Comments on King County's New Logo

What a waste of $600,000. I'm sure there is no where better for that money than to put new logos on everything in KC.

MLK Jr. county. How sweet it is!!

All politics aside, that old logo was SO STUPID!!!!

Plus (and OK, this is political) it will aggravate the assholes, so I'm all for it.

That is one BAD image of Dr. King.

Wow, and we're the whitest county in the country!

Question:

Do we have the image of Rev. King free and clear, or will there be a royalty/user fee for the county?

I like the new logo. But can you really change the "namesake" of something? (Once a namesake, always a namesake?) What's wrong with just changing the logo and leaving it at that?

Unecessary and unrelated.

"Gregoire thought the logo would say: 'We stand here in King County and in Washington state as a place that recognizes equality for all, respect for everyone and (we) have an absolute passion for justice.'"

Unless you're gay and you want to get married.

I don't hate the new logo but put a furry hood around it and it's the Alaska Airlines eskimo.

The logo will look a little strange on law enforcement vehicles.

Why did they have to fuck up the font at the same time? The old "C" and "o" got along in peace and brotherhood, while the new ones appear to hate each other.

Personal experience suggests that the ultimate cost will be at least twice what they admit to, and also that the last piece of wrong letterhead or web page or electronic document will appear in about 2025.

Still, I'm with Catalina: the joy of watching the asshats justify their racism is worth the cost.

I love the new logo and I hope that we can all look forward to King County following the examples of its namesake. Yes, equality for the queer, people of color, low-income, and immigrant communities. King would have supported equality in all those areas, CSK did.

I love that we're honoring Dr. King, but I would like to know if he ever came to Seattle.

oh dear god, we are so white.

To #6 & #11, the is NO WAY the money-grubbing King family allowed that logo to be used without a hefty and undoubtedly annual license fee. Having lived in Atlanta for 14 years, his children have lived off their father's legacy for years. I'd like to see a breakdown of the specific costs of this change over.

I've gotten nothing against honoring King with the county, but this doesn't recognition does not mean taxpapers have to support his lazy kids on the dole.

@5: "...the whitest county in the country..."? You ever been to Utah? Idaho? The Dakotas?

allow me to be the asshole: the Blethen Times had an article intimating that the man King Co. is named after, slave mongering Vice President King, was a gay man who had a long time relationship with James Buchanan, the only bachelor POTUS.

so here we have a curious spectacle: the 12th most populous county in the nation, with one of the lowest percentages of african americans, and one of the highest percentages of homosexuals, is probably serendipidously named after the only gay man to hold high office in this country's pitiful history.

so the first gay vice president isn't good enough? is it because he owned slaves, just like G. Washington, T. Jefferson, etc. ad nauseum? are we going to rename the state next (i prefer Tahoma)?

this whole thing smacks of a junior high project - like when schoolchildren write the legislature to have the opossum named state marsupial.

let me add:

Mr. Loewen, author of the best-selling Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong (New Press, 1995), sets out in his new, self-described “rant” to dispel the myths that befog the American landscape. In a chapter titled “You’re Here to See the House,” he recalls asking a tour guide at Wheatland, Buchanan’s mansion near Lancaster, Pa., whether the 15th President was gay. “He most definitely was not,” came the outraged reply.
“Most likely was,” insists Mr. Loewen. Buchanan’s long-time living companion, William Rufus King, was referred to by critics as his “better half,” ‘’his wife,” and “Aunt Fancy.” Around Washington, the pair were known as the “Siamese twins,” slang at the time for gays and lesbians. And when King was appointed envoy to France, in 1844, Buchanan lamented to a friend that “I have gone wooing to several gentlemen, but have not succeeded with any of them.”
The relationship may have been more than romantic. Mr. Loewen speculates that Buchanan, a native of a fiercely anti-slavery section of Pennsylvania, developed pro-slavery views out of sympathy with King, who served as a Democratic Senator from Alabama.
“It’s important to know that some of our leaders have been gay,” says Mr. Loewen, explaining why he outed a man often counted among the 10 worst Presidents. “To know that gay people did things, good things and bad things. You can’t just claim the heroes.”

