Should Michigan Counties Drop Names Linked To Slavery?

Several Michigan counties are named after 19th-century political figures, whose legacies are tarnished by their ties to slavery, white supremacy, and the displacement of indigenous tribes.

It may be time to consider changing a few of the counties, many of which are in southern Michigan, to reflect more notable and respected public figures.

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At the time that Michigan was founded as a state, President Andrew Jackson and many of the people in his cabinet were given the namesakes of many of the counties in Michigan, many of which supported slavery.

None more so than Jackson himself, a slave-holder, and his vice president, John C Calhoun. Calhoun was very vocal on how slavery was a “positive good:"

I hold that in the present state of civilization, where two races of different origin, and distinguished by color, and other physical differences, as well as intellectual, are brought together, the relation now existing in the slaveholding states between the two, is, instead of an evil, a good—a positive good.

To be fair, what is the point of keeping these names around when their thoughts and ideals were so problematic? Especially when there are so many other notable people, some of whom could argue deserve the namesake more than the racist men from the 1800s.

Given that possibility, here are some potential name changes we could put into motion

Jackson County to McDivitt County

After James McDivitt, a NASA astronaut who commanded Gemini 4 (where the first American spacewalk occurred) and Apollo 9.

Calhoun County to Sojourner County

After Sojourner Truth, an American abolitionist and activist for African-American civil rights, women's rights, and alcohol temperance.

Cass County to Grady County

After George Grady, who was appointed in 1965 and served in Dowagiac as the first African American Chief of Police in the state of Michigan.

Eaton County to Blair County

After Austin Blair, who was from Eaton Rapids, served as the 13th Governor of Michigan during the Civil War from 1861–1865 and later as a U.S. Representative, he was a staunch abolitionist and a fierce opponent of slavery.

Ingham County To Page County

After Larry Page, Co-founder of Google.

Berrien County to Hudson County

After Ernie Hudson, Actor known for his iconic role as Winston Zeddemore in the Ghostbusters franchise. Let's be honest, he's done way more for us than John M. Berrien

Branch County to Bigelow County

After Belle Bigelow, a talker and writer on Women's Suffrage, was elected president of the county Equal Suffrage Association and sent as a delegate to the State convention.