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Cancel culture & Wingate Hall

When a resolution to a serious conflict leaves everyone feeling a little uncomfortable or disappointed, that can be a sign that it was a good resolution.
My understanding is that the university took this seriously and had significant engagement with people of color as part of the decisionmaking process. Obviously those persons, whoever they were, don't speak for all people of color, but it would be worse if a group of old white dudes had made this decision without any input from other perspectives.
 
Given the circumstances with Wingate, the school could have used a generic name and it would have resulted in petitions and controversy about Wake trying to "hide their history." There were going to be people complaining no matter what, because that's what people do. Like the name or not, there is no disputing that Wake chose to face facts and address them head on, which is admirable.
 
wakelaw13 said:
The best thing about the name is that it prompts discussion and education about the history associated with the school. I don’t feel very strongly about the name itself, one way or the other, but I think in some ways it’s already serving it’s purpose.
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Well said. No perfect answer here and I thought Wake's approach was novel and well intended, ie to foster a better understanding of our stained history.
 
I was prepared to hate this idea and thread when I clicked on the link - instead the renaming and the effort behind it leaves me pretty impressed. Half the time shit like this is driven by some rich benefactor getting bent out of shape for not having anything named after them so someone hunts down a borderline historical figure and you get Bezos Hall.
 
Yep…they’re pausing the renaming for further gathering of input, reflection, etc.

Wingate still out, just pausing on the new name.
 
Dear Wake Forest Community,

I write today to share that we have decided to pause the implementation of our plan to rename Wingate Hall as May 7, 1860 Hall.

On May 7, we made an announcement to the Wake Forest community sharing our intent to change the name of Wingate Hall to the date on which the university (then Wake Forest College) sold 16 enslaved people to help build its endowment. In selecting this name, we sought to memorialize them as vital contributors to the Wake Forest story. Additionally, we envisioned that choosing this date as the building’s name would invite the question: what happened on May 7th, 1860? In provoking this question, we would thereby remember those whose labor and lives were unwillingly sacrificed to benefit this institution. And, in doing so, we would enshrine accountability for future generations.

We appreciate those who have questioned our decision and have asked us to pause and reconsider the full impact of this name. We have heard the requests for consideration of a name that would recognize the contributions of a Black leader from the Wake Forest community. We have heard particularly from some Black students, for whom Wake Forest has felt unwelcoming, that the name “May 7, 1860” on a campus building would further alienate or traumatize them.

In response, we are pausing the process of implementing the new name. We are fully committed to listening and understanding, as well as seeking a solution that appropriately honors the enslaved and fulfills our ethical commitment to accountability. To that end, I have asked Vice President José Villalba and Trustee Donna Edwards (’80) to chair an advisory committee focused on (1) clarifying the objectives in selecting a name for the former Wingate Hall; and (2) collecting and understanding our community’s concerns, reactions and suggestions regarding a new name. The committee will advise the President on its findings.

The committee will commence immediately and intends to complete its work by June 30.

Sincerely,


Nathan O. Hatch
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The point is to recognize the history and the role of the enslaved people in that history. Naming it Chris Paul Hall won’t have the same impact.

Part of the problem that needs to be acknowledged is the lack of Black leaders from Wake Forest which is part of the problematic history. I can’t see naming a building after someone who is still alive. Given that the first Black student enrolled almost 60 years ago, there are few Black alums who have passed. (Racist ass Tapatalk kept autocorrecting “Black alums” to “Black slums”)

Maybe they chose a living Deac. They could name a building after Dr. Eure but that should be Winston Hall not Wingate.
 
TenaciousKory said:
Safiya Noble batsignal!
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Good reference.

I typed “Black alums” and Tapatalk was like “I think you meant slums, boy.”

Then I corrected it and typed “slums” by mistake. Then Tapatalk was like “I think you mean alums, my brother. Power to the people!”
 
i met her and she's delightful! she signed my book
 
Bout time we got a building named after Melissa Harris-Perry.
 
I'm sorry to say that naming a building on wake forest's campus after Ed Reynolds would probably not be very useful for commemorating him
 
As Rogan/Chapelle say, you can never be Woke enough
 
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WOKE!

FOREST!

WOKE!

FOREST!
 
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