It is time to scrub ‘plantation’ from our communities, once and for all | Editorial

It’s time for Hilton Head Island “plantations” to erase forever the shameful word from development names.

Hilton Head Plantation, Palmetto Hall Plantation and other developments that use the word in signage, corporate names, website names, homeowner association names, advertising or promotional materials need to drop the offensive word now.

Some in the community have talked about it for years. Some have made changes; most have ignored it. They should be embarrassed.

On Sunday evening, at a Hilton Head Island rally for justice and change, a speaker called for the name to be banished.

African American natives of Hilton Head have always seen the use of “plantation” as an egregious affront. The word has been a symbol of the elitist mindset of newcomers who began moving to a quiet island in the 1950s.

The word is said to denote security.

But that’s not what it means.

It’s a fighting word, dividing races, showing that white people who cling to the “Gone With The Wind” glorification of the slavery era are still in control. It’s not a dog whistle for racism, it’s a wolf whistle for white supremacy.

Now is the moment, as America wakes up to its legendary poor treatment of black people, for Hilton Head as a caring community to take the offensive word out of circulation.

Now is the moment to get this anachronism out of Hilton Head’s vocabulary.

This time, listen to the voices crying for change. And then do something about this needless slight that lives on within a relatively progressive community.

This is a statement that can be made. It is an action that we can take. It is much easier than changing the criminal justice system, or changing minds and hearts.

It can show the world that Hilton Head no longer lives in the 1950s, and no longer is willing to abide racially divisive names and symbols.

It’s decades overdue.

This story was originally published June 8, 2020 at 9:59 AM.