Hugh MacRae Park (https://wilmingtonnc.com/hugh-mcrae-park/) was donated to the white folks of Wilmington, NC by the late Hugh MacCrae. Hugh MacRae was instrumental in organizing the massacre of 1898 in which white men burned and destroyed the entire black Wilmington downtown area and its economy. Please click here to read more about the Insurrection of 1898. (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilmington_insurrection_of_1898 )   There has been no official apology issued from MacCrae. A current petition is circulating to change the name of Hugh MacCrae Park to a later- decided name, one that is acceptable and inclusive of the entire Wilmington community. Please read more about the petition here: (https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wect.com/2020/06/08/thousands-sign-petition-change-name-hugh-macrae-park/%3foutputType=amp)

This petition proposes that the name of Hugh MacCrae Park be changed to honor Fred McCree, a black activist and educator from Wilmington. According to the Wilmington Star News, “He tackled everything from dropouts and delinquency to teen-age pregnancy and disease. In the late 1980s, when almost no one of his color wanted to confront the issue, Mr. McRee began to sound an urgent warning about AIDS in the black community, and he continued to fight that insidious killer until he died.”   Please read for more information: https://www.starnewsonline.com/article/NC/20010630/news/605096326/WM

The purpose for changing the name is apparent. The reason for proposing Fred McCree is that he better represents the spirit of inclusivity, diversity, and education than does Hugh MacCrae. Please sign and bring about the change we all want, need, and deserve.