So, Sunday morning, I get up, and I check some news, sign into Facebook and I see a link my friend Chris has posted. It’s a link from NBC Washington, so, being that I live here, I was interested.
And then I was really, really annoyed.
He’d posted a link to an article called “West Virginia Discovers the Internet” by Chris Needham. Ostensibly, Needham is a journalist in D.C., just like I am.
But that’s where the similarities end.
See, never in a million years would I have ever, ever dreamed of writing an outright bigoted article and frame it under the guise of poorly done satire.Very poorly done satire. And, trust me, I like satire as much as the next guy, but your attempt failed. Miserably.
And, even in the name of satire, I’m not sure I could ever bring myself to directly, plainly and maliciously malign an entire socioeconomic group. To paint them all with one brush, if you will.
I’d like to think my … wait for it … West Virginia upbringing taught me better.
Let me level with you for a minute, if I may.
The last acceptable group of people to which you can be bigoted are poor, white Appalachian people. No, scratch that. You don’t even have to be poor. If you’re a white Appalachian person, game on.
Here’s a gem from Needham’s article:
Isn’t it enough that they have to poop in their backyard, running through the cold, fearing that the trap door on their red flannel pajamas should pop open early, exposing their nether regions to the bite of the winds? Why do we have to make fun of them for their misfortune?
Now, let’s re-write this, shall we? Let’s pick one of the poorest, blackest, most dangerous neighborhood in Washington, D.C.: Anacostia.
Anacostia Finally Gets the Internet
Residents of Anacostia today took a break from shooting each other, carjacking, stealing hubcaps and smoking marijuana to learn how to use the Internet after receiving a stolen shipment of laptop computers.
D-Quan Smith, 23, said he planned to look into selling the laptops on Craigslist to pay his back child support on his six children to six mothers.
Smith also plans to use it to acquire discount coupons for fried chicken, watermelon and grape Kool-Aid, when he plans to pay for it. Smith has never been employed, and said he plans to use his next welfare payment to expand his tattoos across his back.
You see what I did just now?
That’s every bit as offensive as what Chris Needham wrote about West Virginians.
But it’s not OK. In no way, at no time, would that ever be OK.
Why?
Because it’s not acceptable to level stereotypes against black Americans.
You can only level stereotypes against poor, white Appalachian Americans.
If NBC Washington would have printed an article like the one I just wrote on its Web site, it wouldn’t have been live more than 10 minutes before the outrage reached coast to coast. The building would have been picketed, writers and editors would have been fired, the station would lose advertisers and so on.
But, Jacque, you say. Nobody would ever let a bigoted article go through for public consumption on a news site.
Oh, but, you know what? They did. NBC Washington. Two days ago.
You did, Chris Needham. Two days ago.
Chris, here’s something you might not have known. I’m one of your colleagues, you know? I earn my living the same way you earn yours. I know nothing of your background, but here’s a little bit of mine.
I was born on a morning that looked a lot like this past Saturday in a place you’ve never heard of, I’m sure. New Martinsville, West Virginia. I was born in a hospital, even. A real hospital. With real doctors. And real medical equipment. Real electricity, too.
My parents took me home a few days later to a home. A real home. With running water — including the elusive indoor toilet!! — and electricity. Even a telephone, a television and a stereo. It was 1979, so you’ll have to forgive us that we didn’t have the Internet. We somehow survived.
I spent my childhood going to various academic camps — I went to engineering camp, music camp, an honors academy or two. When I graduated from Magnolia High School in 1997, I took my scholarship money and went to West Virginia University. While at WVU, I was in The Pride of West Virginia, the Mountaineer Marching Band. I was the editor of our student newspaper, The Daily Athenaeum. I was the president of the Society of Professional Journalists. I had internships all over the state and in Syracuse, N.Y. I graduated as a member of the Order of Augusta, which put me in the top eight of my class.
I did all of this in buildings with electricity, running water, toilets (!!) and the most advanced equipment available. And when we didn’t have the most advanced equipment available, you can guarantee we did just as well with what we had. Why? We’re resourceful.
I spent eight years in newspapers in West Virginia before I accepted a job at a newspaper in D.C. I paid my dues, and now I’m here.
