are and aren't allowed to display in their yards. You could probably make a decent case for a racist statue reducing neighborhood amenity.

[adigal]

47. Great idea - I don't agree with the responders who say

it is his lawn, he can put whatever he wants on it. He certainly couldn't put a huge swastika on his house, so there must be some decency code about this. Although the owner of this house is probably on the town council!!

[ergot]

55. I'm very very grateful I don't live around there.

Sounds like a bunch of fascist are in charge...

[wickerwoman]

63. You can check your town plan,

but its very likely that there are at least some restrictions on what you can do in your front yard. How would you like to pay $180,000 for a house and end up next to someone who dumps garbage in their yard? Or builds a fortified gang stronghold with fifteen foot concrete walls and gun loops? Or decides to keep pigs where the wind blow the stench into your kitchen window?

That's tens of thousands of dollars out of your pocket in lost property value through no fault of your own.

[ergot]

65. I don't live in a town. But if I did, I'd be able to tell the difference between

piles of garbage and a little statue.

[wickerwoman]

72. Well then knock yourself out painting swastikas on your cabin in the woods.

It doesn't change the fact that Property Law 101 says you can do anything you want on your own property *as long as it doesn't effect your neighbors*.

At the point where what you are doing does effect your neighbors, you may need to get a permit from your local council depending on how local laws define "effects". Many councils define obscene or derogatory displays as negative effects on the environment.

If the OP can make a case that lawn jockeys are derogatory, and if the local plan prevents that kind of development, then he or she can probably get the statue removed.

That's not "fascism"... that's living in a community where it is acknowledged that what one person chooses to do impacts on other people.

[LanternWaste]

100. Seems you appear to conflate "Ask" and "tell".

Seems you appear to conflate "Ask" and "tell". :shrug:

A rather relevant and precise difference I would think.

[cleanhippie]

95. It's the best advice you have gotten so far.

Really, you should mind your own business.

[proud2BlibKansan]

109. +1

[George Wythe]

103. Actually, that pretty much sums it up.

Sometimes the correct answer is obvious.:)

[JVS]

8. Most of the Jockeys I see anymore are white.

[adigal]

29. Yes, this is one of the few black ones I have seen

in my life outside of antique auctions or shops. Or in pictures.

[slackmaster]

78. They've just been painted white

Under that thin coat, they're all still black.

[George Wythe]

104. Watch the Belmont this weekend...

You will surely see some people of color, who are among the best jockeys in the world.

[JVS]

113. I meant the statues

[Obamanaut]

11. Before you stick a letter in the mailbox, check with the USPS regarding the legality of that.

Unless you stamp it and send it through the mail system.

[adigal]

18. Yeah, I would have to mail it to be legal

Can you believe we worry about things like this, when this guy has this on his lawn?? Sheesh. Thanks for the heads up.

[TuxedoKat]

69. Yes

I'm pretty sure that it is against the law so if you put a letter with no stamp they could retaliate.

[Liquorice]

15. They are not necessarily a sign of racism. There are historians who say

they represent an African-American hero who helped George Washington and also that they were a symbol relating to the underground railroad.

"According to the River Road African American Museum the figure originated in commemoration of heroic dedication to duty: "It is said that the 'lawn jockey' actually has its roots in the tale of one Jocko Graves, an African-American youth who served with General George Washington at the time that he crossed the Delaware to carry out his surprise attack on British forces at Trenton, NJ. The General thought him too young to take along on such a dangerous attack, so left him on the Pennsylvania side to tend to the horses and to keep a light on the bank for their return. So the story goes, the boy, faithful to his post and his orders, froze to death on the river bank during the night, the lantern still in his hand. The General was so much moved by the boy's devotion to his duty that he had a statue sculpted and cast of him, holding the lantern, and had it installed at his Mount Vernon estate. He called the sculpture 'The Faithful Groomsman'." ...

Charles Blockson, curator of the Afro-American Collection at Temple University in Philadelphia, claims that the figures were used in the days of the Underground Railroad to guide escaping slaves to freedom: "Green ribbons were tied to the arms of the statue to indicate safety; red ribbons meant to keep going ... People who don’t know the history of the jockey have feelings of humiliation and anger when they see the statue..." <2> Blockson has installed an example of the statue at the entrance to the University's Sullivan Hall."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawn_jockey

[adigal]

20. Thank you for that information! I never knew that.

So if I don't know that, I am sure they don't know that. I wonder if they know any of this??

