Talk:Rastus/Archives/2012

Cleanup needed
It's remarkable that an article this short could simultaneously have so much good information and so many problems. I've added information showing that "Rastus" was not in fact a common slave name; its association with African-Americans is factitious. I've also removed the claim that the name "became synonymous with the stereotype of the happy, carefree Southern Black created by Southern Whites to justify their continued oppression of Blacks." I don't question that "Rastus" is an ethnic slur, but statements like that have a lot of unsupported claims wrapped up in them. For example, what's the basis for the claim that the stereotype was created by Southern Whites? How do we know it wasn't Northern Whites, for example?

The immediate cleanup need is to put references in good form (most of the information is already there). A text edit, with an eye for good support and maintaining NPOV, would also be helpful. John M Baker 23:43, 3 December 2007 (UTC)

Ethnic slur
I've removed an uncited remark about Rastus being considered an ethnic slur, and added a Citation Needed to "It is considered highly offensive". Both of these seem opinion to me, and contribute to the orverall negative tone of this article, which certainly lacks NPOV. 75.129.168.18 20:16, 8 November 2007 (UTC)


 * Could anyone possibly be more clueless? Are you a troll?  Calling someone "Ratus" is like calling them a coon or the n-word.  It always has been -- at least as far back as the 1920s and '30s.  No self-respecting black person would ever name their child "Rastus."  Big duh.  Even the elementary course in American English used as the cite categorizes this as a "forbidden" word.  Why?  Because it'll get your a** kicked worse than that white kid's in Jena in all 50 states in the U.S., its territories and protectorates.  Haven't you ever wondered why, unlike Aunt Jemima and Uncle Ben, "Rastus" is never used anymore by General Mills in its Cream of Wheat advertising? I mean just day-um!  *x*  deeceevoice 22:02, 8 November 2007 (UTC)


 * To be completely honest, though I've heard of a number of ethnic/racial slurs towards African-Americans (nigger, Uncle Tom, 'coon, pickninny, jungle bunny, jigaboo, moon cricket, (Li'l Black) Sambo, among others - some of which I *still* don't understand), I have NEVER heard the term "Rastus" (or Erastus) to be used towards an African-American, as a slur. I hadn't even heard of it as a name at all, even though I apparently should have, seeing as how my mother was a Sunday School teacher throughout my childhood. ;) I can understand someone asking about/seeking a cite for "Rastus" being an ethnic slur; in fact, I wouldn't mind one myself, just for completeness of the article. Kailey elise (talk) 17:25, 6 February 2011 (UTC)

I think I see what 75.129.168.18 means: the word is, first and foremost, a name. the fact it's become an ethnic slur is important, and notable, but, in an encyclopaedia, I expected to read about the name and it's origin. I'm not disputing that it's used as a slur, I bear witness that it was in common usage as such in the UK in the 1970s at least. For a comparison: "Ayatollah" is used as a racial slur in the UK, but, if you look up the word, you'd expect to read about the etymology and correct use. Similarly "John John" is a racial slur, but also a genuine name. So maybe he's not 'clueless' (no need for insults in an encyclopaedia). Pollythewasp (talk) 11:39, 26 March 2010 (UTC)

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Classical Greek or Roman Names
I deleted the following IP edit: "It follows an American naming tradition of slave owners giving slaves classical Greek or Roman names, often in a spirit of irony. "  It is true that there was such a tradition, but, as noted in the article, Rastus was not an actual slave name, so was not a part of this tradition. Also, since Rastus apparently was a contraction of a biblical name, it would not have fit in that tradition even if it had been used. John M Baker (talk) 03:18, 24 March 2009 (UTC)

Cleanup needed
It's remarkable that an article this short could simultaneously have so much good information and so many problems. I've added information showing that "Rastus" was not in fact a common slave name; its association with African-Americans is factitious. I've also removed the claim that the name "became synonymous with the stereotype of the happy, carefree Southern Black created by Southern Whites to justify their continued oppression of Blacks." I don't question that "Rastus" is an ethnic slur, but statements like that have a lot of unsupported claims wrapped up in them. For example, what's the basis for the claim that the stereotype was created by Southern Whites? How do we know it wasn't Northern Whites, for example?

The immediate cleanup need is to put references in good form (most of the information is already there). A text edit, with an eye for good support and maintaining NPOV, would also be helpful. John M Baker 23:43, 3 December 2007 (UTC)