The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

Discussion about changing the names of Wahkiakum County geological features incorporating the name Jim Crow continued this week.

The discussion started last month when Senator Pramila Jayapal of Seattle began a statewide review of geographic names that might be considered racist or otherwise offensive. The names of Jim Crow Point, Jim Crow Hill and Jim Crow Creek, eventually caught her eye, and her inquiries about the name reached the board of commissioners and started a public conversation about the names.

The term Jim Crow refers to the laws and policies started after the Civil War in the South to continue the subjugation of the African-American population (Ed: See related story Page 3 detailing Jim Crow laws).

Last week, a Skamokawa man who wants to be unnamed said he would begin the process to request the state board of geographic names rename the geographic features and remove the Jim Crow references.

This week, Theron Hobbs, an African-American pastor serving Our Saviour's Lutheran Church on Puget Island, read a statement asking the commissioners to support the name change.

"I am here today asking the county commissioners to exercise their right to recommend to the Washington State Committee on Geographic Names the name changes for the locations currently bearing the name Jim Crow," he said. "This would be a great sign of respect to all of humanity, especially African-Americans and all ethnic minorities who have suffered directly and indirectly from Jim Crow laws and culture, including myself, who calls this community home. Also this would serve as a welcoming sign to potential residents and tourists to Wahkiakum County." (Ed: The complete text may be found on Page 2.)

The statement drew applause and support from other members of the audience who were present for a variety of reasons.

"When I found out what Jim Crow meant, I found it highly embarrassing," said Puget Island resident J.B. Robinson. "Why does it have to be Jim Crow?

"I think we should change."

"What a great display of making a wrong right it would be for this county," said Cape Horn resident Trish Shroyer.

Many people have suggested the names be changed to include Jim Saules, an African-American man who lived along the lower Columbia in the mid-19th Century and who, according to historical tradition, is the inspiration for the Jim Crow name.

Two men, Island residents Allen Bennett and Gene Healy, supported a name change but cautioned against rushing to use Saules's name because he had run-ins with territorial law enforcement.

Commissioner Dan Cothren explained his reluctance to change the names. They are traditional for the county and most people don't take the racial connotation. He suggested the names could refer to crows that were in the area.

"I never did take that [the names} as a racist thing," he said. "But when it does affect somebody like that . . . and we read into its history, I understand.

"But I made some strong points, and my points were that when somebody is going to dictate to me what we're going to do in Wahkiakum County, I have an issue with that. I don't like it."

Commissioner Mike Backman suggested the matter be brought up for discussion when Commissioner Blair Brady is available; he was gone from the meeting on an excused absence.