RI closer to changing state name over slavery
Associated Press Writer
Published: June 25, 2009
Updated: June 26, 2009
PROVIDENCE—The country’s smallest state has the longest official name: “State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.“
A push to drop “Providence Plantations” from that name advanced farther than ever on Thursday when House lawmakers voted 70-3 to let residents decide whether their home should simply be called the “State of Rhode Island.“ It’s an encouraging sign for those who believe the formal name conjures up images of slavery, while opponents argue it’s an unnecessary rewriting of history that ignores Rhode Island’s tradition of religious liberty and tolerance.
The bill permitting a statewide referendum on the issue next year now heads to the state Senate.
“It’s high time for us to recognize that slavery happened on plantations in Rhode Island and decide that we don’t want that chapter of our history to be a proud part of our name,“ said Rep. Joseph Almeida, an African-American lawmaker who sponsored the bill.
Rhode Island’s unwieldy name reflects its turbulent colonial history, a state that consisted of multiple and sometimes rival settlements populated by dissidents.
Banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for his unorthodox religious views, minister Roger Williams set out in 1636 and settled at the northern tip of Narragansett Bay, which he called Providence Plantations. Williams founded the first Baptist church in America and became famous for embracing the separation of church and state, a legal principle enshrined in the Bill of Rights a century later.
Other settlers made their homes in modern-day Portsmouth and Newport on Aquidneck Island, then known as the Isle of Rhodes.
In 1663, English King Charles II granted a royal charter joining all the settlements into a single colony called “The Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.“ The name stuck. Rhode Island used that royal charter as its governing document until 1843.
Opponents of the name charge argue that “plantations” was used at the time to describe any farming settlements, regardless of slavery.
Rhode Island merchants did, however, make their fortunes off the slave trade. Slaves helped construct Brown University in Providence, and a prominent slave trader paid half the cost of its first library.
Still, Stanley Lemons, a professor emeritus of history at Rhode Island College, said changing the state’s name ignores the accomplishments of Williams, whose government passed laws trying to prevent the permanent servitude of whites, blacks and American Indians.
“There are different meanings for this word,“ Lemons said. “To try to impose their experience on everyone else wipes out Roger Williams.“
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Reader Reactions
I can’t believe this is the only thing the legsilature has nothing better to do with it’s time than to change history.. I see nothing wrong with Providence Plantations..Actually it makes the state one of a kind.. We never condoned slavery, as a matter of fact african americans were quite welcome to come to this state and have freedom..I spoke my peace…..
This is what I have been saying for the last 2 days…..throw these bums out of office.
Do you realize that historians are now beginning to credit Roger Williams with having tremendous influence on the framers of the constitution; especially Thomas Jefferson. They believe that it was Roger Williams early writings that may have set the precedent for religious freedom and freedom of speech. And now the “liberals” would love to erase this from the history books forever because RI was a rascist state for having the name “plantations” in it. What a joke these people are. It’s pitchfork time…..yes we can!!
Someone please start a website….www.throwthebumsoutinri.com
What RI should be voting on next year is Joseph Almeida. Kick his butt and anyone else who cosponsored this bill out on the streets. Let them find a real job.
Hey great idea JoeP!!! The legislature can clog up the state house with this nonsense then we should clog up court with name changes!! They have nothing better to do up there than rewrite history and take the word plantations out of context.
What a joke this state is. To many liberals and democrats who want to make a name for themselves in the history books. Can’t find anything better to do than blame someone for slavery when they never been in slavery themselves.“Rep. Joseph Almeida, D-Providence, an African-American”. Should we be called THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE FARMS? Is that politicaly correct? A plantation is a large farm or estate, where crops that are not consumed for food are grown for sale in distant markets, rather than for local consumption.
And mind you he has held a grudge against the white people pushing for this for 10 years ! For those 10 years he should have been helping “African Americans” get higher education and stop gang violence.
If they change the name of the state, I’m assuming that they’ll also rename Brown University which is named after a famous slave trader from Rhode Island, John Brown…yeah, right!
Which is more offensive? The word “plantation” which some misinformed people equate with slavery or an Ivy League university that is named after a documented slave trader!
Seems to me it is the racists that see racism around every corner and in every word. It is history - no need to apologize for it or rewrite it.
If this happens I’ll have “and Providence Plantations” added to my name to keep it alive, seems how it has nothing to do with slavery. Next they’ll be saying the mr. potato head plates are racist. Oh wait they already said that. Lets get Obamas opinion on the matter. He can execute an executive order to change the name. Bunch of cry babies.
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