Some Rhode Islanders are saying the state should change its name because it could conjure images of slavery.
The official name of the state is Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, and it’s those last two words people have a problem with.
Rep. Joseph Almeida and Sen. Harold Metts are sponsoring a bill that would amend the state constitution to delete the words “Providence Plantations” from the name. Almeida and Metts say the bill has support from the local black community.
Metts calls the words “an insult.”
The Providence Journal reports that the words “Providence Plantations” do not appear on the state seal or flag. However, they do appear on some official documents.
Previous efforts to remove the words from the official state name have failed. – VS
(Photo licensed under Creative Commons and courtesy of Patrick Haney).
haha Plantations ftw!
[...] Is Rhode Island’s name racist? Some state legislators think so. Technically, though, the full state name is “Rhode Island and Providence [...]