Utah has a canyon named after a local black cattle rancher, the canyon bears the name Negro Bill Canyon and for many years has been the subject of debate amongst local people, councils, and commissions.
In the latest vote on the matter Deseret News reported:
A Utah state panel has voted to recommend retaining the name of Utah’s Negro Bill Canyon after receiving conflicting opinions about whether it is offensive.
The Utah Committee on Geographic Names said Friday that a lack of consensus from minority groups led to its 8-2 vote Thursday about a canyon that is home to a popular hiking spot in the eastern city of Moab, the gateway to stunning massive red rock formations.
The commission’s recommendation next goes to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, which is expected to make a final decision on the canyon’s name later this year.
The local and national branches of the NAACP told the commission the name is not offensive and preserves the history of a canyon named for black rancher and prospector William Grandstaff, whose cattle grazed there in the 1870s.
You can read more details here on Deseret News BUT I was also interested in your opinion. Is this name offensive and should it be renamed to Granstaff Trailhead? It seems that in 2014 many of the trails signs were replaced with this new name already but we are not sure if they were changed back.
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