The exhuming of Charles B. Aycock
Charles B. Aycock has been dead and buried for 95 years, but his reputation has just been unearthed.
Blame, or credit, 21st century politics.
Although Aycock wasn't from around here, his name is prominent in Greensboro:
Charles B. Aycock Historic District.
And Aycock Street.
Aycock was North Carolina's governor from 1901 to 1905. He's most often remembered as the original "education governor" for promoting public schools.
He's also been revered as an icon of the North Carolina Democratic Party, whose memory is honored in the annual Vance-Aycock Dinner in Asheville, which attracts the Democratic faithful from across the state.
This year, however, Western North Carolina Republicans tried to spoil the party, threatening to picket the event to draw attention to Aycock's leading role in the white supremacy campaigns of 1898-1900.
Yesterday, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Richard Moore joined in, calling on the party to drop Aycock's name from the event.
With Moore charging in, the Republicans quickly backed out, their mission -- to cause turmoil within the Dem fold -- apparently accomplished.
This issue comes up in an important context. The state recently completed a study of the 1898 takeover of Wilmington by white supremacists/Democrats, an armed coup d'etat in which blacks were murdered and an elected Republican-Fusion city government was overturned. Aycock was one of the leading voices behind that outrage, and he rode the white supremacy wave through the 1900 election.
Both the modern N.C. Democratic Party and the 2007 General Assembly have apologized for those events, so it's certainly improper for the party to continue to honor Aycock's memory.
Although not everyone feels that way:
"Some in the African-American community have said the furor over the name of the event is irrelevant and divisive," the Asheville Citizen-Times reported.
" 'We need to quit letting people divide us by bringing up matters that have been decided back in 1900,' Asheville lawyer Gene Ellison said.
"Ellison buys a ticket to Vance-Aycock each year but said he wouldn't buy one again if the party is pressured into changing the name."
Fortunately, we don't have to abide by what was "decided back in 1900." We also don't have to be consumed by events that occurred long ago.
It's a simple thing for the Democrats to change the name of their dinner. They ought to do it because the names a political party associates itself with can convey political meaning. Today's Democrats repudiate the racism of Aycock's era, but they risk the appearance of insensitivity and ignorance if they gather in his memory.
Aycock's name lives in Greensboro in a different context, that of his support for public education and for the founding of the State Normal and Industrial School (now UNCG) in 1891.
The evil things he did should be acknowledged, and they count heavily against his reputation. But he did good things, too, which merit remembering in appropriate ways.
Comments (15)
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t's a simple thing for the Democrats to change the name of their dinner. They ought to do it because the names a political party associates itself with can convey political meaning.* Doug
Right Doug! So when will the GOP change the Lincoln Day dinners in his honor to the Strom Thurman Dinner?
Racism is a two way street with both parties, so why is this such important political matter in the 21 st century when political Chaos is starting to rule in this country as another failed empire in history.
Posted on October 2, 2007 12:57 PM
Lincoln vs. Strom Thurmond? I think Lincoln is the better choice there.
Posted on October 2, 2007 1:09 PM
This Ellison guy is a dangerous radical who better never show his face in Guilford co, where the ethos is milk that past for every penny. This thinking could cause economic chaos here. It would be like losing furniture markert etc.
Lets hope he stays the heck out west!
Posted on October 2, 2007 2:58 PM
Educational reformers in South--in fact, progressives generally--hitched their wagon to white supremacy during Aycock's era. He's the norm, not the exception. I wrote an intro for a novel by Walter Hines Page (one of the exceptions), and it's a fascinating time period in that so many of the political alliances and patterns today were totally inverted. Doug, I can't find your email address, but if you tell me where to find it, I'll send you a copy.
Posted on October 2, 2007 3:11 PM
Gene Ellison's attitude is one extreme. Obsession with the real and perceived wrongs of the past is the other. There's an appropriate middle ground.
Thanks, brian. My email is dgclark@news-record.com
Posted on October 2, 2007 3:36 PM
Lincoln vs. Strom Thurmond? I think Lincoln is the better choice there.* Doug
Really! Lincoln wanted to ship the slaves back to Africa to solve the race problem. He said and wrote nasty things about the black race being limited in aquiring " the White man knowledge and ways" Sounds like Strom Thurman evil twin to me?
Posted on October 2, 2007 6:23 PM
This Ellison guy is a dangerous radical who better never show his face in Guilford co, where the ethos is milk that past for every penny. This thinking could cause economic chaos here. It would be like losing furniture markert etc.
Lets hope he stays the heck out west!*Skeet Club Savage
I don't think you should worry about Republican Klan wizard Ellison coming to Greensboro anytime soon. After all, any retarded idiot that names a Republican political club " Carolina Stompers" can't be all that bright in public relationships or images.
