Henry Clay High School in Lexington, KY, honors the legacy of a historical figure whose actions and beliefs are a painful reminder of a reprehensible past. Henry Clay not only owned enslaved people, a grave injustice on its own, but he was also an active advocate for maintaining the institution of slavery during his tenure as a Senator. Celebrated as "The Great Compromiser", his political maneuvers to maintain and expand slavery, especially his role in the Compromise of 1850, were significant obstacles in the progress toward freedom and equality for all Americans.   The Compromise of 1850 included an updated and more severe version of the 1793 Fugitive Slave Act.  Under this new legislation, law enforcement officials had to arrest those suspected of escaping enslavement based on nothing more than the sworn statement of ownership.  The law also provided Commissioners $10 compensation if they determined the accused person was guilty, but only $5 if they were found innocent, thus incentivizing and potentially leading to the enslavement of free black people.

For every Black student who walks through the halls of Henry Clay High School, the name they carry on their diplomas is a constant reminder of a system that once denied their humanity and viewed them as property. This is not just an abstract historical fact—it's a looming insult, an affront to the ideals of equality, justice, and belonging that education is supposed to uphold. By continuing to uphold Henry Clay's name on the building, we are tacitly endorsing a figure who actively worked against the rights of an entire race of people.

Henry Clay's legacy is one of inhumane hypocrisy.  While claiming to view slavery as pure evil, he maintained ownership of over 100 men, women, and children.  While calling himself an abolitionist, he supported and authored federal legislation that prolonged the institution of slavery instead of ending it.  He purchased the wife and child of Henry Lewis, and later sold them away to live in the deep south, Lewis never saw them again.  There is a statue of Henry Lewis and Harriet Lewis, his second wife, in front of Lexington Middle School.   Frederick Douglass, a former slave and prominent figure of the abolitionist movement, wrote to Clay accusing him of words and actions that did not match up.  The newest high school in Fayette County is named for Frederick Douglass.  How can Fayette County Public Schools justify honoring both the oppressed and the oppressor?  

The time has come for FCPS to recognize and remedy its own hypocrisy.  The time has come to confront this uncomfortable truth and right a wrong by choosing a new name for Henry Clay High School. The renaming of the school should reflect the values we wish to instill in our students today: values of inclusion, progress, and respect for all. There are countless local figures, perhaps even former educators or advocates for justice, whose names are more deserving of such an honor.

This change is not merely symbolic; it is a step towards fostering an educational environment free from the legacy of oppression. It is a commitment to acknowledging past wrongs and ensuring every student feels valued and respected, regardless of their race.  This change is not an attempt to erase the past but to learn from it by refusing to honor those who lived dishonorably.  The role that Henry Clay played in our state's history will not be erased by changing the name.  Ashland, the Henry Clay Estate, remains one of the city's most notable tourist spots.

Join us in this necessary change. Let's honor the students of Henry Clay High School by giving them a school name to be proud of, one that reflects the diversity and integration of our community. Sign this petition to help bring about this vital change.