Widen the lens...
Dec 06, 2012 | 1014 views | 0 0 comments | 1182 1182 recommendations | email to a friend | print
I am grateful and proud that Moab citizens are working to change the name of Negro Bill Canyon to Grandstaff Canyon ahead of the road work and bike path emplacement on Utah Highway 128. I also write to encourage those who have yet to sign the petition for the name change, or who are undecided about whether to join the effort, to consider two of many reasons for supporting it: in keeping the name, we are choosing to define a man just by the color of his skin.

When I first moved to Moab nearly 11 years ago, I eagerly soaked up local cultural and natural history. It was difficult for me to choke out the name of the canyon, but I did so for the sake of honoring local lore. However, after becoming a mother and hiking there frequently with my son, I realized it was time to rechristen it. I did not want to hear an ugly “euphemism” for an even uglier racial slur come out of the mouth of my 4-year-old child. So “Bill Canyon” became our name for the place, after which hearing the actual name struck me as exceptionally backwards and disrespectful.

Why backwards and disrespectful? Because the word “negro” is a form of a fouler “N-word” that began to be used for a very large, heterogeneous group of people in the mid 1500s. Originally meaning “black” or “bad” in Latin, it came to be a derogatory term applied to many generations of Africans and then Americans. I submit that the negative connotations of “negro” override any historical value that retaining its use has.

As written about in an earlier issue of The Times-Independent, historical records indicate that William Grandstaff chose to be called by his given name, rather than the local nickname by which he was known during his time in Moab. Historical accuracy is subjective in that the lens through which we choose to view history allows us to focus on different things.

The old name focuses on Mr. Grandstaff’s skin color. Let’s widen our lens in order to remember him for the whole person he was.

—Faye Geiger

Moab

Share This Article |

Copyright 2013 The Times-Independent. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

report abuse...

Express yourself:

We're glad to give readers a forum to express their points of view on issues important to this community. That forum is the “Letters to the Editor.” Letters to the editor may be submitted directly to The Times-Independent through this link and will be published in the print edition of the newspaper. All letters must be the original work of the letter writer – form letters will not be accepted. All letters must include the actual first and last name of the letter writer, the writer’s address, city and state and telephone number. Anonymous letters will not be accepted.

Letters may not exceed 400 words in length, must be regarding issues of general interest to the community, and may not include personal attacks, offensive language, ethnic or racial slurs, or attacks on personal or religious beliefs. Letters should focus on a single issue. Letters that proselytize or focus on theological debates will not be published. During political campaigns, The Times-Independent will not publish letters supporting or opposing any local candidate. Thank you letters are generally not accepted for publication unless the letter has a public purpose. Thank you letters dealing with private matters that compliment or complain about a business or individual will not be published. Nor will letters listing the names of individuals and/or businesses that supported a cause or event. Thank you letters about good Samaritan acts will be considered at the discretion of the newspaper.