Hypocrisy Destroys the People, the Community, and the Neighborhood

How Placerville, aka Hangtown Could Take a Lesson From Mr. Rogers

During these modern times with such uproar regarding racism and injustice against all people of color, America purported to be the land of the free, and the home of the brave with liberty for all, needs to look in the mirror and see the reflection of themselves as they hold on to a past relic that bespeaks of suppression of another race. Placerville among many towns finds itself in the spotlight due to its checkered past. Everyone wants peace in their neighborhood, but this is not the way to do it by denying the truth. Thanks for getting rid of the noose from the town’s logo but keeping the roughly 170 year old name, Hangtown, has undone the good intention. Everyone comprehends maintaining a city’s history, that is what museums are for. The keepers of this city’s need to confront their real agenda. You cannot solve a problem until you recognize you have a problem.

Recently there was an outcry regarding the noose that hung in this little town and due to that outcry the city decided to remove the noose from the city’s logo. Great start to bringing light to a dark place. Well, that light just disappeared.

Two weeks after the city officials decided to remove the noose depicted on its city’s logo, now decided to hold on to other relics of an ugly day gone by and needs a bygone like yesterday. Placerville, California is the town where George, a dummy hangs visibly in a historical spot as the officials recently voted to retain the significance of its nickname, “Hangtown”, hailed from the Gold Rush days that represented a controversial form of punishment. To who? Well, that answer should be obvious. Which is all the more reason that the name, and any semblance of oppression of people of color needs to be remove and placed in a museum of sort for those who choose to partake.

Not only are the city officials holding on to “Old Hangtown”, “Old Dry Diggins”, is another relic of days gone by that they are holding on to as being representative of the history of this majority-white town’s mining past.

Recently three nooses were found hanging in this city, with two being located on private property. They were investigated, the one on public property was removed while the two on private property remained. While the city has made great stride in removing the noose from the the town’s logo, in response to much debate and outcry pertaining to social injustice.

Checkout the Placerville city logo above and see what the fuss is all about, a tree with a noose hanging from it, while the city supports retaining the name, Hangtown, because it inclusion in their historical documents and newspapers, but is distinct from the noose symbol. Who is kidding who here?

The symbol served for punitive reason dating back to 1849 after three men who spoke no English, not present during their trial was accused of robbery, and attempted murder were sentenced to death by hanging.

The community is divided over their past, some see it as a justice while others see it as injustice. The trial of the three men bespoke of no regard for decency, honesty, and human life. What if these men were not guilty? Perhaps, they were guilty of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Will we ever know for sure?

This city takes pride in acknowledging their history even if the history is smeared with blood. How many more have been hung, that may have been innocent? What is admirable about this atrocity to humanity, that makes one want to hold onto this type of legacy? Is this racism, hiding behind history? The Vice Mayor, a strong proponent for removing the noose from the logo but reluctantly agreed supporting the resolution regarding the name. Due to this, the residents are pitted against each other.

Many residents challenged that the noose and the name are cut from the same cloth while another resident stated, “We accept that as much as we cherish the memories we associate with our name, that love does not justify continuing to use the term that is widely accepted to be a slur.” Other residents proclaimed that the names shed light on a past that needs no apology or reframing. Another stated, “the names provide an opportunity for people to live real history when they come to our town. When the marshals walk down the street, when we have the shootout, when we have the stagecoach rides — people are reliving history.” Whose history is being relived accurately?

Relics of this town history begun with a white oak tree at the center of town that was used during the Gold Rush era to hang and punish whomever. Of late, the only remains of this tree is a stump that now sits in the cellar of a bar, The Hangman's’ Tree, where the dummy George with a noose around his neck hangs outside the bar on the second floor.

Recently, in April, three incidents pertaining to nooses appeared around the city within a few days of each other. Nooses don’t appear on their own. it was stated that two were on private property and hung by the owner and couldn’t be removed by the police due to violating his 1st Amendment’s freedom of expression and no crime was committed. The other noose found on a utility line near a public hiking trail and was removed. Moving forward, hanging of nooses as a threat to life or terrorizing another can face up to $5000 fine the first time for placing a noose at a school, park or place of employment.

In conclusion, Placerville now faces its checkered past and needs to reckon with the truth of it as the residents are divided over all these relics, historical or otherwise. Realizing that a problem exist is the first step in solving that problem. Placerville has a problem and must find a solution for all its people.

For additional reads: