It's always been racist. The fact it's been used by several people in this thread should tell you all you need to know about the people who used it and urself for using it.
Yes. Its been used by several people in this thread but now all of a sudden, its racist.
It's always been racist. The fact it's been used by several people in this thread should tell you all you need to know about the people who used it and urself for using it.
I think you should look back. I doubt you would consider some of those using it as racist. Also, there is no reference to racism on any of the dictionary websites (where I even checked for spelling ahead of time). I'm truly baffled.
uppity (adj.)
1880, American English, from up + -ity; originally used by blacks of other blacks felt to be too self-assertive (first recorded use is in "Uncle Remus").
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=uppity&searchmode=none
Here ya go
Are you serious?
Sorry if I don't run down the etymology of every single word. I consulted a dictionary, thought that was sufficient.
Still, based on that definition, where was the racism?
If she had done nothing wrong, then she should not have worried.
She had a track record of breaking the law, warrants were probably out for her (failure to appear/pay) and more than likely was doing weed.
So as an result she suspected she was in trouble; not just why and how much.
Sorry if I don't run down the etymology of every single word. I consulted a dictionary, thought that was sufficient.
Still, based on that definition, where was the racism?
I think you should look back. I doubt you would consider some of those using it as racist. Also, there is no reference to racism on any of the dictionary websites (where I even checked for spelling ahead of time). I'm truly baffled.
<sigh>I just re-read this part and I'm really conflicted. Yes, standing up against wrong often has negative consequences for the do-gooder. Assholes who are smart tend to rise to positions of power and then they use their power to enact rules to protect themselves from the negative consequences that should (in a perfect world) follow their assholish deeds.
Then they convince useful idiots to argue on their behalf. "Don't stand up to evil because it will get you in trouble." The useful idiots blame the victim and use condescending words to describe the victim, such as "throwing a tantrum".
If the founding fathers had listened to your argument we would be British and have bad teeth. Many colonials paid the ultimate price that made their world materially worse. But they stood up for what is right and they are remembered as heroes, not as tantrum throwers.
Am I saying always fight the cops when they are doing wrong? Nope. But blaming someone who does is the same thing as taking the side of evil and arguing on its behalf.
Three possibilities. First is that her relatives and friends were tired of bailing her out. Remember that she had had several legal run-ins, citations and arrests in the preceding year, and while one can continue loving a hot mess, after awhile one gets tired of supporting their bad behavior. Second is that she was too embarrassed to ask for help. Third is that her friends and relatives collectively could not come up with five hundred dollars. That might be an outside chance considering that she was a college graduate, but in my younger years I would have been hard-pressed to come up with an extra twenty dollars on short notice. Being poor means that almost all your money is allocated to inflexible items before you get it. For instance, a friend got his car popped for being one day late with the payment; after that you have only a few days (I believe he had three days) to redeem the car by paying the outstanding balance plus exorbitant repo and storage charges before they sell it at auction. This is virtually ubiquitous among the "buy here pay here" dealers; it's just how they operate. If you are poor and you have done stupid things with your money, that may be the only practical option to get a car. Unsecured personal or payday loans may also have very short triggers (nothing to repossess but if you want to preserve your future ability to borrow you have to abide by the terms, which mean if you don't pay on time you have to pay a lot more.) Same with utilities; being poor means you can't always pay on time, which means you don't have much leeway before they cut you off.So the bond at the jail was $5,000 and the reporter on tv said she would be free if she posted 10% of it = $500. Then why she could not get her relatives (many from the multiple public announcements on tv) and friends to post it for her? Why she had to stay in jail for several days (3 days)?
I have never been in jail before so I am not clear on this, can anyone with experience explain?
What is wrong about it? I have a friend who recently became a cop and he told me about some of the tricks he was told to use like slightly veer close to or over a line on the road. People have tendency to follow in line with other, similar moving objects around them which will cause them to go over the line creating a reason for pulling them over. Another one was to vary your speed if the car is following you. Slow down so they turn off their cruise control if its on and then speed up to over the speed limit. Many people just follow the speed of traffic around them allowing the police to use speeding as a reason to pull the car over. I have also experienced the tailgate at night (So I couldn't tell it was a cop). I changed lanes but the car was so close I couldn't see the lights in my mirror. So I changed lanes again and when the car followed me again I sped up to try and get a safe distance between us. Bad move. I was pulled over and questioned because 'I had out of area plates' - from an area 2 miles away from where I was.
Here
Ask yourself why you initially used that word. Where did you hear it and do you use it when talking about white people.
Here
Ask yourself why you initially used that word. Where did you hear it and do you use it when talking about white people.
: acting as if you are more important than you really are, do not have to do what you are told to do, etc.
When a white person questions cops they are exercising their constitutional rights.
Black woman questions cops is uppity.
In its history uppity term used to say blacks who are smart and verbalize it are acting above where they should be.
Rush Limbaugh referred to Michelle Obama as uppity and we all know that was a wink to his peeps.
He's ignorant and oblivious, if that's what you're asking.
<sigh>
I AM NOT saying "Don't stand up to evil because it will get you in trouble."
I AM saying "Don't stand up to evil by being an idiot." If a cop is being an asshole to me and the only alternative I can see is to be an asshole back, then I deserve my Darwin Award. That's admittedly harsh, but for fuck's sake people, THINK! Actions have consequences.
Because of its definition.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/uppity
I've heard it many, many times before, at work, at school, social events like sporting events, oh and when people are dealing with authority (shocking). Every time it was describing an arrogant person.
You think I'm going to knowingly use a racist term here?
I'm ignorant on this one, I'll give you that. But I am certainly not alone there.
Please tell us then: When do we stand up to cops and how do we do it?
Cop: "Come on over here Werepossum, pull down your pants and bend over, Daddy wants some..."
Werepossum: ???
What action do you take in order to not claim your Darwin award?
If that makes you feel better...
People who aren't well read in the late nineteenth/early twentieth century Southern vernacular probably honestly aren't familiar with this, but there is a history of using "uppity" specifically for black people attempting to rise above their place. Can't say I've heard anyone use it in that fashion or in any fashion to remember, but I am aware that it was once a common term aimed probably 75% - 90% at black people. I've also read it being used for Irish, Jewish, and other non-desirable minorities as well as simply poor or common people demanding access to things that some rich (and invariably white) people considered their own prerogative, but it was mostly used (that I've read anyway) against black people, probably because black people's place was much more rigidly designed and enforced than anyone else's. Long after open discrimination against white minorities like Irish or Jewish people had ceased to be tolerated, long after open discrimination against minorities such as the Chinese or Mexicans or Native Americans had ceased to be tolerated, Southern governments enforced Jim Crow laws against blacks. (Admittedly other non-white races were collateral damage, but Jim Crow laws were aimed squarely against blacks.) Therefore while it's not a word that springs to mind, if it did occur to me I would take care not to use it in reference to any black person to avoid giving offense.Since when is the Urban dictionary the default source for a definition of a word?
Uppity by Meriam Webster means arrogant snooty, and pretentious. I've only ever heard the term usually applied to douche bag skinny jean wearing hipsters most of the time and never ever in my life ever think it was a racist term. Especially since it is a very common vernacular term used in a broad range of applications.
I don't live my life based on the opinions of people in an internet forum. My feelings aren't part of the equation.
OK, who is being the racist here.