Skip Auld was named Hampton — for his great-grandfather, whose namesake was Wade Hampton III. Four generations of Auld men shared the name — until last year, when Auld learned more about Hampton's racist life and “terrorist campaign.”
A statue of Confederate general and slave owner Wade Hampton III on horseback in the grounds of South Carolina State House.A statue of Confederate general and slave owner Wade Hampton III on horseback in the grounds of South Carolina State House.Growing up, Skip Auld says he didn't know much about the man his great-grandfather was named after. It wasn't a part of family lore, he says, and he always went by his nickname, Skip.
At birth, Skip Auld was named Hampton — for his great-grandfather, whose namesake was Wade Hampton III, a Confederate general and slave owner.Then, last year, as he listened to the audiobook of Ron Chernow's, he heard about Hampton's 1876 campaign for governor of South Carolina, which Auld says involved a"terrorist campaign, really, to suppress the vote of black people."
"I actually pulled my car over, took the CD back to the beginning of the track and listened to it a second time," Auld, 68, tells NPR's Mary Louise Kelly."I thought, 'I need to go home and check on when my great-grandfather was born,' because he was the first Hampton Auld. And he was born that year: 1876."
That's when the CEO of the Anne Arundel County Public Library in Maryland changed his first name from Hampton to Charles — his father's middle name — writing on the petition that he didn't like the idea of being named after a"terrorist." He originally decided to keep the decision to himself and his family — one sister supported the decision, another one did not. But when the recent anti-racism demonstrations began sweeping the country —
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Fort Bragg, a California city named for a Confederate general, considers changing its nameThe City Council of Fort Bragg, Calif., named for a Confederate general and slave owner, will discuss putting a name change on the November ballot.
Read more »
UNLV Removes Mascot Statue Over Confederate Ties, School Nickname Next?UNLV has said adios to Hey Reb! ... the school just canned its famous on-campus mascot statue -- and now, its sports teams' nicknames could be next.
Read more »
White House officials revisit renaming military bases named after ConfederatesOfficials said they don’t know if Trump will change his mind, but thought he may be warming to the idea because he is again allowing discussion about it.
Read more »
Republicans: How Dare You Suggest Not Honoring the ConfederacyGOP Senator John Kennedy said an amendment removing Confederate names from military bases “picks on the South unfairly.”
Read more »
If Dolly Parton replaces Confederate monuments, it wouldn't be her first statueDolly Parton's fans are rallying to get a statue of the country queen to replace a monument of Confederate general and KKK leader Nathan Bedford Forrest.
Read more »
Bikers And Second Amendment Groups Crashed A Black Lives Matter Protest In A Small Town And Violence Broke OutOne protester was sucker-punched in the back of the head by a man wearing a Confederate flag bandana.
Read more »