When I was a student in Chapel Hill 20+ years ago (started undergrad in ‘90 and finished dental school in ‘98), I never really thought of Silent Sam being a Confederate soldier. In retrospect, I now recognize that as a perfect example of white privilege. I can’t say that I remember any protests against the statue, but that’s not to say that there weren’t – I just don’t recall any. The big issue at the time, was the heated debate about where to put the new African-American Center, and that was a doozy!
In more recent years, I became more aware of what Silent Sam was memorializing. As protests around the nation over such memorials grew, I realized that Silent Sam also needed to go. My nostalgia for the memories that I associated with the 8 fabulous years as a student there, could not and should not outweigh the negative history the Confederacy, which was all about slavery. And if any idiot tries to reply that it was about “states’ rights,” sure…about the rights of states to keep slavery. Read the Articles of the Confederacy – it’s all spelled out right there, so don’t give me any shit out “Southern heritage.”
I visited Chapel Hill with my family on Fathers Day 2018, and I got to show the statue to my daughters. I explained about its symbolism and the problems with it, and I told them.” I hope that it comes down soon, to be put in a museum, where it’s context and history as a symbol of racism and slavery could be better explained.
I’m glad I got to see Silent Sam one last time, and now I’m glad that the statue has come down. UNC Chapel Hill’s campus will be a more beautiful and inclusive one without him.