Gee! " Carolina Stompers" sounds like a semi-pro arena football team with a losing season already.Or it could be a new Republican cloggers dance unit that stomps on snakes during it's show.
Posted on October 2, 2007 6:39 PM
Let's hear it for the Graham/Gantt dinner!
Posted on October 3, 2007 10:11 AM
Is that Frank P. or Billy Graham?
Posted on October 3, 2007 10:26 AM
The Republicans have it right on this one. Using the Aycock name to raise funds is inconsistent (at best) with the Democrats' current platform. While it would be costly and disruptive to remove Aycock's name from every building, street, etc., there is little if any cost to changing the name of a fund-raising event.
Posted on October 3, 2007 2:27 PM
The Republicans have it right on this one. Using the Aycock name to raise funds is inconsistent (at best) with the Democrats' current platform. While it would be costly and disruptive to remove Aycock's name from every building, street, etc., there is little if any cost to changing the name of a fund-raising event.*Anonymous Carolina Stomper Republican?
Wow! What's next? Digging up old Aycock and giving him a little republican waterboard torture session so he will remember not to do it again?
I notice today that the
State Chairman of the Democrat party has demanded a investigation into the funding of the Carolina Stompers as a political party.
The Carolina Stompers only spokesperson and member said he welcome the investigation by the Democrat party into his political affairs. He claims he has nothing to hid since he has just hired the former accounting wizs of the Eron Corporation and a security team from the Blackwater Group to prove his claim that Gov Aycock Ghost has assaulted him on his many visits to his home. As a victim, Gov Aycock Ghost is suing the Stompers spokensperson for senior citizen abuse and not having clean sheets at their political meeting.
Posted on October 3, 2007 6:33 PM
Yes, the Dems' defense is to attack the Republicans who pointed out Aycock's record.
Posted on October 4, 2007 8:36 AM
Yes, the Dems' defense is to attack the Republicans who pointed out Aycock's record.* Doug
True! But to have a Republican looney front group as the "Carolina Stompers" is enough for anybody to remain silent. Sometimes Meeks gets confuse when he should keep his mouth shut about a know nothing group.
Posted on October 4, 2007 12:05 PM
Connie Mack and Skeet,
Let me enlighten you to the facts you are so evidently lacking.
Gene Ellison is a Democrat, a black business man in Asheville and although we disagree with Mr Ellison's politics; we will not let you get by with making uninformned rants because of poorly educating yourself on this issue.
Gene Ellison is in no way associated with Carolina Stompers, as a matter of fact I am quite sure he detests us for bringing this matter to light.
"ThisEllison guy is a dangerous radical who better never show his face in Guilford co, where the ethos is milk that past for every penny. This thinking could cause economic chaos here. It would be like losing furniture markert etc.
Lets hope he stays the heck out west!*Skeet Club Savage
I don't think you should worry about Republican Klan wizard Ellison coming to Greensboro anytime soon. After all, any retarded idiot that names a Republican political club " Carolina Stompers" can't be all that bright in public relationships or images.
Gee! " Carolina Stompers" sounds like a semi-pro arena football team with a losing season already.Or it could be a new Republican cloggers dance unit that stomps on snakes during it's show."
How many newspaper headlines did you make this week?
~ Carolina Stompers~
Committed to stomping out corruption in every form we find it!
7 Conservative Republicans and 2 Conservative Democrats can make a difference!
Posted on October 6, 2007 1:52 PM
Connie Mack and Skeet,
Let me enlighten you to the facts you are so evidently lacking.
Gene Ellison is a Democrat, a black business man in Asheville and although we disagree with Mr Ellison's politics; we will not let you get by with making uninformned rants because of poorly educating yourself on this issue.
Gene Ellison is in no way associated with Carolina Stompers, as a matter of fact I am quite sure he detests us for bringing this matter to light.
"ThisEllison guy is a dangerous radical who better never show his face in Guilford co, where the ethos is milk that past for every penny. This thinking could cause economic chaos here. It would be like losing furniture markert etc.
Lets hope he stays the heck out west!*Skeet Club Savage
I don't think you should worry about Republican Klan wizard Ellison coming to Greensboro anytime soon. After all, any retarded idiot that names a Republican political club " Carolina Stompers" can't be all that bright in public relationships or images.
Gee! " Carolina Stompers" sounds like a semi-pro arena football team with a losing season already.Or it could be a new Republican cloggers dance unit that stomps on snakes during it's show."
How many newspaper headlines did you make this week?
~ Carolina Stompers~
Committed to stomping out corruption in every form we find it!
7 Conservative Republicans and 2 Conservative Democrats can make a difference!
Posted on October 6, 2007 1:52 PM