Someone as poor, disadvantaged, backwards and well, stupid, as me got to the same city you did. Ouch. You didn’t think a place like D.C. hired toothless, cousin-molesting inbreeders from West Virginia, did you?
Oh, and Chris? I’m not the only one. Several of your colleagues in this city are native West Virginians. None of us are too pleased with you right now.
Sure, NBC pulled the article, but conveniently, you’re “out this week” and so is your boss. Knowing coward moves like that, you’re hoping you can ride this out over Christmas week and let it go, never to be seen or heard from again.
But, Chris? I’m not going to forget. I’ve made it my mission to meet you in person, now. I want you to have to look into the face of a hardworking, proud West Virginian and try to justify what you did.
Here’s fair warning: I’m not going to accept, “It was just a joke.”
The joke here, Chris, is you. The victim, unfortunately, is journalism, and on behalf of those of us fighting to keep our profession respected, thanks for the black eye. Maybe you don’t take your job seriously, but I do.
But pride in yourself, and a job well done, is a West Virginia value.
Something, quite clearly, about which you have no idea.
Popularity: 5% [?]
As a native West Virginian, I grew up aware of the negative biases and assumptions about the people of my state. I also grew up around many people who held similar prejudices against other groups and residents of other states. Luckily, I was taught early to never judge a person for their lot in life but also that what they make of it is fair game. My father actually did have to walk through snow to the outhouse, a “two-holer” (complete with partial Sears catalogs). He was also one of the smartest, and most considerate, people I’ve ever known and I’d have no shame if I turned out to be half the man that he became. He’d be the first to tell you that our legs are the same length because we have to walk the same hills both ways.
Thank you so much, Neeeeeeesie.
What a great story, Casey! Thank you so much for stopping by!
Chris,
As a few people here have said that they appreciate your apology, I don’t. I don’t appreciate your apology and I certainly don’t appreciate the hubris and outright arrogance you chose to write your article with.
“From the many comments, tweets and posts I’ve read, it’s clear that it bothered and hurt a lot of people.”
You think? You really don’t have a lot of sense do you? What do you expect? You “make fun” (I’d hardly call it that) of a whole group of people and expect us to just sit down and take it?
“While that certainly wasn’t my intention, it was the effect; And I won’t argue that the intent outweighs — or even really matters compared to — the effect.”
I think you really don’t know the difference between intent and effect. Admit it. It was your intention. You’re lying. You’re just trying to save your own ass. Which, I’m sorry, but you’re about to learn a lesson you will remember for the rest of your life and you will have nothing to blame but YOURSELF.
“I appreciate the spirit and pride of many of the responses to my story. I, too, grew up in a small village in a rural area, and I know the kind of pride one can feel for a community and region; I’ve felt that before.”
I don’t know that you really appreciate it, Chris. I really don’t. And I find it hard to believe that you actually grew up in a rural area.
You have felt that before? It sounds like you have a lot of personal problems and angst against people in rural areas. I can understand that somewhat (minus the rural part) because I have a lot of angst against people from big cities. But I’m sure with your article you have no idea what I’m talking about because you’ve NEVER experienced that before.
“For whatever reason, when I dashed off the story, I didn’t think about that, or think at all about the effect the words that I was using would have. Again, I apologize for that.”
That’s the problem with the media these days. They don’t think. It’s people like you that are driving broadcasting and print into a unmanageable black hole. It’s people like you that use your position to further your agenda and bring divisiveness and bitterness between countrymen. Shame on you.
“Sometimes when people read (or even write) apologies, it’s easy to find a non-apology apology with caveats and qualifications. If there’s one in here, that’s not what I’m going for.”
Sometimes? More like all of the time. And that’s exactly what you got – because your apology isn’t real. It’s not sincere. You don’t care. So why bother? Some people will accept it. And that’s their ignorance. That’s what will make this situation worse than it already is. But I refuse to. At least until I see some speck of sincerity in any apology for reconciliation you make from this point on – but I highly doubt it will convince me that you don’t deserve to be canned and blackballed.