Mild digression here, but since it's been brought up...

How many black people read Slog?

Or what's one's best guess?

I keep trying to convince my wife to plant a grove of eucalyptus that we could keep koalas in; then they could give those 'possums a run for their money on state marsupial!

awesome.

@#4 & #6 - Yeah, it ain't the greatest image ever, but due to copyright issues the designer couldn't just use a picture of Dr. King. From what I was told, in order for the county to not infringe on copyrights (and thus have to pay royalties) and retain ownership of the logo image, this was about the best they could do. @#13, I would laugh out loud if I saw someone do that on a bus or something.

This is just trying too hard.

That'll look weird on my tax bill.

@17,

What good does it do if VP King was in the closet? I'm happy with holding out to honor an out and proud politician.

uh, looks like juan valdez to me.

Hooah! Cool Logo!

oh, and @17, @24 - at least the Pres and VP are now too - even if in the closet.

Matthew, how many black people read Slog? Did you seriously ask that question?? Part of me is pissed, the other finds it refreshing that someone finally acknowledged (though unintentionally) the assumption of white readers. It honestly feels that a lot of articles on hear are written with a particular white, middle class lens that completely does not acknowledge the possibility of non-white readers.

I especially felt this with the printing of the Mohammed cartoons last year and the commentary that came out of that. By the way, the opinion piece written in the Stranger about the cartoons and Islamic Fundamentalism was written by Bruce Bawer...a man who sites praise from Daniel Pipes on his official webpage. Daniel Pipes is neo-con who has stated that he agrees with the internment of Japanese Americans in WW2 and has shown great xenophobia and racism in the past when discussing immigration and Islam. What strange bedfellows, Stranger.

Boy, is that thing ever gonna look bad in yellow and green on the side of a Metro bus.

@24 - if he ws out of the closet in freaking 1850 or whenever, he wouldn't have been VP. he'd be dead.

oh, and from Wikipedia: "In honor of his inauguration as Vice President, the newly formed Washington Territory named King County for him, as well as Pierce County after President Pierce, in hopes of gaining speedy admission to the Union by currying favor with the new administration (Washington did not become a state until 1889). King County still exists, but on February 24, 1986 the county council passed Motion 6461, "setting forth the historical basis for the 'renaming' of King County in honor of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr." On April 19, 2005, Washington Governor Christine Gregoire signed Senate Bill 5332 into law, formalizing the prior resolution and officially designating King County's name to be in honor of Martin Luther King."

there is no need to revise the logo - it has been MLK county for nigh on 21 years. a crown is no more representative of WR King than ML King. its representative of the fact that we're the king of washington counties! we're #1!

At first I didn't think I'd like it. MLK wasn't a resident and doesn't have strong ties to the state. Yes, he has strong ties to THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, of course, but why should his name be memorialized here? This town fought desegregation as hard as any northern city and, like most northern cities, is still largely segregated. IMHO King's dream is largely a failure here. Unless you think MLK's dream was mostly about Black guys pairing up with white girls to produce fatherless offspring, that is. So why put him on a government logo? Do you intend to parade the heads of all our leaders you have murdered?

Yeah the whole thought of it made me red faced angry. That's really saying something since Black skin doesn't really get "red faced" at all. After I was done with my righteous fury (which lasted all of five minutes) I realized something. The only times we ever see a Black face on anything is when the guy is charged with a crime or if he's an entertainer. That statement is especially interesting when you read the Seattle P-I forums and realize that almost everyone says that it reminds them of a wanted poster. Of course it does! That's what people (well, certain melanin deprived people, anyway) naturally think when they see us anyway. If we're smiling we must be here for your amusement and you expect us to start rapping / tap dancing / throwing a ball. If we aren't smiling you start dialing the po-po / loading your shotguns / clutching your purses.

