171. Supplantation

The Allusionist

Helen Zaltzman

Arts, Education, Words, Linguistics, History, Entertainment, Helen Zaltzman, Etymology, Society & Culture

4.7 • 3.8K Ratings

🗓️ 24 February 2023

⏱️ 29 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Last episode, I mentioned that in London, Ontario, in 2019 a 9-year-old named Lyla Wheeler had launched a petition to rename her street, currently called Plantation Road. This episode, Lyla, now aged nearly thirteen, and her mom Kristin Daley recount the reasons why Lyla campaigned for this name change, how the neighbours reacted, what happened when the wider world heard about it, and why the street's name is still Plantation Road.

I hope you will not be deterred from campaigning for different, better words.

Content note: the episode contains references to enslavement of Black people and a brief description of the Canadian residential school system.

This is an instalment of the Telling Other Stories series, about renaming. Find out more about this episode and get extra information about the topics therein at theallusionist.org/supplantation, where there's also a transcript.

Support the show at theallusionist.org/donate and as well as keeping this independent podcast going, you also get behind-the-scenes glimpses of the show, fortnightly livestreams, and the Allusioverse Discord community. Over the next few weeks, we're watching Great Pottery Throwdown together.

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at facebook.com/allusionistshow, instagram.com/allusionistshow, youtube.com/allusionistshow and twitter.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. Martin Austwick provides the original music. Hear Martin’s own songs via PaleBirdMusic.com.

Our ad partner is Multitude. If you want me to talk compellingly about your product, sponsor an episode: contact Multitude at multitude.productions/ads. This episode is sponsored by:

• Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothes ever, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to bombas.com/allusionist to get 20% off your first purchase.
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Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	This is the illusionist, in which I, Helen Zoltzman, see some language, pick it up, all day long I have good luck.
0:10.5	This episode is another installment in the Telling Other Stories series about renaming.
0:15.0	It's an adjunct to the last episode, actively passive, wherein Kennedy White has of unread at the facts.com talked about the word plantation.
0:23.5	This episode we find out what happens when you do try to get rid of the word plantation from your street name.
0:29.5	The episode contains references to the enslavement of black people and a brief description of the Canadian residential school system.
0:36.5	On with the show.
0:43.5	Last episode, I fleetingly mentioned a petition started in 2019 by the then nine year old Lila Wheeler in London, Ontario.
0:51.5	It received 4,613 signatures and it says,
0:56.5	I have been trying to have the name of my street plantation road changed for the past year.
1:01.5	The name of my street means a place where black slaves were forced to work in horrible conditions and were often whipped and punished and sometimes killed.
1:09.5	With everything happening in our world right now, slave language needs to be abolished.
1:13.5	Please sign the petition and help end racist language.
1:17.5	My name is Lila Daly Wheeler and I live on plantation road in London, Ontario.
1:23.5	My name is Kristen Daly. I live on plantation road with my daughter Lila.
1:28.5	This is a great letter from one of our neighbors.
1:31.5	Hi Lila. On June 30th, 2019, I will have lived in my home for 60 years.
1:36.5	I have always liked the name of my street. You say that plantation means a place for black people.
1:41.5	I looked up plantation in my dictionary and there was no such definition like you state.
1:46.5	I am voting a definite no to your request.
1:49.5	I am enclosing a copy of a letter that was sent to all the participants.
1:53.5	To me, it was an age appropriate activity. Washing you well in future projects, I remain yours truly.
2:00.5	So this newspaper article was from, do you have it?
	...

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