You know, you could take this observation from our governor in a very negative way:
ATLANTIC BEACH, SC — Gov. Nikki Haley and Atlantic Beach officials remain at a standoff regarding the future of Atlantic Beach Memorial Day Bikefest after a meeting Tuesday morning.
Haley said she would like to see Atlantic Beach return to what it was in the 1940s when there were bustling businesses, hotels and attractions and is willing to help the transformation with state funding – if town officials end Bikefest.
“When I look at Atlantic Beach the feeling I have is pride,” Haley told town council members. “When I look at Atlantic Beach the feeling I have is history. … We need to find a way to make sure that this is a destination spot for all of the people from all over this country to [want to visit].”
But Atlantic Beach officials say that while they resepct and appreciate the governor’s opinion, they still have no plans to end Bikefest….
Um, the way it was in the 1940s? You mean, when black folks weren’t welcome on the “white” beaches, and Atlantic Beach was the only place they could go enjoy sand and surf?
But I don’t think she means that. I think she means Atlantic Beach should be proud that it was a welcoming place for black families, a wholesome place for folks to vacation with their kids.
As opposed to what it is now, during Black Biker Week each year.
I applaud the governor’s efforts to do something about an event in South Carolina that this year led to three people getting killed and seven injured in eight shootings. That’s enough to make anyone long for halcyon days. And I think she meant it in a good way….
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No one can roll back time.
Offer a path forward. To simply say that something is not good is a pretty flatulent projection. Jim Crow wasn’t good, either.
She did mean it in a good way – which is obvious to any fairminded person.
She meant that Atlantic Beach could actually be a place where all citizens wanted to spend money- and spend their time -year round
When is the last time you heard a family say “We are going down to Myrtle Beach on vacation. We will definately be going to Atlanatic Beach while we are in town?”
If they did say that, they were trying to joke around- because no one says that with a serious face.
instead of a tiny dot on a map that people bypass – there is no reason why Atlantic Beach couldn’t be a place that attracts people more than 1 week a year.
Most folks haven’t been to Atlantic Beach. I have. I’ve driven through it many times.
No one would – on purpose- chose to take their family to Atlantic Beach – and that’s a problem that Atlantic Beach and their leaders either don’t care to solve – or aren’t skilled enough to try to solve.
Yes, anyone but the most adamant Haley-bashers would take this in the way that the Governor intended it. She wants to put people and safety first. Conversely, the town leaders and chamber of commerce-types of Atlantic Beach are valuing short-term profits over public safety, and over the long-term viability of their tourism industry. If Atlantic Beach wants to run a murder-fest in the summer, we shouldn’t help them out with state funding for the event.
Particularly since she’s a woman of color, I don’t think that Governor Haley wants to return to the days of Jim Crow and segregation.
Also, I don’t think it’s actually called “Black Bike Week.” At least not officially.
I think Nikki would have been considered white under Jim Crow
“Several states prohibited Asian-white intermarriage even though the Asian American numbers failed even remotely to approach those of the white population in those states. These anti-miscegenation statutes were unique in the Jim Crow regime in the degree of specificity with which they defined the racial categories subject to the restrictions, using precise terms like Japanese or Mongolians, rather than broad terms like colored.” – Chin & Karthikeyan. 2011
http://ssrn.com/abstract=283998
I thought that was more along the West Coast. Did any of the Southern states define restrictions on races/ethnicities other than Afro-American (or Caribbean)?
“Asians in the Jim Crow South” article about a U of Wisconsin researcher’s work on the subject.
http://www.asianwisconzine.com/0310LeslieBow.html
East Asians are racially Mongols. South Asians, like Haley, are Caucasians. I think she would have been considered front of the bus people.
Perhaps Kathryn. Perhaps she would at that.
I’d put the Mongol Empire in my top 3 barbarian empires. Genghis Kahn didn’t ride in the back of the bus for anyone. They were some seriously tough guys.
I like Taras Bulba myself…
Yo Brad, I’m real happy for you and I’mma let you finish, but The Government Inspector was the best Gogol story of all time!
That’s right, Silence. Officially, it’s “Atlantic Beach Memorial Day Bikefest.” I was going by what most people in SC actually call it, to distinguish it from the equally unofficial “White Biker Week.” I think the official name for that is “Myrtle Beach Bike Week,” but I’m not sure.
I also find references to the white one as “Spring Beach Rally” and “Harley Bike Week”…
I’ve also heard black bike week referred to as “Sport Bike Week” to differentiate it from the white “Harley Bike Week”. Not sure if that’s the same one under discussion here, though.
NEWS FLASH
THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR AND HORRY COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ALONG WITH LEAD SPONSORS: MAHINDRA TWO WHEELERS, KERALA AUTOMOBILES LIMITED AND HINDUSTAN PETROLEUM
ARE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE
RICKSHAW WEEK – APRIL 5-11, 2015
http://www.wistv.com/story/26139178/nikki-haley-bikefest-meeting-atlantic-beach
Great political move by Haley to stimulate her base to have a photo op by appearing before the mayor and town council and stating that she wanted “the black pearl” to return to what it was in the 1940s. Said she’s going back to AB in about a month. Sensible priority for the governor’s campaign!
Seems like the folks in Myrtle want to return to the early 2000s when their rally was a big buzz.
“In 2008, Myrtle Beach officials enacted a helmet law, noise ordinances and other restrictions within the city limits that angered many who attended the rally. Although the helmet decision has been reversed, the event has fallen off the must-do lists of many bikers, who say they no longer hear rally buzz in their respective states, or remain upset over the city’s “keep out” atmosphere.”
http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/2014/05/14/4228558/myrtle-beach-rally-still-struggling.html?sp=/99/134/142/122/
I do think that she intended that remark in a good way. I also think that she forgets to turn her brain on before engaging her mouth.