Thomas Nelson

Re “Don’t remove Thomas Nelson’s name from college” (Other Views, Jan. 2): To say that because Thomas Nelson was born and raised in a culture that accepted slavery, looking back now and passing judgment on his generation is the essence of being ahistorical and is erroneous.

And saying that applying present day knowledge and values to our ancestors is exactly like judging the scientific views of the people of the 15th century, based on our understanding of the facts gained from modern science, is a false equivalency.

In the 15th century, nobody knew much about scientific discoveries, that came much later. But in the late 18th century the cruelty and depravity of slavery were widely understood.

Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” to educate people who didn’t own slaves, didn’t know anyone who owned slaves and thus acted as if they didn’t live in a slave-holding country.

Activists such as Frederick Douglass, John Brown and Sojourner Truth made headlines. Notices for runaways appeared in newspapers. There was no way not to know, and yet people acted as if they did not know.

My work as founder of JuneteenthVA centers on reaching the oblivious class by using theater arts to heal America from the wounds of slavery without shame or blame. Change the name to The New Thomas Nelson Community College.

Sheri Bailey, Portsmouth