Please Don't give Money (Promote / Donate) through this platform

I greatly appreciate those excited about this and who have already donated/promoted, but donations through this platform only go to change.org for their overhead costs and to promote this to people who may not even live in Chatham. We may indeed fundraise to help with ways to further recognize George Moses Horton or to possible help ease the costs associated with a new sign, etc... But please leave some money in your wallets for these other efforts and focus on just signing the petition. You may want to mention this in emails you send to other people.

BACKGROUND

Horton Middle School has undergone several name changes over for over seven plus decades. Known first as the Pittsboro Colored School in the 1930’s and serving only African Americans, the school was renamed Horton Consolidated School in 1934, ostensibly to honor enslaved poet George Moses Horton. In the same year, it became a high school, fondly known by still living alumni as Horton High School. It remained a historically Black school under that name until 1970, when it became Horton Middle School with an open admission policy.

We, the undersigned, enjoin the Chatham County Board of Education to rename Horton Middle School to George Moses Horton Middle School. The renaming will grant George Moses Horton the true recognition and honor he deserves as the official poet laureate of North Carolina and member of the North Carolina Literary Hall of Fame.

In Chatham, there are six schools that are namesakes of leading citizens of Chatham County, Perry Harrison Elementary School, Virginia Cross Elementary School, J.S. Waters Elementary School, Margaret B. Pollard Middle School, Jordan-Matthews High School and Horton Middle School.   However, unlike the other namesake schools, Horton Middle School fails to fully recognize and honor the complete individual man apart from a surname that was not his own. We seek to remedy this longstanding omission.

 The renaming will also acknowledge George Moses Horton’s unique status as a self-taught literary phenomenon; he learned to read and write through sheer will and determination, to ultimately become the only enslaved poet of African American descent published in the southern United States and the first to publicly decry his societal status.  His writings are still accessed and referenced by many in and outside of this county two centuries after his time. 

It is time to fulfill the intent to honor this legendary individual, a man who unlike his other school namesake peers is known only through his writings. We are entering the 250th Celebration year of the establishment of Chatham County. What better time to claim the name of George Moses Horton, in full, for our Horton Middle School?

PETITION LANGUAGE BELOW

Whereas, the Horton name has been attached to this school in Chatham County since 1933-34.

Whereas, George Moses Horton was the intended honoree for this school, and the lack of a full name causes confusion and lack of awareness.

Whereas, George Moses Horton’s life and work have the power to inspire schoolchildren, parents, and citizens of Chatham County.

We the undersigned urge the Chatham County School Board and Board of Commissioners to, during this 250th Anniversary Year, update the name of Horton Middle School to George Moses Horton Middle School