Carl Hinson: Aycock no worse than Washington, Jefferson

Regarding the March 12 letter “Educational approach key to name transition” by Robert Brinkley, chairman of the ECU Board of Trustees: The removal of Gov. C.B. Aycock’s name from that dorm has absolutely nothing to do with education and higher learning and everything to with what Aycock’s adversaries describe as “white supremacy.”

In 1900, how many white people in Eastern North Carolina were guilty of this debauchery? Probably about 99 percent. Brinkley did not mention once the issue of Aycock’s accusation of white supremacy, which is the originator of this sideshow.

Aycock was the greatest educator this state has ever produced, and it’s a shame that some people are deadset on destroying his legacy. Duke University has already erased his image, the Democratic Party has abolished his name as part of its yearly fundraising drive and there will many more defections. He has to go because “political correctness” trumps all common sense.

What are the “Dudley do rights” going to do about George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and the rest? Both of them were slave owners, a much greater sin than white supremacy. Are the Aycock antagonists going to dish out the same legacy obliteration? What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.

This story was originally published April 3, 2015 at 5:04 PM with the headline "Carl Hinson: Aycock no worse than Washington, Jefferson."