Geography for the politically correct

New Crisis, The, Nov/Dec 2001 by Peoples, Betsy

Names say a lot about a place. The recent anthrax scare had the residents of Anthrax Street in Fayetteville, N.C., wanting to move rather than live somewhere associated with a lethal national crisis.

Names may indeed be as influential, which is why several advocacy groups are fighting to get rid of racially offensive names for geographic locations.

Recently, the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) made great progress in getting rid of a name that it considers derogatory and offensive in nature to their rich heritage. Following an intense three-year campaign Chinks Peak in Pocatello, Idaho was changed to Chinese Peak.

"We were surprised that places like this still exist," says Giles Li, communications director for the OCA. "It was overwhelming to see that there are many other names we have to work to change."

Places like Jap Road in Houston and Chink Creek in Baltimore County, Maryland.

The OCA took their complaint to the U.S. Board of Geographic Names located in Reston, Va., sending a letter signed by various other advocacy groups, including the NAACP.

Hilary Shelton, director of the NAACP Washington Bureau says they will continue to support other ethnic groups in their fight to eliminate racist and offensive labeling. "We're going to continue to stand with our friends on this issue." He says they also have a resolution that supports Native Americans' efforts to change the name of mascots such as the Washington Redskins and the Atlanta Braves.

"Anybody, anywhere in the country may propose to the board that any name be changed for any reason," says Roger Payne, executive secretary of the USGN. The board, a division of the Department of Interior's U.S. Geological Survey, was established in 1890 and is made up of volunteers from throughout the Federal Government.

Payne says that the board is responsible for making sure there is uniformity in the naming of geographic locations. However, changing a name can be disruptive because the name is contained in hundreds of maps and legal documents. But, he says this shouldn't discourage people from filing a proposal to change a name.

The USGN has a derogatory names policy, which allows people to file a complaint and suggest a new name for any site. "There are two exceptions," Payne says. "The policy prohibits the use of two universal words, the derogatory words for 'Negro' and `Japanese."'

The board processes about 200 proposals for name changes a year, most of them relating to confusion about a conflict on a map. Payne emphasizes that the board only has the authority to change the names of natural geographic locations, such as mountains, rivers and valleys. He says naming jurisdiction over man-made features including bridges and roads like Anthrax Street, are left up to the local authorities.

- Betsy Peoples