Posted on 12/22/2020 2:57:03 PM PST by simpson96
PORTLAND, Ore —Wilson High School in Southwest Portland will be renamed after a Black woman who made a historical impact on society.
The board of Portland Public Schools decided to change the school's name in July in response to the racial justice movement that followed the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Built in 1954, the high school was named for former Pres. Woodrow Wilson, whose administration segregated federal offices. Wilson also wrote a book considered sympathetic to the Ku Klux Klan.
A committee tasked with renaming Wilson High has come up with five candidates after whom the school could be renamed. The committee is asking for feedback from the community on the candidates, which can be submitted online through Jan. 1, 2021.
Here are the five finalists and information about them from various websites:
Beatrice Morrow Cannady worked as a reporter and editor for the Advocate, an African-American newspaper,(snip)
Mercedes Deiz became the first Black female lawyer in Oregon in 1960. She was also the state's first Black female district court judge and first Black woman to be elected as a county circuit court judge.(snip)
Sojourner Truth was an abolitionist and women's rights activist who was born into slavery in New York.(snip)
Ida B. Wells was an early leader of the civil rights movement.(snip)
Harriet Wilson was the first African American person, male or female, to publish a novel in North America. Her novel "Sketches from the Life of a Free Black" was published anonymously in 1859 in Boston, Mass.
The high school noted in a form on its website, "Choosing to honor Harriet will allow us to reclaim the name Wilson, while at the same time turning its meaning from one of severe racism to one of hope and inclusion."
(Excerpt) Read more at kgw.com ...
I nominate Marva Collins!
Keep it simple. “Historical Black Woman High School”. I mean, sooner or later, someone is going to dig up something offensive to someone about whoever they name the school after. This way, you avoid having to “cancel” some poor black woman who’s been dead for decades.
Tamara Dobson
Or Pam Grier
Yep!
RuPaul?
LaWanda Page
Don’t be late for class, sucka
Cool. Name the school after Flip Wilson then they can leave the name on it. And as your image reminds me, Flip did play a black woman.
“Dolezal”
Yeah, I like it.
Woodrow Wilson was an avowed racist, so I’m OK with the renaming; just need a person who is honorable.
Wilson re-segregated the military and his name should be removed from every public building and roadway.
Same for Robert Byrd.
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