Apparently being fake news also involves a complete lack of self-awareness. The Washington Post, named after George Washington, says that George Washington University’s name is racist and must be changed. Interestingly enough, The WaPo hasn’t run any pieces proclaiming their own name racist.
Here’s something the editors at the Washington Post didn’t scrutinize before publishing:
George Washington University needs a new name
Racism has always been a problem at GW. At the university’s founding in 1821, enrollment was restricted to White men.
These problems are rooted in systemic racism, institutional inequality and white supremacy. There are at least four ways the university could achieve progress: Decolonized university curriculum, increased Black enrollment, the renaming of the university and the selection of an African American President.
Interestingly enough, The Washington Post used to be all white men as well. Coincidence? I think not.
But it’s not just the university’s name that’s a problem. Just blocks from the main campus is the Mount Vernon Campus, named for George Washington’s former slave plantation. Every day, hundreds of Black students walk on a campus named after an enslaver of men and study at a site named after dark parts of history. Such sites, among other locations and buildings, are touted as glorified mementos here at GW. The indignity and injustice of such sites remain overlooked.
Interestingly enough, the city of Washington D.C. and The Washington Post were named after an enslaver of man too. Coincidence? I think not.
Even the university’s name, mascot and motto — “Hail Thee George Washington”— must be replaced. The hypocrisy of GW in not addressing these issues is an example of how Black voices and Black grievances go ignored and highlights the importance of strong Black leadership.
The Washington Post’s motto is “Democracy dies in darkness” which in this context clearly means black voices and black grievances kill democracy. Clearly the are also rooted in white supremacy.
This WaPo piece says the name George Washington University is racist and must be change but the question is: to what?
Frederick Douglass, a statesmen, political scientist, diplomat, feminist and abolitionist, is a perfect example of a possible namesake to replace George Washington. His work for social reform and equal justice make him an ideal candidate for a new name. Douglass, Sojourner Truth and Malcom X, among many others, transformed the United States by fighting for the liberation of Black people here and all over the world. Heroes such as these should be celebrated and represented here at GW.
The thing is, George Washington founded GWU and left his wealth to endow it, whereas Frederick Douglas, Sojourner Truth, and Malcom X didn’t do shit for the school. If the name must be changed to a black person, might I suggest George Washington Carver? That way, they can just slip in a “C” and won’t have to radically alter anything.
As for the Washington Post, they should probably change their name as well and I think “The Democratic Party Ministry of Propaganda Post” would be fitting. If that’s too long, they could just go with The Obama Post.
