Nathan Bedford Forrest, What’s in a Name?

Nathan B. Forrest, noted confederate of the Civil War era, first Grand Wizard of the KKK, and soon to be former namesake of a high school in Jacksonville, Florida is what’s in a name today. Enough about what color Santa is or should be already, changing the name of this school that now has a predominantly black student body is a more valid conversation starter on questions of race today. The push to change the school’s name is not new to the news and although the community input was for keeping the Nathan B. Forrest name the students’ votes called for change. School Board Member, Ashley Smith Juarez said, “My vote tonight does not reflect judgment of a man I am not called to judge. My vote tonight honors the voice of students." The Duval County School Board unanimously voted to change the name of Nathan B. Forrest High School Monday and Duval Superintendent Nikolai Vitti wants the students to decide on a new name. The name will be officially changed in July 2014. Hooray for the students! May their victory be a step toward a kinder more tolerant world.