A Tennessee school says it will remove the statue of Confederate soldier Sam Davis from its campus within a week.
Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville says on Twitter that the decision was made because the school strives to be an inclusive community, not one that is, or is perceived as, racist or supportive of values that demean or marginalize others.
Davis, a native of Tennessee, was captured by Union soldiers in the 1860s and hanged for refusing to reveal the name of a spy.
“It was placed on the campus because of Sam Davis’s pre-Civil War connection to one of MBA’s predecessor schools and the attributes of loyalty and friendship associated with his life and story,” the school said of the statue Thursday on Twitter. “We recognize the ways in which this story and Sam Davis’s association with the Confederacy have become increasingly troubling, particularly as perspectives on the past have shifted.”
MBA understands the concerns about the Sam Davis statue, and we will remove the statue from the campus within the week. It was placed on the campus because of Sam Davis's pre-Civil War connection to one of MBA's predecessor schools and the attributes of loyalty and friendship…
— Montgomery Bell Academy📚 (@MontgomeryBell) June 4, 2020
Other Confederate symbols have come down in the South amid protests over George Floyd’s death 12 days ago at the hands of police in Minneapolis.
Montgomery Bell Academy is a private school for boys in 7th through 12th grade.
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Photo “Sam Davis Statue” by Montgomery Bell Academy.
I am 84 years old. I grew up in the Nashville area. I remember blacks sitting in the back of the bus. I remember the prejudice to Blacks first hand. As far as I am concerned, all Confederate statutes should be removed. The Confederate Flag should never fly anywhere.
However, the removal of the Sam Davis Statute is different. Yes, he was a spy and courier or for the South. Yes, his family did own slaves. The Union General wanted Davis to give him the name of of the person who had given him the papers he carried on his person and in his boots. The name of the man was Coleman. Just so happens, Coleman was locked up in the same cell as Davis. Davis knew who he was. He knew if he told the Union General, then Coleman would be executed and Davis would go free. Davis remained silent and went to the gallows. I think the virtue of bravery can be separated from slavery and the stupid cause of the Confederacy. I think the students at MBA can be counseled on the bravery and courage Davis did show as opposed the cause for which he fought. The two can be distinguished.
I have two sons who attended MBA. They may not agree with me.
Tearing down anything associated with history is the goal so we don’t have to be reminded of any history at all. We certainly don’t want our children to know the world existed before them and that many patriots fought and struggled to win for them freedom, liberty, and celebrate our God given rights. God forbid we leave one shred of evidence of our history (the good and the bad) because we don’t want to raise kids to understand the past. Keeping our citizens ignorant of our history helps the next generation repeat the sins of the past – and oh they will. Just look around!
Duh Why is it even still there?
Too bad! In with ignorance and bigotry, out with tolerance and diversity. And nevermind history and that probably almost all who fought never had any connection to slavery, but we’re only protecting their families and property. And certainly we don’t want to keep the reason for the remembrance of this young man who exhibited “the attributes of loyalty and friendship associated with his life and story.” This is craven appeasement by those who should be leading andexhibiting those attributes.
Well stated, sir!