Posted by The News and Observer on 7/19/2001, 11:53 pm As was your second inclination. But the Rev. Scott, a local activist, insists he is serious. In a noon news conference earlier this week, he vowed to "launch a campaign to ask city officials to change Durham's motto from 'City of Medicine' to 'City of Umoja.' " Durham Mayor Nick Tennyson was less than enthusiastic. "I'm a traditionalist," he told me. "I wouldn't be in favor of changing the name or the motto." Umoja, Scott explained, is a beautiful Swahili word meaning unity. "Many African-American young people," he said, "get involved in gangs and other destructive activity because they do not have a sense of belonging or ownership. Changing the motto ... to something that reflects African culture will change that." I, as a resident of Durham, agree with Scott that Durham sometimes gets a lousy rap as a place where people get blown away indiscriminately. But also, as a resident of Durham, I know that some residents seem intent upon living down to its reputation. Changing the city's motto will have less effect than giving everyone a bulletproof vest or, better yet, teaching lead-slinging punks that you don't shoot some dude simply because the color of the handkerchief hanging out of his back pocket is different from the one in yours. Whatever else you say about Scott, he is committed. Others say he should be. But just a few years ago, he led a national assault against a company that was marketing Phat Boy, a malt liquor fortified with a so-called aphrodisiac, exclusively in black communities. Because of protests from Scott and others, that brand was pulled from store shelves and is no longer made. But in seeking to change Durham's motto, Scott is probably backing a dog that won't hunt. He knows that, too. "It's not an issue of whether it could happen," he said. "It needs to happen. I'm going to put forth to the African-American community that we start calling it Umoja." OK, but could we still get our mail? Scott initially suggested changing the city's name, but after reconsidering, he said, "We have to be somewhat realistic. We'll settle for the motto right now." Come to think of it, maybe Durham could use a new motto. So could Raleigh and Cary. Think about it: Raleigh is known as the City of Oaks, hence its giant acorn drop each New Year's Eve. Now that developers seem intent on uprooting every tree and blade of grass to put up another drugstore, though, that moniker seems like false advertising, don't you think? Thus, Raleigh could become the "City of Stripmula," a foreign phrase that, loosely translated, means "nondescript strip malls as far as the eye can see." Cary, not to be outdone, could scrap "The Technology Town of North Carolina" and adopt the motto "Casasimilar," a foreign phrase that means, "Holy mackerel, Ethel. All of these houses look alike."
Umoja campaign needs mojo
Admit it. When you first heard that the Rev. Paul Scott wants to change Durham's motto as a way to rid the city of its negative image, your first inclination was to laugh. Or call the Hoo Hoo Hotel.
Call Barry at 836-2811 or send him e-mail at barrys@nando.com
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