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Photo Courtesy of Open Durham
Walking past the building that houses the sixth and seventh grade classes, it may be noticed that the blue DPS sign that announced the building’s name has been removed.
On August 23, the Durham Public Schools school board voted unanimously to remove the name Julian Carr from the middle school building at DSA. This decision was made at the same time as the school board decided to ban symbols representing white supremacy. The building was named the Julian S. Carr Junior High School in 1945, and the name was kept when the school became part of DSA.
“Our concern was due to Julian Carr's racist views, particularly graphically described in his speech at the Silent Sam memorial dedication on the UNC Chapel Hill campus. In that speech Carr said he ‘horse-whipped a negro wench until her skirts hung in shreds’. The Superintendent and Board felt that it was important to remove Carr's name as we move forward in a spirit of equity for all students,” Natalie Beyer, DPS school board member, explained.
The removal of the name came as some surprise to Mandie Robertson, sixth grade Language Arts teacher, as she was not aware of Carr’s history.
“I asked somebody who it was named after, and I was told he was a philanthropist, and I didn’t know any more than that until [the event took place]...then I read and I learned a little bit more about him,” Ms. Robertson explained.
Mr. Isaacs, sixth grade Social Studies teacher, did not know much about Julian Carr before the name was removed, either. He has since learned more.
“I hate to admit it, as a history teacher, but no I didn’t... do any research. So it came as a surprise. As with many things of this nature, it’s complicated because I also understand that [Carr] apparently was a benefactor of NCCU as well, which seems like a contradiction, but, that’s not uncommon for the time period that we’re talking about,” Mr. Isaacs said.
Both teachers stated that their students know minimal information about who Carr was. Ms. Robertson is working to remedy that.
“[T]hey will [know] before the year’s over, because we’ll be talking about it. They should know- they’re living and they’re learning the history, and it’s all interrelated to the statue coming down [and] to what’s going on in the world. You all need to be taught to think about things, and question things, and make your own decisions,” Ms. Robertson said.
Both teachers agreed that if the building is going to be renamed, there should be some student input in who it is named after.
“I want students to have input, but maybe not the final say. I think that would be appropriate to also involve students in that, but they need to take the time to research it, as us faculty should as well,” Mr. Isaacs said. “I think it would be fantastic to name [the building] after McKissick, and the folks who integrated the school. That would be an excellent choice.”
However, Ms. Beyer stated that she is not aware of plans to rename the building.
“I know the Administration and the Board would be open to thoughts from the school community at Durham School of the Arts. I assume these any recommendations would be discussed at the School Improvement Team at DSA and reflect the wishes of the school community,” Ms. Beyer said. “I assume the DSA community needs to consider if the building needs an official name or can be named more informally.”
Regardless of what happens to the middle school building (as it is temporarily being called), Mr. Isaacs believes that people need to do some serious thinking.
“It’s very important for all people, not just teachers and children, but for all people to honestly take the time to put themselves in someone else’s shoes. It’s real easy for people of privilege to be like, ‘Oh, you shouldn’t change that, it’s tradition, it’s the way it’s always been, why’re you making such a big deal out of it,’ but it can be a real slap in the face to people who feel deeply about it, and I think everyone... needs to be thoughtful about that and reflective,” Mr. Isaacs finished.
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