TO THE EDITOR:
Silent Sam will come down. It’s only a matter of time. Let’s cut to the chase. On the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, there stands a monument to white supremacy. It is not a race-neutral piece of history that remembers the fallen of the Civil War. It is not representative of students at UNC or the people of North Carolina. It is not something anyone can be proud of. It is not even accurate history.
To Carol Folt, UNC administrators and the Board of Governors, take this monument down. It’s well past time. I’m sure politics are involved. Alumni, money, procedures, etc. But look at the bigger issue. There is a monument to white supremacy on our campus. Let me repeat: There is a monument to white supremacy on our campus.
Does anyone really believe Silent Sam will stay where it is for eternity? That racist chunk of bronze and marble is coming down at some point. Why not now? Not next year, or in five years. Not after review upon review has been completed. Now.
Will taking down Silent Sam solve everything? Will it silence student protesters who have so eloquently and courageously brought to our attention UNC’s long history of exploitation? No. But it would be a damn good start.
Evan Faulkenbury
Graduate student
Department of History
