After a three years community campaign in which The Nubian News was front and center, the Trenton Board of Education will remove the names of Christopher Columbus and Woodrow Wilson from two district schools on July 1, 2022.”

The two elementary schools will be named after two Trentonians who according to an announcement made by the Trenton Board of Education “dedicate themselves to the community.”

Columbus Elementary School will now be known as Dr. Crosby Copeland Jr. Elementary School and Wilson Elementary School will be renamed Darlene C. McKnight Elementary School.

Prior to the Board making its selection, a public forum was held in March where community members were invited to submit their recommendations. According to the Board, Copeland and McKnight's names were chosen from over 60 entries. However, there is some question as to the transparency of the selection process. There also is some question as to what efforts the Board used to maximize community involvement.

"Both Dr. Crosby Copeland Jr. and Darlene C. McKnight have extended themselves above and beyond for Trenton Public Schools and the City of Trenton," the district said.

Copeland was born and raised in Trenton and attended Trenton Public Schools. He served as superintendent of Trenton Public Schools for eight years.

"He was recognized statewide for presenting public testimony to local, state, and national educational groups, commissions, and legislative committees regarding issues related to urban education; equity of resources, funding, students at risk, and drop-out prevention," according to the Board in its statement announcing the selected names.

McKnight was a well-known activist who lived in Trenton for 55 years. She worked extensively in the community with numerous agencies and advocacy groups. McKnight was also a parent liaison at TPS.

"She fought to have advocacy training for parents/guardians as partners to improve the educational and social success of their children in school. McKnight was an affiliate of many community partnerships and received many awards/honors from those in the community who respected and admired her," the Board’s announcement statement noted.

Hopefully the Trenton Board of Education does not feel that its job is done and that it can return back to its nap.

Trenton needs to also change the names of Washington Elementary School located on Emory Avenue in Trenton. Washington was the first President of the US. He was also a slave owner. There is also Grant Elementary School located on North Clinton Avenue in Trenton. The school is named after President Ulysses S.Grant another slave owner. Then there is Jefferson School which is located on Stuyvasant Avenue in Trenton named after the third US President who was not just a slave owner but a pedophile rapist.

The idea that who is honored, what is remembered, what is memorialized tells a story about a society that can’t be reflected in other ways. A question to the Trenton Board of Education: what message is being sent to Trenton public school students when the names of Washington, Grant and Jefferson are highlighted on Trenton schools?