Wait, What? Was Patrick Henry a Good Guy or a Bad Guy?

Patrick Henry

by James A. Bacon

Does the right hand know what the left hand is doing in the Northam administration? On the one hand (as recounted on this blog), the State Board for Community Colleges has ordered the Patrick Henry Community College (PHCC) in Martinsville to change its name. Henry, once revered as a founding father, is now problematic. He owned slaves. The PHCC board is resisting the name change, and the dispute is ongoing.

Meanwhile, nine days ago, Governor Ralph Northam issued a proclamation declaring June 29th as “Patrick Henry Day.”

The proclamation cited Henry’s rise to prominence through self study and oratory, his distinguished record as a lawyer and statesman, his participation in the Continental Congress, his immortal words of “Give me liberty or give me death,” his role in drafting Virginia’s first state constitution, and his service as Virginia’s first governor after independence.

Don’t get me wrong. I think it’s fabulous that Northam recognizes the contributions that Henry made to the founding of this nation. And I find it remarkable that the proclamation wasn’t asterisked with the observation that he was a slave holder. His ownership of slaves is important context when we render historical judgment but we don’t need to list a person’s failings when doing him or her honor. Someone in the bowels of the administration deserves credit for penning the proclamation and getting Northam to sign it.

I can’t help but wonder if Northam experienced cognitive dissonance when applying his signature: Hmmm, I’m signing this proclamation honoring Patrick Henry… yet my administration is dishonoring him by forcing the community college named for him to change its name. What gives?

Whatever Northam may or may not have been thinking, I would suggest that someone forward a copy of the proclamation to the State Board for Community Colleges.