July 2011
6 posts
Know the truth but don't look like an "idiot" trying to be too smart, here is the real history & meaning of the new "phenom planking"
Planking, the fad in which people take pictures of themselves lying face down and upload them to the internet, is not racist. It’s just stupid. But bloggers and Twitter users are in an uproar over what they say is planking’s origins in the slave trade.
Actually, “planking” is a rebranding of the years-old British meme “the lying down game”. It comes from Australia, and is something radio stations devised for promotional purposes earlier this year.
the reason people say it has something to do with slavery or is racist is beacuse slaves were chained and attached to “plank” beds. They were forced to lay face down with their arms by their side and their wrist chained to their waist. Some were even stacked on top of each other with no room to move.
Everything has a hidden meaning. Cultural sensitivity is real. Yes, it maybe fun for now but it is an insult to some. Although “planking” wasn’t the official terminology used by slave masters it is still seen as an insult to some African Americans. I don’t know why and don’t have the answer! At the same token, it is seen as a core strengthening exercise to others. This is for you to decide.
Knowledge is Power!