For once our faces are more than the face of a loser in a minstrel show or a crack dealer / rapist / thug. Now we are also a symbol of political power. Just think... that very serious looking Black male face is a symbol of the people who govern you. We are now your virtual rulers. Insert evil laughter here.

I guess if we intend to take this place over we have to start somewhere, huh? :)

Reggie, yes, I did ask that question seriously but rhetorically as well, since it's a bit impossible to get concrete numbers actually.

And while I'm not black, I do feel that lens you speak of is there, no ill will meant.

Uh, I just don't get it. It'd be one thing if King County was named after MLK, but it's not. Really really dumb.

I agree. This is a waste of money and a hollow gesture at best. Who cares if King County was named after a gay slave owner? So is Arby's.

According to HistoryLink, Dr. King visited Seattle once, on November 8, 1961. He spoke at the UW, Temple de Hirsch, Garfield High School, and Eagles Auditorium. His appearance at First Presbyterian was cancelled by what look suspiciously like political reasons.

http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=673

Gitai,

According to a couple of the comments on the Seattle PI's article, the Late Rev. King did come to Seattle in 1961 to give a couple of speeches, but that was the extent of his visits.

As for my slightly melatonin-heavy white self, I gots no problem with having MLK be the symbol of our county - at least people will see that and realize it stands FOR something important, rather than that bland, over-processed, un-politicized, generic crown we've had for so many years.

I mean, which would YOU rather have: a symbol of peace, justice, and equal rights, or a symbol of hereditary monarchy?

What was with the old logo? A crown? It'd be one thing if King County was named after a monarch, but it's not. Really really dumb.

King County was named after a 19th century anti-abolitionist, and the ONLY acceptable logo for the county is the profile of a 19th century anti-abolitionist. Civil rights is so early 1960's, anyway.

1. revisionist history - where does it end?
2. george washington had slaves too - let's rename the state
3. $600,000? Hello? Schools? Roads? Health Care? Orcas?

What a fucking waste.

I'll take the unifier from our lifetime who gave it all for equal rights under the Constitution.

I talked to one of the county council aides this morning and he said that King County "thinks" it won't need to pay a licensing or copyright fee to the King estate because the logo art is stylized and can't be directly linked to Martin Luther King.

Yeah, right.

Totally a waste of taxpayers dollars and an insult to a former Vice President of the United States. From now on I will precede "Rufus" in front of "King" on all forms.

If there's one thing I hate more than bigotry, it's revisionist history.

COMING SOON: Booker T. Washington state.

MLK is the electric guitar of Kings.

Elvis Presley was the King. MLK has never even inspired an impersonator contest or lounge act.

Max, the King our county was originally named after is a footnote at best, even in a gay context. Seriously, Buchanan was one of the placeholder presidents of the USA, chosen largely because he was inoffensive and bland. Pierce, who was the president that actually nominated King, was even moreso. His vice president is even less impressive. Remember, this was back when the office of vice president "wasn't worth a bucket of piss." Also, King held the vice presidency for all of 45 days before dying. MLK was one of the most important figures of American history. I'd much rather we be named for him.

sigh...i was hoping for the Burger King as the logo...

Smarm, true that he didn't inspire impersonators. He did inspire people, though.

Ok, just a question: Why is this image (obviously MLK...) white with a black background? Could they not have inverted the colors so that he would be black (with white as the contrast color)? I know it really doesnt matter and is completely trivial, but it seems curious to me.

The existing logo was fine. This is a nice recognition, but I wonder what MLK himself would think.

There's an interesting historical echo here. Seattle was named for a Duwamish leader who was friendly with the white settlers, despite a cultural taboo among the Duwamish against naming things after people. Seattle himself was uncomfortable with the idea at first, but eventually came around. Then Seattle the person quickly negotiated the expulsion of his people from Seattle the place to the Kitsap Peninsula. Within fifteen years most of the previous native inhabitants of King County were gone, though of course some remained and their descendents are still here. A symbolic nod to the non-white population was followed by a continuing policy of white supremacy. I wonder if we've really changed that much since then.

gitai, of course you have a point - i just find it curious. this county probably has about 5x as many 'mos as african americans, and twice as many asians as african americans.