[Liquorice]

28. I knew the story about it representing a hero, but I live in the South so

maybe that's why. Maybe they know that story too? It's impossible to know their motives, so I would assume the best and leave them be.

[Zywiec]

48. "So if I don't know that, I am sure they don't know that."

:rofl:


People never cease to amaze me...

[Blue-Jay]

124. I know, right?

Some people...

[Joe the Revelator]

53. Why would you assume to be smarter then those people?

[snooper2]

85. I don't know how to make pizza dough from scratch...

would have to look it up online, So if I don't know that, I am sure you don't know that. Right?

[jberryhill]

92. Many African Americans Collect This Type Of Dated Americana Decor

Ebay used to have a category for it, so they'd have a place to put the antique "Jolly N---" coin banks.

[abelenkpe]

22. They are either ignorant of what it represents or racists.

So I'd just stay away from them.

Well, no, I'd probably gossip about their insensitivity to family, neighbors, friends and on the internet and stay away from them like they were radioactive.

But the more mature path would probably be writing a nice letter.

[adigal]

24. Thanks. :) I wondered if I should just ignore it

Or if it was right/moral to let them know somehow what it means to a lot of people.

[ergot]

27. Actually, I would probably mind my own business

but that's just me...
:shrug:

[stevenleser]

81. If you thought a neighbor put an obnoxiously bigoted symbol in the front of their property? Sorry

Someone putting this up in public at the front of their property is not entitled to other people "minding their own business". When you put something like this out on your front lawn, you are intentionally making it everyones business who happens by.

Fortunately, this symbol could also be about something else.

[XemaSab]

119. We still have free speech in this country

and if someone wants to loudly proclaim, "I'm a racist cracker with no social graces!" I think they should be allowed to do that.

[stevenleser]

132. That is not the question. The question is whether everyone else should "Mind their own business"

And if someone in my neighborhood does this , then I will exercise MY right to free speech and gather a bunch of people to protest that person in front of their house on a regular basis.

[pa28]

30. Buying the white version and just replacing it one night might be good for laugh.

Then again anybody with a black lawn jockey probably has no sense of humor at all.

[B-Stupid]

32. We had one in our backyard

came with the house when I bought it (coincidentally we live in upstate NY). Our neighbor's kid asked to have it-wanted to take it back with him to school. In hindsight it probably was not the best idea to let him take it. Last I heard, it's outside a frat house at Cornell.

[izquierdista]

33. I have a suggestion

This requires the following items: two drunken fraternity boys, some super glue, and an appropriately large and lifelike dildo. Make him look a little like Tangaroa.

[madville]

34. There are two of them I can think of around here

Both are in the yards of black homeowners.

Am old coworker of mine stole one many years ago and named it Winston, anytime there was a party at his townhouse (about every weekend in those days) it was a tradition for the girls to have their picture taken giving Winston a kiss.

[Nye Bevan]

35. If they were burning crosses on their lawn then maybe a quiet word would be in order

but in this case I would just let it go.

[Tesha]

36. Maybe just point them to the Wikipedia article?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawn_jockey

[REP]

44. I'd like to hope the noble legends behind them are true, at least in spirit

Part of me wants to believe that the two legends, which somewhat acknowledge the bravery and courage of so many Black Americans, are real, but I tend to be a bit naive about things like that. The truth is probably they started as decoration people thought were cute and funny, completely insensitive to the demeaning stereotypes they portrayed.

[southernyankeebelle]

39. Write a letter. It may not do any good but at least they will know someone in

the neighborhood doesn't like it. I would be respectful and I wouldn't sign my name. Let them think who it could be. I would make a copy and make sure to keep it secure in a lock box. DON'T TELL ANYONE even your family. Keep it to yourself.

[Name removed]

40. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[adigal]

49. Thanks, I appreciate your opinion

I would write more, but I have to go cause more trouble.

:)

So if something bothers you, you are a troublemaker? Seems a huge jump to make in logic. Bothered by racist statue = troublemaker.

Nice.

[Raine]

41. Some time ago there was someone near me who had one of those, it was old had been there for ages.

One day I came by and it was painted green. I don't know if someone complained or they wised up. Anyway I'm glad and I assume since it was an antique they didn't want to remove it but instead turned it into a leprachaun. (sp?)

[adigal]

51. That's funny!! I hope the Irish weren't offended!!! n/t

[Liberal_in_LA]

111. I've seen them painted white

[ProfessorGAC]

42. I Have Done It

Four times. Different people. I don't wait for an explanation or excuses, or an argument.

