A black FDNY electrician found a noose in front of his locker last week -- shortly after he and four other minority workers filed racial discrimination complaints with the fire department and the state.How many people know the history of the "monkey fist"? I never heard that before and I doubt your average redneck knows it either. That's the first thing that makes this story suspicious to me.
Gregory Seabrook, who has worked for the FDNY for nearly 20 years, showed up to work Thursday afternoon to find a 3-foot long noose with a large "monkey fist" knot at the end.
The dense, round knot was historically used by slave owners to beat slaves, according to Seabrook's lawyer.
Secondly, of course, is the ongoing dispute. Nothing like a little racism to help your case.
Finally there have been several examples of aggrieved parties "finding" nooses on office doors and the like, only to be discovered to be hoaxes later (an NYU professor, for instance). The parties involved were trying to gin up sympathy for their complaints.
Color me skeptical.
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1 comment:
Oooo! Ooooo! I do, Mr. Kotter!
It's used by sailors to be a weight at the end of a line, to make it easier to heave.
Some Scouts (and Scouters) know it, it being decorative, if they are really interested in knots.
I doubt it was used to beat slaves, but it could have been. "Monkey's fists were also commonly used as melee weapons by sailors embroiled in street and tavern fights during the 19th century and the use of the monkey's fist as a slungshot became common in the street gang subcultures of the 19th century. Similarly, when learning or practicing in the use of a Chinese meteor hammer, each end of the practice weapon is often tied off with a monkey's fist knot. Due to the monkey's fist's long and bloody history as a weapon, it is an offense under the criminal code of Canada to tie or possess one when not within throwing distance of a dock or harbour.[citation needed]" (From ask.com/wiki/)
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