An open letter to Col. Dennis Barlow and the Shenandoah County School Board

As everyone now is well aware, on May 9, the Shenandoah County School Board is going to vote on whether or not to once again name Stonewall Jackson High School – Stonewall Jackson High School.

Those who are against changing the name of Stonewall High School back talk about how doing so will be so horrible to “children of color” who may be offended by the concept of going to a school named after both an American and Virginia hero. They also talk about the need for racial healing.

Very unfortunately the actions of those who want Stonewall High School to have its name stay as it is are everything but healing. All one needs to do is to go on the Northern Virginia Daily blogs and see the hatred in their comments. Anyone who doesn’t agree with them is a racist, a Nazi, a bigot, etc.

As a non-white, I find it both humorous and insulting to have lily skin white folks label me as a racist or bigot. Me, I happen to understand that Stonewall Jackson was a rather pivotal figure in Shenandoah Valley history, and thus the name should return to Stonewall HS.

Those people who supported the original name change a few years back did no talking to the average person in Shenandoah County, and thus really are not able to understand that the average resident of Shenandoah County is not a racist. And they very likely had an ancestor who fought under Stonewall at one time or another. To support Stonewall Jackson is not racist. For the average resident here, who again has not one racial bone inside their body — they’re celebrating their ancestors and their heritage. To suggest that everyone who supports the name change is a racist, is to state that almost everyone who lives inside Shenandoah County is a racist. Something that is ridiculous.

Are there racists in Shenandoah County? Yes. Is racism abhorrent? Yes. Should we do everything we can to eradicate racism? Yes. But to state that everyone who supports once again naming Stonewall Jackson is a racist, is truly ridiculous. If that is the case, then half the Democrats of Shenandoah County are racist. Something that I don’t believe.

Another fact, on Sept. 15, 1862, one of my ancestors was killed by Stonewall Jackson at the Siege of Harpers Ferry. He fought in the 32nd Ohio, Company A. Last name Cameron. My ancestor was a hero and is forever tied to Stonewall.

So to Chairman Dennis Barlow, Vice Chair Kyle Gutshall, board members Tom Streett, Gloria Carlineo, Brandi Rutz and Mike Rickard, I ask that each of you do the right thing, listen to your constituents (who are overwhelmingly in favor of the idea of Stonewall Jackson HS) and vote to again name the southern county high school after one of the Valley’s own.