Warren Christian, the great-great-grandson of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson, criticized a decision made by the Shenandoah County School Board in Virginia to restore the names of two schools honoring Confederate generals—Stonewall Jackson High and Ashby Lee Elementary. These schools were renamed Mountain View High School and Honey Run Elementary School in July 2021, following a trend that swept across the country in the wake of Black Lives Matter protests denouncing symbols of the Confederacy. However, the predominantly white and Republican school district became the first to reverse this name change, with a 5-1 vote restoring the names of the Confederate generals Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and Turner Ashby.
Christian expressed his disappointment in the decision to restore the Confederate names, citing the emotional impact it would have on Black students who feel it disrespects their heritage. He highlighted the story of an eighth-grade student named Aaliyah, who bravely spoke out against the restoration of the names, stating that it would make her feel like she was disrespecting her ancestors who fought against slavery. Despite his disagreement with the decision, Christian acknowledged the rights of the school board to make this choice, even if he believed it was morally wrong. He emphasized the importance of learning from history, particularly the lesson that slavery and white supremacy are unequivocally wrong.
When questioned about the argument made by the Coalition for Better Schools, who advocated for restoring the Confederate names to honor the community’s heritage and respect the wishes of the majority, Christian reiterated the importance of understanding and remembering history while learning from its mistakes. He emphasized that the legacy of the Civil War serves as a stark reminder that the justification of slavery through white supremacy and the oppression of Black individuals is fundamentally wrong. By reflecting on this history, Christian believed that communities can move forward with a greater understanding of the injustices that have occurred in the past and work towards a more inclusive and equitable future.
The decision made by the Shenandoah County School Board to restore the names of schools honoring Confederate generals ignited a debate about the significance of preserving Confederate symbols in educational institutions. While some argued that honoring the heritage and history of the community was important, others, like Christian, believed that upholding names associated with white supremacy and slavery sends a harmful message to students, particularly those from marginalized communities. The discourse surrounding the renaming of schools reflects larger societal conversations about the legacy of the Confederacy and the need to confront the racist ideologies that continue to permeate American culture.
By speaking out against the decision to restore the Confederate names of schools, Warren Christian highlighted the importance of reckoning with the dark history of the Confederacy and its impact on communities today. His stance emphasized the need to prioritize the well-being and comfort of all students, particularly those who may feel marginalized or disrespected by symbols that represent oppression and discrimination. The debate surrounding the renaming of schools serves as a reminder of the ongoing battle to address systemic racism and work towards a more inclusive and equitable society where all individuals are valued and respected.
