Should we change our name?
Kathleen Snyder, BHAS President
The members of Black Hills Audubon have an important decision to make. Should we rename ourselves, leaving out “Audubon”? There will be an election to make this decision from March 15 – April 15, 2025. For an article that lists the pros and cons of the issue, please see the linked article.
Our Board has voted (not unanimously) that this change is right and necessary. This was not a decision arrived at quickly. In fact, the process took over a year and it was one that started with the opposite conclusion. However, after much soul searching, research, and conversations with fellow Auduboners, friends and family, it became more untenable to maintain the status quo. In August of 2024, the Board voted that we recommend to our membership that we remove “Audubon” from our name.
I’ve heard it said that we should not judge prior generations by the mores that we accept in this age; that owning slaves was acceptable in Audubon’s life. Let’s look at some important dates regarding that argument. The abolitionist movement started in England in 1787. Our northern states abolished slavery in 1804 and the importation of enslaved persons into the United States was officially prohibited in 1807. John James Audubon owned slaves in the 1810s and also in the 1820s. He was educated and well-traveled so he must have been aware of the anti-slavery movement and laws.
I have no idea how the name change vote will go. There are passionate feelings on both sides. Be assured, though, that “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet”. William Shakespeare points out in Romeo and Juliet that a name does not change the essence of a person or thing. Black Hills Audubon Society will remain an organization dedicated to environmental education, conservation, and action no matter what our name is. We are proud of our past achievements and look forward to remaining a strong, effective, and welcoming organization.
