Imitate the Daniels

The Daniels family has removed the controversial Josephus Daniels statue from Nash Square. Others are responding in similar ways – changing names of buildings, removing monuments, and showing, as biographer Lee A. Craig put it, “that there are people of good will who are willing to move on…”

Still, changing a label is not a change. Removing a symbol is only a symbol.

Moving a monument and moving on – without more – leaves the problem behind. The Daniels family demonstrated, 20 years ago it will have none of that. When newspapers faced a transformative technical and economic disruption few sought a black professional to meet the challenge. The N&O offered the challenge to Orage Quarles. The paper moved on with a black president and publisher, second to none, piloting the way.

Others will do well to imitate the Daniels.

Douglas A. Johnston,

Raleigh