That Time Columbo Went Off the Rails

Ohhh, I hate this episode

Bluesky 😂. Geez

When I think of Columbo, I think about The Princess Bride.

I never even watched Colombu and could tell this was off. I acually assume dit was written by a guest writer who just didnt get the charakter and….yeah I was KINDA right. They took a completly unrelated story and tried to cram Columbo into it

TYNE DAILY!?.

You’re right, this episode is ASS

I love columbo; clearly I am very lucky to never have seen this episode so far.

that fruitbasket – that must have been a deliberate gag by the crew, right?

To bump another’s suggestion, Midsomer Murders!!! Some of the weirdest, wildest, most bonkers way to be murdered 😂
Death by blue cheese is a fave, mostly because I adore the characters and I LOVE blue cheese!! 🤣

The idea that surnames like Brown, Black, or White were assigned as a "behavioral code" (rebellious vs. agreeable) is a common theory in modern discussions about the trauma of slavery, but it isn't supported by historical records.

While the naming of enslaved people was often dehumanizing, the actual history of how these specific names became common among Black Americans is a mix of European tradition, personal agency, and the legacy of ownership.

### 1. The Etymology of "Color" Surnames

Before these names arrived in the Americas, they had already existed in England, Scotland, and Ireland for centuries. Their origins were usually quite literal:

* *Brown:* Referred to people with brown hair, a tanned complexion, or those who consistently wore brown clothing. It also sometimes came from the trade of a *"brownsmith"* (someone who worked with copper or brass).
* *Black:* Referred to people with very dark hair or a "swarthy" complexion. It also originated from *"blacksmiths"* (iron workers).
* *White:* Referred to people with very fair skin, light hair, or *"whitesmiths"* (those who worked with "white" metals like tin or silver).

### 2. How Enslaved People Acquired These Names

Historical research shows three primary ways African Americans came to have these surnames:

* *Inheritance from Enslavers:* This is the most direct link. Many enslaved people were forced to take the surname of the family that "owned" them. Since Brown and White were (and are) among the most common surnames in the British Isles, many enslavers carried these names.
* *Choice After Emancipation:* When slavery ended, many freed people chose their own names as an act of independence.
* *In Honor of Heroes:* Many chose "Brown" specifically in honor of **John Brown**, the white abolitionist who led the raid on Harpers Ferry.
* *Descriptive Choice:* Some chose "Brown" or "Black" as a literal description of their skin color or as a way to reclaim their identity after having no legal surname for generations.

* *Ancestry and Lineage:* Due to the prevalence of sexual violence against enslaved women, many children were born with white fathers. In some cases, these children were given the father's surname, which was then passed down through generations.

### 3. The "Behavioral Labeling" Theory

The theory you mentioned—that names were assigned based on rebelliousness or agreeability—is likely an extension of the *"Willie Lynch"* narrative. While that document (purporting to be from 1712) is widely considered by historians to be a modern hoax from the 1970s, it accurately describes the real-world *colorism* used by enslavers to divide people (e.g., pitting light-skinned "house" workers against dark-skinned "field" workers).

However, there is no historical evidence that enslavers used *surnames* as a permanent label for a person's temperament. Surnames were legal markers of property and lineage; if a master changed an enslaved person's last name every time they were "problematic" or "agreeable," it would have made legal records and bills of sale nearly impossible to track.

### Summary of Names

| Name | Historical Origin (Pre-Slavery) | Common Reason for Adoption by Black Americans |
| — | — | — |
| *Brown* | Coppersmith or brown-haired/tan | Choice (John Brown) or owner's name. |
| *Black* | Blacksmith or dark-haired | Literal description or owner's name. |
| *White* | Silversmith or fair-haired | Owner's name or paternal lineage. |

The prevalence of these names today is less a "code" for behavior and more a reflection of how common those surnames were among the British population that colonized North America.

Would you like to explore the history of "patriotic" names like Washington or Jefferson and why they are so prevalent in the Black community?

Strange

Is the police station set the same one they use B99??? 2:18 2:21 does anyone else see how similar the lay out is?

Have you seen Commodore?