“I don’t expect most to even care what I have to say or care about the apology, and that’s understandable. I screwed up. I did something stupid. And that reaction would be reasonable.”
Nope. Not after that article. I imagine most people will now regard you as a non-entity. It’s going to take a lot to pick up the pieces. It’s just not acceptable.
“Thanks for a well written response, and for helping give me some perspective on the issue.”
You need perspective. You need help. And you just caused a lot of people a lot of grief. I imagine there are many people that are going to have to come to terms with their heritage and where they’re from. And you just made it a lot harder for people to be proud of where they’re from. Too bad I don’t give a damn about you, your situation, or what you think. I’m proud of West Virginia. That’s why I’m so passionate, and angry about this. It just so happens that you made your “opinions” known in medium that has a very wide audience. You, sir, personally, I could really care less about.
You’ve pissed a lot of people off. And a lot of people out there are going to make sure you don’t have a job at the other end of it. I’m not the type of person, I’ll let them do the damage. But I will tell you, as much as you or other people may think this is not that big of a deal or a non-issue. You’ve got another thing comin’.
[...] DC Journalist) wrote one of the most clever and articulate responses that I could find about this. This post really tops everything. I appreciate her for doing [...]
First I will say that I agree wholeheartedly with the point of view presented by girlofwords. The choice made by Chris Needham to create, much less submit for publishing the article “West Virginia Discovers the Internet” was quite poor.
If this article had been made, even in a joking/satirical way, about any other ethnic or political group it would have never made it to the light of day, or having surfaced, it would have caused a fully unadulterated shit storm.
Like African Americans referring to each other proudly by the “N” word, the only people who are allowed to publicly use such satire against West Virginians are other West Virginians.. because we do have that since of pride in our beautiful State, our accomplishments and our values. This however naturally leads me to wonder what the reaction would have been were it to be found it the author was in fact a member of the group he was making fun of? Does the loophole that we are all allowed some leeway in laughing at or poking fun of ourselves make it any better for us to do so? Or would it have in this case?
Chris seems to put forth in his apology that he does have some “rural” background, so perhaps this is in fact the case to some degree, but I doubt it.
This however brings me to my second point. Some people seem to be overreacting just a bit to this, and to the authors apology in my opinion. Are there really those West Virginians out there who are honestly so offended by this article that they truthfully will not even consider the possibility of forgiveness? I personally believe that part of the heritage of growing up in a small rural area with small town values (i.e. my WV background) that I am most proud of is the fact that I have an open mind and an abundance of manors, most specifically those related to the acts of forgiveness, of helping neighbors, etc.
I find it hard to believe that people will condemn a man for an article without the possibility of parole. To me this goes against the values that most of my WV friends and family believe in.
I just wanted to point out that while I am not happy about the fact that such an article was written and allowed to be published, I am neither heartbroken nor appalled. I know there exist people in the world who lack the education or the moral upbringing (or even just the good sense) to realize that making fun of any group of people for any reason is simply in bad taste.
I also personally believe that to condemn any person completely and wholly without the possibility of forgiveness for such a mistake is nearly as narrow minded as the original stereotypical view which lead to this article‘s inception.
My fellow West Virginians, I know some of you may be (justifiably) more upset then me at this gentleman and at this article, but please remember to keep in mind that West Virginia will continue to be judged by these ridicules stereotypes, but we will also continue to be judged, perhaps more so, and hopefully more accurately by our actions, our words, and our beliefs.
So in summary, shame on you Chris for this article and good for you girlofwords for a well done response article. I personally will try to forgive you Chris, if you try to make your apology sincere. Also, fellow West Virginians, please try to reign in your anger somewhat and remember that education and understanding are better weapons with which to battle ignorance and small mindedness than are anger and judgment.
Jax –
They just showed your site on WCHS this morning!! They actually showed your site and referenced it at the end of the article. Yeah!!!
Of course, the obligatory shot of MoJo decrying this sort of writing was also included.
Way to go!!
Ian…
You know what bothers me the most? It’s not so much that Mr. Needham wrote the article. It’s that no “news” article is written and posted by a single person. So not only did he believe it was ok, but so did the rest of his organization. And it’s not ok. This wasn’t posted on a blog, it was a new site.
