Hmmm. Since many Irish were also slaves and forced to pick cotton could I say it and get away with it since I am of Irish ancestry ? (Thus direct slave ancestry)

(04-12-2018 09:44 AM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  Stupid controversy? Yes

Stupid to apply to phrase "cotton-pickin' mind" to an African-American? Also yes.

+1

(04-12-2018 11:04 AM)thespiritof1976 Wrote:  Hmmm. Since many Irish were also slaves and forced to pick cotton could I say it and get away with it since I am of Irish ancestry ? (Thus direct slave ancestry)

Just curious as to the character of Irish slavery on American cotton farms. Can you please help us understand this situation

So, while it was true that Irish persons did experience penal/indentured servitude (which is a type of slavery experienced by part of my family in relatively recent generations), I'm not aware of that being much of a part of the Irish experience in the USA.

Many Irish came to the United States after independence, during the 1840s and later. This did coincide with the great expansion in cotton production in the US South (starting around 1805). My understanding was that there was no white indentured servitude/slavery at that time, and that virtually all cotton production was performed by bounded African American labor.

Now it is true that cotton production existed on a vastly smaller scale in colonial times, and that there were Irish persons who elected or were forced to perform indentured servitude labor for a temporary period and in far better conditions with far more rights than African slaves in what is now the territory of the United States. I suppose its possible that a few Irish indentured servants were used on colonial cotton farms. Is that what you're referring to?

By the way, Snopes has a posting on "Irish Slavery". Here it is https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/irish-...y-america/

Here's wikipedia on the Irish Slaves Myth. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_slaves_myth

My grandma and her sister made a living out of picking cotton back in the 1930's. Who do I get to sue? I think he is making fun of my heritage.

I would use 'out of your ever lovin' mind' but this is offensive to people in long-term committed relationships.



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(04-12-2018 12:03 PM)ark30inf Wrote:  I would use 'out of your ever lovin' mind' but this is offensive to people in long-term committed relationships.



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It is a saying with a background history. My grandmother picked cotton during the depression era. I remember her saying you had to be out of your cotton picking mind to want to do it. The husk of the cotton boll is hard and sharp. It tears your hands to shreds and of course the work is back breaking.

Looks like a couple of twitter users commented on it. Hardly considered "coming under fire"

There is still an NBA. Who knew. Anybody that watches that shite is out of their cotton picking mind.

(04-12-2018 01:15 PM)shere khan Wrote:  There is still an NBA. Who knew. Anybody that watches that shite is out of their cotton picking mind.

Careful there.... people are running around reporting ironic language use to the mods today...

(04-12-2018 10:04 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(04-12-2018 09:59 AM)BadgerMJ Wrote:  

(04-12-2018 09:40 AM)ECUGrad07 Wrote:  "An Oklahoma City Thunder broadcaster came under fire Wednesday night for using an old southern phrase – with possible racial connotations – when talking about Russell Westbrook’s play.

Westbrook, who became the only NBA player ever to finish two seasons averaging a triple-double in points, was on fire in the second quarter, prompting play-by-play guy Brian Davis to say the superstar point guard was “out of his cotton-picking mind.”

This is so stupid...

OK, I'll admit, when I saw this I laughed. It's silly and stupid at the same time. Mr. Davis should really know better.

That being said, which would have been received worse, what he said or if he would have said he "was out of his f@cking mind".....

So now Bugs Bunny is racist:
https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/cotton-picking.html

I don't think so, but you have to admit, attitudes and beliefs have changed since 1953.....

(04-12-2018 01:36 PM)BadgerMJ Wrote:  

(04-12-2018 10:04 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(04-12-2018 09:59 AM)BadgerMJ Wrote:  

(04-12-2018 09:40 AM)ECUGrad07 Wrote:  "An Oklahoma City Thunder broadcaster came under fire Wednesday night for using an old southern phrase – with possible racial connotations – when talking about Russell Westbrook’s play.

Westbrook, who became the only NBA player ever to finish two seasons averaging a triple-double in points, was on fire in the second quarter, prompting play-by-play guy Brian Davis to say the superstar point guard was “out of his cotton-picking mind.”

This is so stupid...

OK, I'll admit, when I saw this I laughed. It's silly and stupid at the same time. Mr. Davis should really know better.

That being said, which would have been received worse, what he said or if he would have said he "was out of his f@cking mind".....

So now Bugs Bunny is racist:
https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/cotton-picking.html

I don't think so, but you have to admit, attitudes and beliefs have changed since 1953.....

Rationality and common sense have changed too.

You would think we have enough problems we need to deal with without having to make up additional trivial ones every day.

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