Coli breh mayor calls Black youth in his city "YN"

[Canada Goose]

In the heat of a re-election season, Durham, North Carolina Mayor Leonardo Williams is receiving backlash for using the acronym “YN” during a town hall meeting in July and also refusing to apologize for it.

In a town hall video posted on Facebook on July 3, the mayor was responding to questions regarding the increase in crime in the community. In a response to gun violence, Williams called the young people involved in gun violence and carrying firearms around the community “YNs,” which is short for “young n****.”

Williams responded to the backlash by saying he used the term in a conversational way to connect with community members.

Many people believe that the use of the term was harmful to youth and reinforces harsh stereotypes

In another Facebook video posted on July 18, Mayor Williams addressed the public about his comments during the town hall meeting. He said that his intent was not to use the term in a derogatory way to bash youth.

“I’m not taking back the context of that conversation, and I’m not going to apologize either,” Williams said in an interview with the Raleigh News & Observer. “My reference is, these youngins on the street are killing each other, something has to be done. I wish people would focus on that, rather than two letters that came out of my mouth.”

Williams has been the mayor of Durham since December 2023 and is currently running for re-election. Before becoming Mayor, he was elected to the Durham City Council in 2021. Williams is also a former school teacher and administrator

Link: Durham Mayor Says He Will Not Apologize After Saying YN At Town Hall

 

[FukkaPaidEmail]

This is nothing to be mad about.

“Reinforcing stereotypes”

 

[skeetsinternal]

NC has been a disappointment since moving here

 

[Dwayne_Taylor]

It's a term of endearment. What's the problem?

 

[Treblemaka]

This man over 40 in a position of leadership using these terms publically and during official business meetings.

This is part of why the young boys dont respect the old heads.

 

[Ricky Fontaine]

But if they're black and they're young, that's what they are!

Irony would be had he actually just said "young nikkas", nobody would've bat an eye lol

 

[Voice of Reason]

Shameful stuff.


I wonder if the so called Black media leader Roland Martin will call him out

 

[3rdWorld]

Ignorance is nothing to laugh about..someone like that has no place in a political office.

 

[Voice of Reason]

This is nothing to be mad about.

“Reinforcing stereotypes”

You represent the "diaspora" but you are okay with stereotypes about young Black men?

 

[☑︎#VoteDemocrat]

Again, stop embracing slang and this won’t keep happening...