I heard many years ago that pic nic, was a derogatory term for African 
Americans. I did not research this term, but understood that it referred to 
finding and killing a black person, and then having a Pic nic. Maybe someone 
else knows exactly what the historical significance is of this word.

Anita


>From: Debra Jackson/Harold Forsythe <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history         
>      <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Violent holidays (was Re: Juneteenth)
>Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2007 10:52:03 -0400
>
>In the African-American community events do not require official sanction. 
>Given the history of repugnance among whites to the presence of blacks, if 
>black people chose to attend a public place on a particular day, it would 
>become part of the unofficial telegraph of the white people to avoid that 
>place on that day.  Assuming only that the facts stipulated below are true 
>about the National Zoo, it is easy to see how that particular day became a 
>blacks only day at the Zoo.
>
>In this regard, in one of her early novels, I think it is Sula, Toni 
>Morrison makes a similar point.  Early in the history of a small Ohio town, 
>the people in the black district proposed that a central street in their 
>area be called Doctor Street, because the only black doctor in town lived 
>and practiced on that street.  The town fathers, of course, rejected this 
>suggestion.  Thereafter, the street was always known locally as "not 
>Doctor's Street."
>
>Harold S. Forsythe
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Ray Terry" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Friday, June 22, 2007 7:28 PM
>Subject: Re: Violent holidays (was Re: Juneteenth)
>
>
>>In a message dated 6/22/2007 6:58:15 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
>>[log in to unmask] writes:
>>
>>>Didn't the National Park Service have to cancel its annual African 
>>>American
>>>
>>>Family Day at the National Zoo in DC because of all the shootings and 
>>>rapes
>>>that  occurred each year during that event?
>>>
>>>By the way, where does the National Park Service get the right to limit 
>>>the
>>>
>>>use of a national park, the National Zoo, to only members of a designated
>>>minority group anyway?
>>>
>>>Basil
>>>
>>>
>>---
>>
>>The annual African American Family Day at the National Zoo in DC has 
>>existed
>>for more than 100 years as an informal community tradition. In 1993, it 
>>was
>>made an official event.
>>
>>The Zoo does not exclude others (just as the US does not exlude
>>non-secretaries during National Secretaries Day).
>>
>>There was an incident in 2000 of youth gangs having an altercation at the 
>>Zoo
>>which was pretty bad.
>>
>>(BTW, we have a Japanese friend, from Japan, who wanted to visit us in 
>>Prince
>>Georges County, contiguous to D.C., but was apprehensive at doing so 
>>because
>>of  the rapes and murders occurring in DC & PG every minute or so.  He did
>>visit, but we kept quiet about our [shhh...don't tell] Negro neighbor.)
>>
>>B&R
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>**************************************
>>See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

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