this post was submitted on 15 Dec 2025
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Grandpa told them stories about lynching the uppity ones. This garbage is passed down in the family.
I grew up in rural PA. I left because (among other similar issues) the community was A-ok with a small engine repair shop having the proprietor's full name on the big sign out front. His name was Kermit K. Kistler. His parents named him that, and he was proud enough to display it for all to see.
That's a very intentional choice. Most small businesses in small towns get named "[lastname]'s [type of business]" and I can't think of any small businesses around me the specify the first name of who it is, even when its a family with lots of entrepreneurs and you see that family name on like 4 different businesses in town. Like your family name is a source of reputation in these small towns so when you're starting out it's better to use just the family name because everyone knows a [lastname] and sure the business is actually owned by their cousin but at least you know someone related to it so you know they'll do good work
I mean, I get that the initials are KKK, and maybe even the parents did it intentionally... But should he not be allowed to have his name on his shop?
Its a dogwhistle. That's what racists do is they'll have some dogwhistle to signal to other racists that they're also in the in group. In this case it's intentionally listing out the owners full name so they can see his name initializes to K.K.K. (which i pointed out in another comment that most businesses in small towns don't specify a first name, it's just "lastname's type of business" so in this case "Kistlers Engine Repair" since you don't know if it'll be Kermit or Emmit or Kermit's grandson John Kistler serving you but you at least know it'll be a Kistler running the place)
I think it's more like, if you knew your initials were a dog-whistle, you would probably keep that on the d/l or change your name. Instead, putting it on display is like saying that fact is not a deal-breaker for you or your business.