Ethnic Breakdown - 1995 Estimate:

White 1,334,113
Black 90,160
Indian, Eskimo and Aleut 20,771
Asian and Pacific Islanders 168,556
Hispanic Origin (included above) 53,656

if naming the county for MLK is payback for past discrimination against our 6% african american population, fine. but then what about japanese americans - who got fucked, plain & simple, by seattle in ww2, and comprise an equivalent demographical slice?

pierce county better get moving on finding a better pierce, bcuz franklin pierce wasn't a very good president, either.

I think it looks great from a design perspective. And it honors one of the greatest Americans. Little kids (or adults with little U.S. history knowledge) will see it and ask, "Who's that?"

And this is wrong?

I second all of Max Solomon's points.

But I also wondered why not keep the county named after Rufus King? The old logo sorta looks like a top-down view of an enlarged clitoris pushing aside some pubes. Keeping this history & logo has all sorts of gender/sexual orientation equality nuances.

pierce county better get moving on finding a better pierce, bcuz franklin pierce wasn't a very good president, either.

My preference is to rename all of the counties according to prominent geographic features, primarily rivers. Snohomish and Skagit County are the existing examples, but Duwamish or Snoqualmie County would work for King County, Puyallup County would work for Pierce, Nisqually County for Thurston, Nooksack County for Whatcom, and so on.

The problem with this now is that it looks like a deliberate snub to MLK to change the name of King County. But I suppose this could be the model for the renaming of other counties. On the other hand, it's a lot of money to spend for a symbolic change that will just annoy everyone who is used to the existing names and doesn't like change.

On further review, Whatcom is actually a Nooksack word and not someone's name, so that can stay. But all counties named after people that nobody knows or cares about, with no local connection? Those names should change.

The new logo looks so '70s. If they were going to change the logo they might as well have changed the name of the county.

I really don't care except for the cost to the taxpayers.

New Skamania County logo: http://www.gullbuy.com/images/specials.jpg

The new logo looks so '70s.

This is a very profound statement.

In our current era of logo and brand identification, it is paramount to keep with the times! Let the great Seattle Logo Debate rage on!

MLK is a figure that cuts across race. The idea that there are more Asians in Seattle than African Americans is not relevant. MLK changed this country and this change reflects the values of many of the people of this county. A county, by the way, that is officially named Martin Luther King County. A change that was officially at least 20 years ago. To those that claim this is a waste of money...we waste a lot of money in a lot of other places...this use of money shows the country what Seattle is about...or atleast what I feel it is about.

the tag line under the new logo - on the king cty. website states: "Always at your service"

I like the new logo, but the new font sucks.

@19:

I read the Slog. So about one.

Also, it's not so white in White Center. Irony?

I like it. That's all.

I have to ask the same question as #48, Monique: Doesn't it seem somewhat awkward that the new logo uses a negative effect, showing Dr. King as, well, kind of "white?" I know it is just a design, but jeez. Remember Tully's and "Chocolate Month?" Pretty daft.

Stupid N*****S!

Hi Jim. You letter i received. Thanks! Photos is GREAT!!!!

Question - were the citizens of King County allowed to vote on this name change?

Chief Seattle owned slaves. Time for a name change Seattle?

The King family, much like Jesse Jackson and the Rev. Sharpton or race blackmailers. King County will be paying a royalty for the logo every year from the tax payers pocket to the King Family. What a waste of time and tax money.

No Lincoln Day, No Washington, Jefferson, Eisenhower???? Pure BS from our elected officials.

"Always at your service" -- hilarious. What a bunch of sorry-ass small-town jokers. The King County Council is turning the area into the laughing stock of the nation.