Wingate University in North Carolina recently discovered that its namesake sold slaves before the Civil War, prompting the school to establish a committee to determine its next course of action.
The committee consists of trustees, students, faculty, alumni, and even town officials tasked to discuss options to address the issue, including changing the name of the school.
“This truth hurts. It casts a shadow over our university, my alma mater, and is not in keeping with who we are today, what we value and how we strive to be more inclusive for the students who study here and the people who work here,” said Wingate President Rhett Brown in the university statement.
The School’s Namesake
Research indicates that Washington Manly Wingate was not actively involved with the university despite it being named after him.
Apparently, the son of an inaugural trustee suggested that the school adopt the name when it was built in 1896. It turns out that the son taught at Wake Forest University where Wingate served as president from 1853 to 1862 and again after the Civil War in 1866 until his death in 1879.
In 2018, the administration asked three employees to review if any of their buildings or statues were named after people with questionable or scandalous histories. Their initial research did not yield any results. However, Wake Forest University disclosed on Friday that its Wingate Hall will be renamed to “May 7, 1860 Hall” to memorialize the day that the institution sold 16 people at a slave auction under Wingate’s presidency.
“By renaming this building, we acknowledge the University’s participation in slavery, recognize this aspect of our history and remember those who labored at the institution against their will. We hear their stories, learn their names and honor what they endured for our institution,” Wake Forest President Nathan O. Hatch said in a statement.
“Knowing that the stain of past transgressions can never be eliminated and that the debt to people of color can never be repaid, Wingate University officials do believe this deeply upsetting news can serve as an opportunity for reflection, reconciliation and growth,” Brown wrote.