I just tell them what a tool they are, explain why, and then drive on.

There's also a scumbag about 8 miles south of my small town that flies a confed flag with a fire in the middle.

I've stopped to tell him what for, about 3 times. Now, i slow down when i see he's out there and just flip him off once i know he recognizes it's me.
GAC

[adigal]

54. LOL!! You have more courage than I do!!! n/t

[ProfessorGAC]

57. Well, A Couple Of Things

First, i know how to pick my spots. I can sense a punk when there is a punk present.

Secondly, i was a nationally ranked boxer when i was in college, so i can handle myself.

Put a person who can handle themselves in a situation with a punk, and there is little reason for concern.

But, thanks for the compliment.
GAC

[Name removed]

115. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[winston65]

45. Here in the town where I live

I know a black woman that has a black lawn jockey in her yard. What should I say to her? Get over yourself and mind your own damned business.

[ergot]

50. Some people can find 'racism' on an olive can label...

:eyes:

[Xithras]

46. Black jockeys didn't start out as racist.

I've never heard the story about "black slaves waiting for their masters".

Before the age of cars, most homes had a hitching post out front for horses. People have decorated their hitching posts in various ways throughout history, and it was pretty common for people to use statues for this purpose.

The black lawn jockey is simply one variation on these, but it was one that had a purpose. As another poster mentioned, there are stories about Washington putting one in his yard to commemorate a black helper, and of them being used on the Underground Railroad to identify safe houses. Whether or not those stories are historically true, they spurred the popularity of the jockeys...as a way to signal that a particular home was FRIENDLY to African Americans. The symbolism was important in parts of the U.S. where open support of AA rights could get your windows busted in by the local KKK.

The fact that they're vanishing is unfortunate. People nowadays don't know their history, and simply assume that it's disparaging because the older casting methods looked somewhat similar to those used in blackface skits. While there may be some visual similarity, the intent and purpose were totally different.

FWIW, I've only ever known two people who had them, and they were both black.

[adigal]

56. This family isn't black, and they probably don't know

about the good or the bad stories. I am obviously making an assumption here, but I live in a pretty backward racist area.

[Paladin]

58. I'd Enjoy Reducing It To Aquarium Gravel In The Middle Of The Night. (n/t)

[madville]

60. Would it matter what race the owner was?

What if it was in a black family's yard? or Hispanic, Asian, white, etc?

[ergot]

68. I believe it...

I'd enjoy seeing the owner catch you.

[martymar64]

112. That's what Frank Zappa would do . . .

Gonna drive to Beverly Hills, just before dawn . . .
And knock the little jockeys off of rich people's lawns
And before they get up, I'll be gone . . .

[msanthrope]

59. Msanthrope has helpfully painted such creatures orange, since they look like Ooopa Loopmas to her..

You can get very creative with those things....

[boppers]

107. Wow. Interesting.

Did you know the original Oompa Loompas were African Pygmies, who wore leaves and animal skins (the children ran around naked), who were "liberated" from the savage jungle by Wonka, and fed/paid in beans (In other words, they were his private collection of pygmy black slaves)?



http://www.leewind.org/2010/09/was-charlie-and-chocolate-factory.html

It's straight-up racism. It's been whitewashed and disneyfied over the years, but the original was pretty obvious.

[yardwork]

62. Shun them.

[MikeW]

64. or it could be ..

If the dam things made of cast iron or bronze its going to turn black if its unfinished and left outside.

Also I can tell you from experience , sometimes knocking on a "neighbors" door esp one you dont know doesn't work out well, you do that

you might be just asking for trouble.

[Horse with no Name]

66. I saw one the other day for the first time in forever

and it was a new one.

I guess they are making a comeback.:puke:

As far as it goes...it is their 1st Amendment right. I wouldn't deface it.:(

[Tesha]

90. Gee...

> I guess they are making a comeback. :puke:

Gee, I wonder why?

But don't anybody say anything because someone's
feelings might get hurt...

(And folks here wonder why Republicans win every
battle; few on our side will even *SPEAK*, let
alone fight.)

Tesha

[pipi_k]

108. Actually, sometimes the best reason for not saying anything...

is to avoid looking ignorant.

Someone has already explained the history of black jockeys in this thread.

There actually were black jockeys in the country...did you know that?


http://www.soulofamerica.com/louisville-black-jockeys.phtml

And, from the article, did you also know that when thoroughbred racing was in its infancy, most of the great jockeys were black?


