Seriously, folks, it's time to change the names.

Jan 16, 2015, 4:09 PM

Maybe our Gamecock friends are on to something criticizing us about Tillman Hall. Maybe we need to look at the buildings named after some other prominent racists in our state's history:

John Drayton
Connection to USC: Served as SC governor and pushed the initiative that founded the Univ. of South Carolina.
Known for: Drayton Hall, his plantation that still stands in Charleston today.
The dirt: Drayton had 45 slaves working on the property each year, according to the plantation’s historical records. During his gubernatorial tenure, Drayton helped push legislation that blocked emancipation of slaves.
What’s in the name?: The university’s auditorium in the Wardlaw College is named after John Drayton.

John Rutledge
Connection to USC: One of the university’s intellectual founders.
Known for: Served as an SC governor and Supreme Court chief justice
The dirt: Rutledge owned several slaves and twice defended individuals who abused slaves. He convinced the Constitutional Convention not to abolish slavery.
What’s in the name?: Rutledge College on campus is named after him.

Charles Cotesworth Pinckney
Connection to USC: One of the university’s intellectual founders.
Known for: Famous Charlestonian and Revolutionary War general
The dirt: Pinckney owned 250 slaves and argued its necessity for SC’s economy. Although he eventually agreed to abolish the slave trade, he fought strongly against abolishing slavery. Once gave his daughter a nice wedding present of 50 slaves. Bet you can’t get that on the registry at Target today.
What’s in the name?: Pinckney College on campus is named after him.

Charles Pinckney
Connection to USC: One of the university’s intellectual founders.
Known for: Cousin of the clown listed above; signer of the Constitution, fought as a lieutenant in the Revolution, and served as SC governor.
The dirt: Owned 200 to 300 slaves and argued that slavery provided security for blacks. He also believed crawling in the sack with his slaves provided them security as well and he fathered multiple children with his property. Pushed the Fugitive Slave Clause in the Constitution.
What’s in the name?: The same connection as above.

Henry William DeSaussure
Connection to USC: One of the university’s intellectual founders.
Known for: Framer of SC Constitution and mayor of Charleston and Columbia
The dirt: Owned plenty of slaves but apparently didn’t like the institution. But he felt it was necessary for the economy. How regal of him.
What’s in the name?: DeSaussure College on campus is named after him.

Thomas Cooper
Connection to USC: Served as president and professor at the school
Known for: Renowned economist and friends with Thomas Jefferson and James Madison
The dirt: Cooper wasn’t a slave owner, but he supported slavery in the U.S. Of course, he argued the economic benefits of the practice.
What’s in the name?: The library is named after him.

John and Joseph LeConte
Connection to USC: Professors at South Carolina before and during the Civil War.
Known for: Pretty much being professors
The dirt: Slave owners. Argued that abolition would lead to slave revolts and the eroding of racial classes. Couldn’t stand the post-bellum South and their lack of slaves, so they bolted for California. They were paternalists, which means they believed suppressing the rights of others (slaves) was justified because you were doing them a favor. Seriously. It was a thing.
What’s in the name?: LeConte College on campus is named after him.

Stephen Elliott
Connection to USC: One of the university’s intellectual founders.
Known for: Renowned American botanist
The dirt: Slave owner.
What’s in the name?: Elliott College on campus is named after him. Check it out: slaves built the building and slave quarters were located there.

Francis Lieber
Connection to USC: Professor from 1835 to 1856
Known for: Famous German author who took up residence in America
The dirt: A staunch anti-slavery scholar and abolitionist. Oh. So why is he listed here? Because he was the obvious choice to become South Carolina’s next president in 1856, but the mob of racist professors and students ran him out of town. So there’s that.
What’s in the name?: Lieber College is named after him and was surprisingly not burned down by his colleagues.

James Henley Thornwell
Connection to USC: Former president, served a few years before the Civil War
Known for: For the above
The dirt: Actually started out young as an abolitionist until Thomas Cooper converted him. Nice! After that, he became a raging pro-slavery proponent. He wrote several pamphlets and articles defending it.
What’s in the name?: Thornwell College is named after him.

There are more. These are just some of the big ones.

I’m not throwing my hat into the Tillman Hall discussion; I understand the arguments on both sides. This post is for our little hypocritical feathered friends in Columbia. You want to poke fun and push for name changing at Clemson? Okay. Game on. Let’s start looking at your school’s history.

Oh, and my primary source for this info? The University of South Carolina:

http://library.sc.edu/digital/slaveryscc/index.html

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Seriously, folks, it's time to change the names.

Re: I C WUT U did thar!***

I appreciate you posting this education. I was amazed at

they should name a building after the 1st black QB Slurrier recruits.***

Re: they should name a building after the 1st black QB Slurrier recruits.***

Lorenzo Nunez ? do your homework, course he may flip too.***

Re: Seriously, folks, it's time to change the names.

Re: Seriously, folks, it's time to change the names.

We could call them Confederate Coots

Thomas Sumter, the Carolina Gamecock, used slaves as currency

Muy bueno, Cata!!! Bookmark this post and feel free

Judging history by today's standards is a fool's errand.***

Re: Seriously, folks, it's time to change the names.

I'm fine with changing those names

Great Great Post!!!!

Also, let's not forget their fans are known for shouting...

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