What’s in a name, Pierce County? A pro-slavery, racist president we must reckon with

There’s power behind a name. It’s why schools are named after outstanding educators and why airports, parks, naval ships and government buildings are named after historical figures. Institutions choose names according to the values they want to embody.

So what does it say about Pierce County that it bears the name of President Franklin Pierce, known to historians as one of the most pro-slavery presidents in U.S. history? Pierce is responsible for stoking many of the events that led to the Civil War including overturning the Missouri Compromise and aggressively enforcing the Fugitive Slave Act.

Luther Adams, associate professor of interdisciplinary arts and sciences at the University of Washington Tacoma explained it succinctly: “President Pierce wasn’t only racist, he acted in ways to further slavery.”

As an African American from the South, Adams told a member of our Editorial Board that he knows what it’s like to live and work in the shadow of people who opposed the freedom of his ancestors.

“Let me put it this way,” Adams said. “If President Pierce had gotten his way, I wouldn’t be a professor at the University of Washington.”

At a time when communities and military bases are grappling with troublesome namesakes from America’s racist past, we’re stuck with the 14th president. Ironically, one of our most racially diverse local high schools and school districts — Franklin Pierce, based in Parkland — wears his name even more prominently.

A thorough reckoning, if not a name change, is in order.

None of us would tolerate living in a county named after Jefferson Davis or Benedict Arnold, but heretofore few of us have batted an eye living under the eponym of Franklin Pierce.

Fueled by outrage over the deaths of George Floyd, Manuel Ellis and many others at the hands of police, change is happening fast. Statues of men who promoted the slave trade are being brought down all over the world.

And statues aren’t the only things getting the heave-ho. NASCAR recently announced it’s banning the Confederate flag. Quaker Oats is changing the branding of its Aunt Jemima syrup, named after a slave. Mrs. Butterworth and Uncle Ben’s are two other brands following suit.

To the eye rollers clinging to a that-was-then-this-is-now philosophy, we ask: Do you really want to live in a place where there is no accountability for wrong actions?

King County didn’t.

In 2005 our neighbors to the north ditched their original namesake, William Rufus de Vane King, a slave owner and Pierce’s vice president. They officially renamed themselves after the great civil rights leader, Rev. Martin Luther King.

Granted, theirs was an easy transition only requiring new perception; no printing was involved. But that shift in identity sent a powerful message.

Certainly names of counties aren’t responsible for systemic racism in policing, education, housing and employment. But our sleepy society must awaken to the present-day consequences of past injuries.

For starters, local school districts could add a Franklin Pierce unit to their Northwest History curriculum. The Washington State History Museum in Tacoma could provide an eye-opening account of Pierce’s record as president with an exhibit and after-hours program. We’d welcome more ideas from candidates for county office on the campaign trail this year.

The Black Lives Matter movement deserves credit for shining a bright light on systemic racism and for reminding Americans how 21st century injustice came to be.

Adams says, “The future is hopeful,” adding ,“We’re in the midst of a global pandemic, a health crisis and an economic crisis and people understand the importance of this moment.”

What Pierce County chooses to do with this moment remains to be seen, but due to our region’s history of mistreatment with Chinese and Japanese Americans, we have become practiced at reconciliation.

We can start there.

This story was originally published June 19, 2020 at 6:00 AM.