It could be that the owners of said statue know all of that. And would probably give people who can't mind their own business a well-deserved verbal smackdown.

[MrSlayer]

67. If I knew them I'd ask what the hell was up with it.

If I didn't I'd assume they were Republicans and avoid them.

[rug]

71. If this was 1965, plenty.

[A HERETIC I AM]

73. Swipe it and send it to me. I'll tote it all around the country and take pictures of it...

and send it back to those folks with ....well....appropriate messages attached.

[pipi_k]

89. I know you're only joking here...at least...

I hope so, but anyway, to anyone who has ever thought about swiping something (offensive or not) from someone else's yard...

Consider the possibility that the residents might have surveillance set up on the house.

My house is covered by eight outdoor night vision cameras, and one inside by the front door.

Nobody gets in or out of the house or yard without being recorded.


And I can access those cameras remotely by phone if I want.

When you live out here, it's the wise thing to do...

[DeadEyeDyck]

74. Saw stuff like that in Ga.

A couple of weeks ago, my girldfriend and I drove the back roads from Atlanta to Macon. I am bi-racial and she is white. We saw some of those little black figurines. She kind of apologized for them as if it were her fault but to be honest, it did not bother me a bit. Maybe growing up in Germany/Europe, I just don't see things like people who have grown up in the US. I just figure people have their own ideas about things and I don't generally make much out of what others do, unless directed at me.

[uncle ray]

75. i have a black lawn jockey.

it's tucked away in a corner of my shop. years back i actually did have him posted on the lawn. in my case, it was placed in front of our modest house, complete with ancient junk cars on blocks in the yard, i saw it as my way of mocking the actual racists that had the same statue in the middle of their ten acre lawns in front of their large immaculate homes.

[slackmaster]

77. Sometimes a jockey is just a jockey

[WinkyDink]

79. Right; like I want to be shot.

[Cid_B]

80. Ignore it...

Not your property or your business...

[pipi_k]

82. I'm glad someone came along and explained...

because not everything is "racist".

I think sometimes whites get a little too hung up on seeing racism in things that probably wouldn't bother the people we're trying to hard to "protect".

And that's the way I see it sometimes. Like we're saying that minorities aren't quite smart enough to KNOW racism. Sort of like they're little kids we have to protect because they don't know any better.

So. In one of the larger cities I travel to on occasion, there's one of those black jockey things on someone's front lawn. You know the funny thing? Even though it's a city with all sorts of people living there...whites, blacks, hispanics, Russians, etc...that statue has been there for ages.

No black person has been so offended he's tried to deface it or rip it down.


I think sometimes the real enemy of certain minorities isn't "racism", but people who think they're doing something noble by "protecting" those poor ignorant minorities from what may not even exist.

Anyway, yeah. I'm glad someone gave some history on those things and it turns out they're not as horrible as many would like to imagine they are.

[WildEyedLiberal]

98. Wish I could rec this post

:thumbsup:

When a minority complains about something being racist, you bet I'll listen. But when a white crusader looking to prove their liberal bonafides fixates on purging the world of some perceived "racist" thing or other, regardless of whether actual minorities are complaining about said thing, I just roll my eyes. It's like a certain subcategory of white progressives have to burnish their diversity cred by showing that they're down with "the people." It's at best annoying and at worst paternalistic and offensive.

[proud patriot]

83. I'd put a note on the door "Racists say What?"

[HopeHoops]

86. See if you can find a similar sized "Bob's Big Boy" statue on eBay and swap them.

Just hide the lawn jockey around the corner of their house so you can't be accused of theft.

[slampoet]

118. Decorating it with bras and panties does the same trick.

[HopeHoops]

125. That's funny!

:rofl:

[slampoet]

141. I did it to parking meters as a protest once.

Bras fit wonderfully around the double meters.

[WatsonT]

87. Ignore it

not your property, not your problem.

[lynne]

88. Not everything is racist -

- and you have no idea of the intentions or heart of the people who have the jockey.

My uncle had one on his lawn for years. This was in the 1960's - 70's. NO, my uncle was not racist. It just so happened that he worked in the horse racing industry.

Would you have been upset if the jockey had been white? I worry about those who see racist intent in everything they see. Makes me wonder who the real racist is.

