Two words: "Uppity Negro." You may have seen these two words plastered on t-shirts or hats of students walking by and made one of four responses: you hated it, loved it, didn't care or found yourself curious and wanted some answers.
Founder of Uppity Negro, Andrea Carter, teamed up with the Abram Harris Economics Society Tuesday night in the Drew Hall lounge to present a panel discussion on the meaning of Uppity Negro.
Pictures, such as Rosa Parks with a caption below it that read "Not in my place?" and Frederick Douglass with "Unaccommodating," hung on the backdrop to set the mood for Carter's speech.
"I got fired for being an 'uppity Negro,'" said 34-year-old Carter, reminiscent of her impetus for launching the controversial product line in fall 2003. She was a waitress in the District at the time. Carter said because she stood her ground when a white female customer impatiently belittled her, she was fired.
"It was the way I looked her in the eyes," Carter said. "I didn't back down. I think that White woman didn't know Blacks could have such personal power."
Carter said that Uppity Negro, which she renders a movement and not a product line, is not to be confused with black bourgeoisie. She said it was initially a billboard of expression to make White people aware of Black's refusal to be in a certain place of society. She tells her distributors to deliver the meaning of Uppity Negro before the transaction is made.
Though supportive of Carter's efforts, some students detected flaws in the practice of the movement.
"The discussion was informative and I will support her black entrepreneurial ship," said Krystal Nesbitt senior African-American studies and psychology double major. "However, I think Carter's view is a Western point of view. It seems to be too concerned with changing the way whites think about us. In this way you are starting a revolution but for the wrong side."
Carter argues that in using the terminology historically used by slave masters to define any slave that acted "out of his place," the product line is also the mirror by which Blacks can see themselves and make changes. "Uppity Negro has educated Blacks on what is going on, in that it's not necessarily white people that are holding us back but our own people," Carter said. She said she requested three different Black media outlets to run her story and they all denied. The only one to accept was a white media outlet.
"That is activism inaction," Carter said. "Many of our Black baby boomers have failed us. They taught us to get in our place, get an education, don't rock the boat, don't complain and as a whole, you don't have to fight."
Other students championed Carter's efforts and raised concerns about the actual controversy surrounding Uppity Negro.
"I was happy I learned the creative purpose behind the design," said Shawn Maldon, a freshman political science and Spanish double major. "I definitely support it because it gives Black people that extra boost of self-confidence. What I don't like is the overanalyzing of the words. Our own Black community regarding uppity Negro as bad shows a degree of shame and fear."
Panelist and African-American studies professor Dr. Gregory Carr highlighted many different historical faces of "uppity Negroes" from Frederick Douglass to Nelson Mandela.
"Uppity Negro is a complex term and there's so many ways to be it," Carr said. "Would there be an Uppity Negro without Black folks?" However, Carr says the Uppity Negro concept is effective in sparking conversation.
The panel evolved into a two and a half hour discussion, Carter's goal.
"This is a planning session and you had no idea you were in one," Carter told the students. "We need a dialogue, and we need the baby boomers to know who you are."
Carter says she has faced death threats by white supremacists, suppression by some Blacks and financial hardships. But she also recalls a memorable experience in which an older black woman told Carter that she had been waiting 50 years for this to happen.
"Even though I have to fight you to love you, I'm not going to lay the cross down now," Carter said. "I am not giving up."
To contact Uppity Negro, Andrea Carter or AHES for additional information, send an e-mail to info@uppity.com, rottenpeach@msn.com or hu_ahes@yahoogroups.com.
