Virginia school board votes to return names of Confederate figures to schools

A school board in Virginia voted to restore the names of Confederate military leaders at two schools in Shenandoah County. The vote followed a heated meeting of the school board and comes several years after the schools were renamed during a nationwide reckoning with racism. NBC News' Yamiche Alcindor reports.

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[marystevens]

You people who want name changes should fight to remove the names of Yale University (Connecticut) and Brown University (Rhode Island). Yale was named for slave trader Elihu Yale who was responsible for slavery in the Indian Ocean area. They named the school after Elihu Yale for his donations to the school. Brown University was named for the Brown Brothers who helped fund the school since they were prolific slave traders. Good Luck.

[TerryBowles-qmqc]

I know this is upsetting to invertebrate bipedal humanoids... get used to it. The pendulum is swinging in the other direction and this is just the beginning.

[TheWinterShadow]

People in this county make the 'woke' sound right, and that's horrible.

[norman]

Great job!! About time to reverse this wokeness!!

[marystevens]

They were fighting for southern independence not slavery. The North was fighting to force the South back into the Union not to free slaves. Read Lincoln's Inaugural address. Lincoln had 5 slave states in his Union and accepted into the Union West Virginia as a slave state. Don't forget that slave trading started in the NORTH. The first American slave ship was named Desire and built in Marblehead, Massachusetts. The North built the slave ships and brought slaves to America. They sponsored auctions of slaves. Northern Banks made a fortune off insuring slave ships, slaves and used slaves as collateral. Slavery was NOT a Southern thing.

[johnpew]

Good job, Shenandoah County! A lot of people support you. Stand strong.

[MeadeSkeltonMusic]

Most people were against changing the names in the first place!

[barryb]

If the school board had all the rights of a slave, imagine how they would feel about having their family sold and separated, perhaps even to other school board members who were not slaves? I imagine if anyone lived the life of a slave for a year, they might reconsider glorifying those who fought to defend the institution and overthrow the union.

[madbug]

Yeah! Honor the dishonorable traitors to our country!! Yes!

[daviddoby]

Keeping these monuments to bigotry and hatred in place is reminding us of the evil that lives today !!! It's sad that fighting for rich people to gain financially is a source of pride and heritage for those who had absolutely nothing to gain .

[JJW]

They lost the Civil War. What kind of heritage is that?

[afriknewschannel]

Is changing school names all those old relics, who are almost nearing the end of their lives, care about? What about making significant improvements for students and the school? How about brainstorming innovative ideas to raise the school to the highest standards? It's baffling how people think and behave in this country. But are those individuals truly content with their actions? Out of all the tasks at hand, they prioritize changing school names to absurd, irritating, abominable, and disgusting names of some creepy horrific creature? Is that where they choose to focus their time and energy? It's barbaric and repulsive. Sometimes I wonder what people see when they look at themselves in the mirror. Like do they truly see someone they love and are proud of, or just some sacks of dirt? Like honestly how could mature adults agree to such trivial pursuits and ignore the countless opportunities for meaningful action? It's just so absurd.

[bipolarcollie]

Stonewall Jackson attended West Point and admirably served in the USA Army prior to the Civil War.

Perhaps they could name the school "Stonewall Jackson before he betrayed his country to keep slavery in the south" School.

[stacybritton]

It. Has. Started. Deep. Down. They. Hate

[TheWinterShadow]

There is nothing more powerful than people who dream of the good old days with a symbol.

[catwrangler]

Looks like a place where Rambo would hitch hike through

[stacybritton]

Ok. You. Want. Name chang. Well. We. Want. Nathan. Bedford. History. That. He. Created. The. Kkk

[leoreed]

Cut federal funding for those schools.

[leahcatherinevevo]

First antisemitism and now racism!?! That breaks my heart. I thought we were better than this. 😢💔