To the editor:

The Pinckney neighborhood is striking a blow for freedom and remembrance by changing its name, thought to be the name of a slave holder from South Carolina.

Perhaps the City Commission should now name a panel to rename streets named for states that seceded from the Union in defense of slavery(Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee) and those slave states that didn’t secede (Delaware, Kentucky and Missouri). That would follow the feel good logic of the Pinckneyites.

The death of George Floyd and 400 years of subjugation, denigration and fitful steps toward freedom and justice of Black people in America will not be ameliorated by such trivial exercises, however well meaning. Only serious measures to include Black people as full participants in civic life and to allow them to equally share in the benefits of our economy will begin to address the consequences of our country’s original sin.

Ed Quick,

Lawrence