Another School Name Change Patrick Henry HS
Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2018 5:47 pm
Henry did not like slavery, spoke out against it, but never freed his slaves. The school was not named Patrick Henry because he was a slave owner, but I don't think the name will survive in today's world.
WCCO Link
The faces that make up the movement say when they tell others that Patrick Henry was a slave owner, it helps them understand why they want a name change.
Patrick Henry is 90 percent students of color. More than 50 percent of the student population is black. Most here feel the name does not represent the student body.
Patrick Henry letter on Slavery
DEAR SIR: I take this opportunity to acknowledge the receipt of ANTHONY BENEZETS book against the Slave trade. I thank you for it. It is not a little surprising that Christianity, whose chief excellence consists in softening the human heart, in cherishing and improving its finer feelings, should encourage a practice so totally repugnant to the first impressions of right and wrong. What adds to the wonder is that this abominable practice has been introduced in the most enlightened ages. Times that seem to have pretensions to boast of high improvements in arts, sciences and refined morality, have brought into general use and guarded by many laws a species of violence and tyranny which our more rude and barbarous, but more honest ancestors detested.........................
Link to rest of letter
...................................I know not where to stop. I could say many things on this subject, a serious review of which gives a gloomy perspective to future times. Excuse this scrawl, and believe me, with esteem, your humble servant, PATRICK HENRY, JR. JOHN ALOSTP Hudson, N.Y.
WCCO Link
The faces that make up the movement say when they tell others that Patrick Henry was a slave owner, it helps them understand why they want a name change.
Patrick Henry is 90 percent students of color. More than 50 percent of the student population is black. Most here feel the name does not represent the student body.
Patrick Henry letter on Slavery
DEAR SIR: I take this opportunity to acknowledge the receipt of ANTHONY BENEZETS book against the Slave trade. I thank you for it. It is not a little surprising that Christianity, whose chief excellence consists in softening the human heart, in cherishing and improving its finer feelings, should encourage a practice so totally repugnant to the first impressions of right and wrong. What adds to the wonder is that this abominable practice has been introduced in the most enlightened ages. Times that seem to have pretensions to boast of high improvements in arts, sciences and refined morality, have brought into general use and guarded by many laws a species of violence and tyranny which our more rude and barbarous, but more honest ancestors detested.........................
Link to rest of letter
...................................I know not where to stop. I could say many things on this subject, a serious review of which gives a gloomy perspective to future times. Excuse this scrawl, and believe me, with esteem, your humble servant, PATRICK HENRY, JR. JOHN ALOSTP Hudson, N.Y.