The Village Seal of Whitesboro
The village of Whitesboro is located in upstate New York. It was founded in 1788 by Hugh White. The village seal depicts "a friendly wrestling match that helped foster good relations between White and the Indians." It was created in 1963 by local artist George E. Pugh to commemmorate the Village's Sesquicentennial.
Unfortunately, some people think the seal looks more like Hugh White choking an Indian. In fact, in 1977 a complaint was filed with the Village Board arguing that the seal "demeans, disgraces and creates prejudice and distrust of Indian people." The Village was asked to stop displaying the seal. However, the villagers felt that the wrestling match was an important event in the history of their town, so instead they redesigned the seal so that Hugh White's hands were placed on the Indian's shoulders and not so close to his neck.
What you're seeing in the image below is apparently the redesigned seal that to this day appears on many of their municipal vehicles. If it still looks to you like White is choking the guy, that's obviously your own violent mind interpreting the image in that way. Anyone can see it's just a friendly sporting match! (Thanks to Ted Seaman for the contribution.)
Unfortunately, some people think the seal looks more like Hugh White choking an Indian. In fact, in 1977 a complaint was filed with the Village Board arguing that the seal "demeans, disgraces and creates prejudice and distrust of Indian people." The Village was asked to stop displaying the seal. However, the villagers felt that the wrestling match was an important event in the history of their town, so instead they redesigned the seal so that Hugh White's hands were placed on the Indian's shoulders and not so close to his neck.
What you're seeing in the image below is apparently the redesigned seal that to this day appears on many of their municipal vehicles. If it still looks to you like White is choking the guy, that's obviously your own violent mind interpreting the image in that way. Anyone can see it's just a friendly sporting match! (Thanks to Ted Seaman for the contribution.)
Comments
Knowing the history of what the white man brought to the new land that decimated the local populations I think I'd just steer clear of the whole concept!
But, if you just have to have a wrestling match on your seal then hire a real artist or rip something good off the internet!
But, if you just have to have a wrestling match on your seal then hire a real artist or rip something good off the internet!
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 03/22/09 at 12:48 PM
White man not wrestle fair. He choke red man.
Posted by Madd Maxx on 03/22/09 at 05:06 PM
Imagine the white man saying, "Show me how to grow the f$%king corn, dammit!!!!"
Posted by Madd Maxx on 03/22/09 at 05:07 PM
I agree, the artwork is really bad. Even I could do better then that and I suck at artsy stuff. Hm, maybe I should submit a proposal and get some work since I have no idea how long I'll have my current job...and posting to WU from the office probably isn't helping...
I could do something just as bad and call it 'retro' :lol:
I could do something just as bad and call it 'retro' :lol:
Posted by vegas_girl in Vegas Baby!! on 03/22/09 at 06:16 PM
I can't believe they have gotten away with having this image around. That does not look like a friendly wrestling match ... or anything friendly, for that matter. If this is what they feel is acceptable, I wonder what the original looked like.
Posted by Nethie on 03/22/09 at 07:16 PM
But put a couple of hot chicks and some syrup there instead and you're all for it, right? 😉
Posted by Jules in Connecticut on 03/22/09 at 08:42 PM
I'm pretty sure that's really Jebediah Springfield (though the art is so crappy it's hard to tell).
It should read, "A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man." underneath.
It should read, "A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man." underneath.
Posted by StanFlouride on 03/22/09 at 09:14 PM
@ StanFlouride - ha ha I totally forgot about Jebediah Springfield! That is so right on! :lol:
@ patty - yep, it is indeed 'embiggens' Guessing you're not a big Simpsons fan (?)
@ patty - yep, it is indeed 'embiggens' Guessing you're not a big Simpsons fan (?)
Posted by vegas_girl in Vegas Baby!! on 03/22/09 at 10:44 PM
Oldest trick in the book (at least for those of European descent). Step on the foot and push the guy back.
Reminds me of what my brothers would do to me. Step on my foot so I couldn't get away, then slap me in the face repeatedly. Not hard, but enough to be very annoying.
They met theirs when I finally outgrew them...mwahahahahaha!!! 🧛
Reminds me of what my brothers would do to me. Step on my foot so I couldn't get away, then slap me in the face repeatedly. Not hard, but enough to be very annoying.
They met theirs when I finally outgrew them...mwahahahahaha!!! 🧛
Posted by Madd Maxx on 03/23/09 at 08:03 AM
Yeah outeast, smallpox has a way of ending hostilities by wiping out a good portion of the population. That's the story, isn't it? We gave them blankets that carried smallpox. A history professor at the University of Texas, N. David Cook, called it "the greatest human catastrophe in history, far exceeding even the disaster of the Black Death of medieval Europe" as 90% of the indigenous population was wiped out.
Posted by Nethie on 03/24/09 at 01:01 AM
patty - there's a book called Guns, Germs and Steel that discusses the affects of euorpean diseases on the residents of South America. Very interesting to read about. Let's just say that it made the job of the Spanish Conquistadors alot easier.
Posted by Madd Maxx on 03/24/09 at 08:01 AM
Thanks for the info Dumbfounded. I didn't realize it was made into a series. I don't watch much tv these days. I'm gonna look for it when I have time. The book is fabulous.
Posted by Madd Maxx on 03/24/09 at 08:37 AM
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Category: Regionalism | Signage