[RebelOne]

106. Excellent reply. Couldn't have said it better. n/t

[hifiguy]

91. Years ago, a buddy and I swiped a white lawn jockey

off a road in rural Minnesota. It was out by a mailbox and when we saw it we started laughing so hard we almost dropped our beers. He backed up his car and we muscled it into the trunk. Weighed a ton, but we got it down into the basement of his house. That story provided laffs for years.

[Cleita]

93. delete, wrong post.

[Cleita]

94. Do you know anyone who plays

paint ball? :evilgrin:

[MellowDem]

96. Only if I was into ignorant, self-rightous assumptions... nt

[TorchTheWitch]

99. I don't get what the problem is with black lawn jockeys

Unless the black lawn jockey was meant to depict the fact that black people weren't ALLOWED to be jockeys by the 1900's when horse racing started to become a higher profile sport. Sure, loads of black people were grooms and stable hands and some even trusted enough to work out the horses, but actually wear the colors and ride in the races?... never. Even now black people and women are very much excluded from attaining such a hard fought for and hard won position.

I'm just not seeing what is humiliating about being depicted as a jockey no matter your race or gender unless it's to reflect the sad fact that black people STILL are very much excluded from such a position. I also have no idea why the lantern was supposed to represent the groom waiting up for the "master" especially since both white and black lawn jockeys are the same exact statue just with different skin color... is the white lawn jockey supposed to depict something honorable while the black one is not when it's the same exact statue??? Jockeys had no masters and they sure as hell weren't grooms, nor would they be waiting up for the "master" while wearing the colors. Wearing the colors of a stable/owner is a privileged position very hard fought for and hard won and only worn for the races... and only by the jockey. Jockeys are the only ones other than the owner and trainer that get a cut of the purse... they could and still can become rather wealthy and celebrities in their own right. The amount of trust put into them is phenomenal considering the enormous amounts of money they ride for and actually ride since the horses themselves are worth a fortune. It's also the most dangerous sport there is and insurance companies still make them pay more for insurance than any other sport. You have to have a spine of steel and titanium to be a jockey.

This manufactured anger about black lawn jockeys as being some kind of insult I see more as an insult to the profession of jockeys than anything else.

To this day one of the best jockeys in the world was a black man... Isaac Murphy. Murphy won 44% of his races... an incredible accomplishment still untouched and even unapproached by anyone else. He was the first jockey inducted into the US National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame and is buried right next to Man O' War. There is even an award named after him in his honor... the Isaac Murphy Award.

There should be more black lawn jockeys... them maybe people will remember their fantastic contributions to the sport and that they are STILL grossly under-represented.


On Edit: truly horrible spelling

[Snoutport]

101. um...according to the OP the Black Lawn Jockey was a slave job..waiting for master to come home late

I had never heard that before but NOW I understand why they are so racist. I had always thought they were just black jockeys who raced. (and, yes, I'm willing to admit my ignorance)

[tammywammy]

105. I'd never heard of lawn jockeys being the "master's slave"

I'd heard many years ago it was related to the Underground Railroad.

Here's a link:
http://www.loudounhistory.org/history/underground-railroad-jockey-statues.htm

[TorchTheWitch]

121. The OP's belief is misguided and mistaken

There IS no "master/slave" issue concerning the origin of the black lawn jockey. That's just some odd story someone made up, and it doesn't even make any sense. There are a number of stories concerning the origin of the black lawn jockey most prominent being the Jocko Graves story (which isn't even true) and the runaway slave story (likely not true either since runaway slaves would have approached houses at night when you couldn't discern whether or not the lawn jockey was wearing a cloth band on the arm or not and when there was no such thing as the costume the statue wears because at that time the sport itself had yet to be established that far). Jockey statues were originally hitching posts holding an iron ring to tie the reins to rather than holding up a lantern. Guests were to feel that in tying their reins to the whimsical jockey statue that parking their horse or carriage at your house meant you should feel welcome and secure there.

The actual reason for the lawn "jockey" is still unknown (the original black-faced hitching post statues popular at southern plantations before the Civil War were not jockeys). After the Civil War the Champion Iron Works was one of the first to start manufacturing the hitching post statue portrayed as a jockey in both black and white skinned though everything else about the statues were identical. These were the upright and proud standing jockeys known as the "cavalier spirit" style...

This design was originally copyrighted on July 13, 1871 and patented in May 21, 1872 by Robert Wood & Company of New York City and is the original "lawn jockey" available in black or white-skinned and the only lawn jockey design there was for a very long time.