And, no, it wouldn’t have been ok if it was written by a local. In fact, had someone like Jacque written that piece (not that she ever would), my heart would have really broken.
As for forgiveness, I think it’s what he does from here on out that will determine that.
Thank you for sticking up for your state and fellow West Virginians. Such ignorance as Chris portrayed is disgusting. With such tunnel vision how will we ever escape the bottom of the barrel image?
First off, Jacque, you forgot to mention Al Sharpton showing up on your very well-crafted example. You know he totally would.
Second, to Chris Needs Ham, I have been stewing over this for a good bit trying to collect my thoughts. I am a proud West Virginian … a hillbilly aristocrat, if you will. I won’t bother you with the details of my lineage, but it includes a few signers of the Magna Carta, the greatest Supreme Court Chief Justice in our nation’s history and the first Speaker of the House of the great state of West Virginia.
I currently live in Miami, Florida. Not because I couldn’t wait to get out of West Virginia. But because my highly educated husband, who obtained his degrees from the highest rated forensic science program in the country, has to work. West Virginia has the lowest crime rate in the nation so we had to relocate to a place with a few more bad guys. Do you know where the university with the top rated master’s program for forensic science is? It’s Marshall University … which is in … *wait for it, wait for it* … the great state of West Virginia.
He specializes in DNA. That means he has to use a computer with lots of little bells and whistles on it. Fortunately, Marshall was able to get their hands on one or two of those when he was in college. I graduated from there with a journalism degree in 2002. Sometime before that, they said enough with those blasted typewriters and even found a way to put computers in the newsroom there. Shocking isn’t it!
I’m not an overly sensitive person. I can laugh at most of the stereotypes because I know how untrue they are. My well-educated, capable, hard-working friends and family are living proof that West Virginia breeds amazing people.
There is no real response that can be given to Mr. Needham’s level of ignorance, bigotry and idiocy. That type of person lacks the intelligence to understand why such stupid commentary is not funny. So, Mr. Needham, I’m going to put this in terms you can understand.
You’re an idiot.
Mr. Needham hasn’t responded to any of these comments.
Pussy…
Ian, I understand your point, but I don’t believe people are overreacting. Mr. Needham’s response to all of this, along with that of his news organization, has been grossly underwhelming. To say we should not be outraged and, quite frankly, mortified that someone who apparently lives within an afternoon’s drive of West Virginia, can be so uneducated about her people and quality of life is ridiculous. More importantly, this article was vetted through the news organization’s editing/approval process. They are equally at fault. For this stupid commentary to have reach the light of day is absurd. It is outrageous and should be treated as such.
http://www.wchstv.com/newsroom/eyewitness/091223_642.shtml
Check out the transcript from the news last night!
And for Mr. Needham’s benefit, I would like to offer up a few of West Virginia’s finest citizens to show the level of class, intelligence, skill, humor and brain power our great state has contributed to the world.
Booker T. Washington (educator, political leader, author)
Anna Jarvis (Founder of Mother’s Day)
Ed Rabel (NBC Pentagon Correspondent)
Jodi Applegate (NBC News)
Jerry West (NBA Athlete whose silhouette makes up the NBA logo)
Pearl Buck (Author and Nobel Prize winner)
Homer Hickam (author and former payload training manager of the International Space Station for NASA)
John Nash (Nobel Prize winner)
Soupy Sales (Pie-throwing comedian)
Don Knotts (one of the greatest television comedians of his time)
Mary Lou Retton (Olympic Gold Medalist)
Verna Gibson (the first female president of a Fortune 500 company)
John Chambers (President and CEO of Cisco Systems … I bet he knows a thing or two about computers)
Bob Orr (CBS News correspondent and Emmy winner)
Frank “Gunner” Gatski (NFL Hall of Famer)
Jennifer Garner (Television and movie actress)
I could go on, but we’d be here all day.
