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[deleted] t1_j2jzupf wrote

Reply to comment by Bronnakus in a window into rhode island's history of slavery by n0noTAGAinnxw4Yn3wp7

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Bronnakus t1_j2my15b wrote

my point is how far does changing names go? how long after the fact does a last name get associated with guilt for something nobody alive was ever a part of, nor were their parents or even grandparents? i'm not a dewolf, i barely know one of them, but the one i knew was nice enough. should their name get ripped off a tavern because you don't like it? because centuries ago their ancestors did something evil? where's the line?

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TheSausageFattener t1_j2n40q2 wrote

Considering where they got their money from I don't think they should be commemorated. As I say elsewhere in this thread, the DeWolfs already took their own names off of some of their properties because it was sullied after their fortunes soured in the 19th century, including their most prominent holding in Linden Mansion (formerly DeWolf Mansion). Slapping their name on a structure is in essence commemorating their historic footprint. It's irresponsible to slap somebody's name on something to effectively celebrate their legacy without interrogating what that legacy really was. Brown University has been dealing with the same thing.

Its up to the descendants of these families how they want to handle it, but if they want to celebrate their ancestry they should do so aware of the fact that their historical importance was heavily funded by Cuban sugar plantations and West African slaving ships. I'm sure they're good people and would be receptive to considering that. It's a shitty thing to reckon with so I'm sympathetic.

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[deleted] t1_j2myfcs wrote

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Bronnakus t1_j2n1dfs wrote

Are you black? If so, I’m all ears as to where you think the line is and I’ll be happy to debate it (I don’t necessarily agree, but whatever). If you’re not black, sounds like you should stop fuckin speaking for them shouting from the rooftops they may be uncomfortable over a name on a restaurant. Unironically go outside please, I’ve never met anyone as thin-skinned as to care about a family’s last name out there. Good Christ.

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