Julian Carr, namesake of Carrboro and who dedicated Silent Sam, draws new scrutiny
Some people in Carrboro want to change the town's name, according to town officials.
Carrboro is named for Julian Carr, a white supremacist who gave a fiery speech at the dedication of the Silent Sam statue in 1913.
Carr also has a building at Duke University named in his honor, and his history in the past is getting new scrutiny in 2018.
The Board of Aldermen decided against renaming the town, saying it would be too complicated and costly. Instead, a group will gather this month to start working on a "Truth Plaque" that will acknowledge the town's history while also affirming its commitment to working for social justice.
UNC Archives show that Carr was a UNC student and fought for the Confederacy before owning a tobacco empire in Durham.
During the dedication speech at the installation of Silent Sam, Carr talked about "horse-whipping a Negro wench," calling it a "pleasing duty."
"He fought for the Confederacy for, in his words, to defend his right to own slaves and inherit slaves from his father," said William Sturkey, a UNC history professor, who added that Carr openly promoted the Ku Klux Klan before becoming a member himself.
Last month, the Duke History Department requested the University rename the Carr building, which Duke says it will consider.
Deb Aikat, Ph.D., an associate professor at UNC's School of Media and Journalism, said the town told him that Carrboro citizens, including members of the NAACP and local historians, will begin writing the wording of the Truth Plaque.
"The Truth Plaque will acknowledge that Carrboro is named after the Julian Carr and refer to his racist legacy, cite the racist history of the town as well as celebrate Carrboro’s local civil rights heroes and affirm Carrboro’s commitment to continuing to work for social justice," Aikat said to WRAL. "But I have respectfully pointed out to them that a Truth Plaque may not be enough.