And since I’m on a roll … to go back to Ian’s point, a simple apology that says “I didn’t realize people would get upset when I wrote this” really defines the biggest issue I have in all of this. To be honest, I’d be less offended if this guy wrote this column with malice. But if what he says is true, that’s even scarier. That means that someone who provides information to the masses lacks the common sense to realize his lack of knowledge and decency would be hurtful to an entire region (not just state) of people. Sometimes a comment’s offensiveness is not realized at the time or making it, and that is understandable. We’ve all had a foot stuck in our mouths a time or two. But you have to judge each situation individually. In this case, the people involved in this article lacked the common sense to realize how inappropriate this was and have no business provide information to the masses.
[...] many people expressed offense to NBC Washington, which pulled the piece. Needham has since posted an apology in the form of a blog [...]
I’ve got to agree with you, JOANNLIVE.
If you read his other “articles”, it becomes clear that this is a pattern of behavior with him, though to date none have been quite so egregious as the West Virginia one.
Judging from his other “Local Beat” stories, he’s fond of making unsupported insinuations, inserting personal insults into something presented as straight news, and making up “facts” out of whole cloth to cast the subjects of his stories in a negative light.
And he seems to think there’s nothing wrong with this at all. In his apology, he admits that it never crossed his mind that people might be offended.
How defective must one’s moral compass be, to not “think at all about the effect the words that [one] was using would have”, to not realize that words so full of contempt would “[bother] and hurt a lot of people”?
Still no apology on nbcwashington.com, either from Needham or his editors, by the way.
wow! I’m the guy who contacted WCHS, and the picture of the article is the one I gave them! I’m so glad they brought this to the attention of WV, go WCHS!
Congrats Jacque on getting mentioned on the news in Charleston. Nicely done! This just shows Chris Needham that a well written, heartfelt blog entry about his worthless pile of hatred can go far.
I wonder if Governor Manchin read your response on GoW or not. That would cool if he did.
Jacque,
Thank you for fighting the good fight. I’m a proud West Virginian. I think it’s interesting to note that in a state that just “discovered the internet” lies a school that was the first in the country to provide laptops to all students. WV Wesleyan did that in 1997 – (gasp) 12 years ago!
Hey Jacque– thank you for doing such a great job of putting Mr. Needham in his place. Don’t you feel sorry for him for being so very ignorant? As a native West Virginian who did have to use a two seater and a Sears catalog, I know I am a better person for having done so. I know I can survive a few days, perhaps even weeks without electricity and running water and computers. Can he say the same? I very much doubt it.Oh yes, did I mention that I too have a couple of “them there” degrees and am a professional??
Hey Joann, you left off one VERY IMPORTANT person off that list.
He isn’t really a citizen in the true sense of the word … more like a squatter. Doesn’t really qualify. But then again, what do I know. I was only born and raised in the state. But my three years in Florida apparently nullify all that.
@Tybois
I doubt Governor Manchin would even care much less be offended by what Needham wrote. Manchin’s hubris and outright stupidity is just as offensive as Chris Needham’s article.
Let me rephrase that comment. ANY West Virginian would and SHOULD be offended by that article. What I meant is that Gov. Manchin is too busy paying attention to his boozing, wine-o wife so she doesn’t hit a parked car with her bike again.
I was informed a few years ago at a meeting with state officials, that WV is ahead of every other state in the country when it comes to technology use and computers used in the classroom. That other states come to WV to get ideas from our school systems to use in their states.
Putnam County, for example, last year initiated the use of the21st Century CSO’s (content standards), which were not even intended for use until this year.
Every special education teacher in there county was given a laptop computer, to go with their newer desktops bought previously, and were all provided digital projectors.
Middle school teachers are required to use multiple online tools and tests. Aquity (at least) twice a year to measure their skills in LA and Math. Writing Road Map to incoporate computer use into their writhing. Tech Steps (grades k-8) to teach the in and outs (not burgers) of Microsoft Excel, Word, Publisher, Power Point, etc; to make the students better 21st century learners when doing projects.
So, from a county in the state that has just recently discovered the Internet, I’m more than sure we are leaps and bounds above any innercity school in any major city in America.
Thank you for your excellent response to his trash. I too am a native of WV and a graduate of WVU. It is just tiring to hear the stereotypes about the great state of WV; fact is, most people that have actually visited like the place. I lived in Florida for 3 years, but was fortunate enough to move back to my home state of WV and attain a good job. It is the best decision I’ve ever made.