Once cars came on the scene, the jockey hitching posts became less and less popular, so the design changed from holding an iron ring to holding a working lantern so the statues would still sell (everything else about the design remained the same). These statues were normally used at a driveway or home entrance for visibility.

There's your origin of the black lawn jockey... manufactured in both black and white-faced and holding an iron ring to be used as a hitching post and meant to convey welcome, trust and security.

I guess if they start making female lawn jockeys then women should get all offended that it must mean some bizarro "master/slave" thing that makes absolutely no sense and has no actual historical reference?

[pipi_k]

126. Something that suddenly occurred to me...

as I was reading your post...

I would bet anything that if there were no black lawn jockeys...only white ones...that would be seen as a sign of "racism" too.

Exclusion.

Just like before little girls' dolls came in African American versions.


Someday in the far future people might forget this. Their beginnings might become as cloudy as the black lawn jockeys are to us today. No doubt some group would feel the need to invent some false story about a slave/master relationship being behind those children's dolls.

[JanMichael]

128. your response reads exactly like the Southerners who argue for the

validity of flying the Confederate flag over courthouses. Historical facts are fairly easy to manipulate to fit ones argument.

Frankly, if a symbol (such as that flag, or lawn jockeys) are offensive to people, the owners should be made aware of it.

[pipi_k]

134. So what if...

Twenty African Americans tell you they're not at all offended by those statues?

What are you gonna do...tell them they're wrong?

Because they clearly aren't smart enough to know what they're supposed to be offended over, while we whites DO know?


I find this to be as obnoxious as being told by some MAN that I should be offended by something because HE thinks it's insulting to women and "sexist".

Women don't need daddies telling us what we should be offended over, and blacks don't need white overlords telling them what they should be offended by either.

You know what's really very sad? I've NEVER heard a black person complain about those statues. Ever. They're too busy focusing on real issues like job discrimination, etc. Black jockey statues don't mean shit to them.

[JanMichael]

136. your response is anecdotal.

Lawn jockeys are offensive to SOME people. I find them offensive, and I am white. It means nothing to me that you haven't met anyone "black" who is offended by them; I could care less. I do care about the people who do find them racist.

[pipi_k]

139. Your response is just as anecdotal

because YOU find them offensive.

The only people I've ever heard be upset over those things were white. And it's not because I only KNOW white people, either.


Just because SOME people find them offensive, that doesn't mean that they inherently ARE offensive.

We all find various things offensive. If we all demanded that the world get rid of things we personally find offensive, there would be nothing left.


And with regards to those statues being "racist", I'm going to assume that you did not read the explanation on how they came about.

At one time, at the beginning of thoroughbred horse racing, some of the very best jockeys were...

BLACK.

Look it up.


Black jockeys. Can't win, can we? If there were no black jockey statues, people would be having whining fits over "racism" because of the exclusion.

:eyes:

[proud2BlibKansan]

110. I wouldn't say anything at all

Why is this any of your business?

[-..__...]

114. Does it make a differnce...

if it's Harry Belafonte, Will Smith black or Yaphet Kotto, Danny Glover black?

[nolabear]

116. You know i was kind of undecided about this (though I'd never have one) until I saw

www.jollyobama.com

and it gave me such a case of the creeps I decided it's not worth it to condone.

[Iggo]

117. Just this...

[mikeytherat]

123. Our idiot neighbors have one, and they keep it illuminated at night (jockey is holding a lantern).

They've also hosted Tea Party parties at their house. Quelle surprise.

mikey_the_rat

[Octafish]

130. I'd tell them to put a 'Democratic Underground' bumper sticker on the racist thing.

[InvisibleTouch]

131. I've usually seen them in pairs - one black, one white.

Would this be considered racist too? I've never heard the "slave waiting for his master" interpretation. It's a jockey! Which is, IMO, a respectable profession. What does it matter what color the jockey is?

[Scout]

135. i would make a stealth mission and paint its face white :-) n/t

[Amaril]

137. How about..........

.....if you're driving by one day and see one of the owners in the yard, stop for a friendly chat. Mention what you've learned here today about the history of these little statutes and the significant role they played during the Underground Railroad. If they already know the history, then they'll appreciate that someone else "gets it". If they don't know the history -- and bought it because they thought it was "cute", then you'll have given them a great story to tell friends / neighbors / anyone else who questions it. If they don't know the "real" history -- and bought it because they're racist schmucks -- you can bet it will be gone by the next time you drive by.

[fascisthunter]

138. place a sign in your own yard ridiculing anyone with a lawn jockey

done