“MONTANI SEMPER LIBERI”
Jacque: I know I’m a few days late to the party, but I so appreciate this post. I’m a recent transplant to WV — grew up in the DC suburbs and had to escape all of the keeping-up-with-the-Jones-ness that goes along with living there. I love living here. I love that I can send my kids out to play without worry. I love that I live in a town with only a 4-way stop — no traffic lights. I love that everyone here, though I’ve only lived here for 2 years, knows my name and greets me with a friendly “Hello!” when they see me. I love my kids’ school. Their teachers. The REALY community that exists here. When I read Mr. Needham’s “article”, I was spouting epithets left and right. And I’m so glad that you pointed out how making the same remarks about ANY other socio-ecomonic group would be wholly unacceptable in the eyes of society. Your piece was GREAT, and I thank you for it.
And, yes: the State of Maryland has, without exception, the worst Department of Motor Vehicles in the nation.
Much like JoannLive, my husband hails from the great state of West Virginia and went to WVU, but left because his wife pursued a degree and found a job in Pittsburgh (also very Appalachian I might add).
He, similarly, shrugs off the stereotypes he hears from Pittsburghers constantly. However, I don’t and won’t. Just like I don’t sit back and allow ignorant relatives to casually toss around racists terms for African-Americans and Latinos, I try and address people’s ignorance about West Virginia. While it probably won’t stop them from saying what they’re saying again, it might make them think twice–and at least they won’t say it around him anymore.
I wholeheartedly agree with your post with one tiny exception. While I know that rural poverty plagues Appalachian, not all West Virginians are poor. My mother-in-law and her boyfriend have full-time jobs for the state and in retail and are doing well for themselves. We just spent the holidays with them and were spoiled with gifts. It is right to acknowledge, defend and assist the rural poor, but I also think it’s important to point out that not every one in West Virginia is living in poverty. That may seem obvious to most of us, but after reading Chris Needham’s piss poor attempt at satire…I’m not so sure.
Wow, I was away for a few days, and still more great comments.
You guys are great. Thank you so much for stopping by!
About the poverty, I definitely never meant to imply that all West Virginians are poor, either. My family certainly isn’t poor. However, it seems that’s how most people perceive the entire state, even Charleston.
A hearty “You go girl!” for your response to Needham’s boorishly fumbled attempt at wit. Dorothy Parker once said, “Wit has truth in it.”
I’ve hailed from Florida for the last 20 years, but I was born and lived the first half of my life in WV. I won’t get into the technology status of WV other than to say that among other things, I had a very small part in implementing part of the state’s graduate level distance learning program via satellite up-links back when the Internet was still text based and the first version of Windows was just being released.
Please excuse me if I’m mistaken, but after a brief search of his work, it appears that Needham is predominantly a sports reporter. Unfortunately I can’t recall the NFL team, players, or incident. But I believe it was once said after a kicker had done or said something less than intelligent, “That’s what happens when kickers start thinking they’re real football players.”
Similarly, articles like Needham’s are what sometimes happens when some wannabe writer from Sports starts thinking he’s a journalist. NBC provides another shining example of such hubris in Keith Olbermann who should have never left the side of Dan Patrick on Sports Center where he was at the top of his game and hugely entertaining, please pardon my digression.
NBC Washington’s pusillanimous act of quietly pulling the article and doing nothing more shows that they are no better than Needham. But, if he’s truly that ignorant, perhaps he should take a leave of absence from his job and do some volunteer work in WV for a while. He just might learn a thing or two and overcome that ignorance. “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.” (Apologies to the UNCF.)
Thanks, Dave!
I’m not sure he’d ever take me up on the offer, but it’s still on the table. I’d love to sit down for a drink with Chris and get the back story on how this all went down. He’s disappeared, it seems, but if he sees this, sincerely, my offer to meet up still stands. I don’t even need an apology or groveling or anything. That’s not what I’m interested in, at this point. My treat, Chris.
[...] about – look below, or click here for my post. Or, other people that have written about it are: here, here, here, and here. You can harass Chris Needham, [...]