What’s in a name? A lot if you are Brown University

Photo: Brown University gates

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose, By any other name would smell as sweet.” – Shakespeare

Brown University has announced a name change, reflective of racial sensitivity. Calling it a “clerical adjustment to address a state government affiliation historically appended to the University’s name”, Brown University will be known simply as – Brown University now.

Not many people were aware that Brown’s full, legal name is:

Brown University in Providence in the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

From Brown University:

“The official name of Brown since 1804 has been “Brown University in Providence in the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations” in reference to the state’s official name. The University’s official name is rarely used, but it appears in certain legal transactions. The word “plantation” did not carry connotations of slavery in 1636, when the colony of Providence Plantations was established by Roger Williams.

Over time, however, the word has come to conjure painful reminders of one of the ugliest times in our nation’s history. This November, Rhode Island voters will be asked to consider officially changing the state’s name by ballot initiative. In the meantime, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo and other elected officials have stopped using the full name.

Similarly, in recognition of the painful past associated with the word “plantation,” the Brown University Corporation voted unanimously to change the University’s official name to be simply “Brown University,” which is how we refer to it now in nearly all uses.”

Going further…

Brown is pursuing in its ongoing efforts to confront “anti-Black racism”, the university also announced that they will form a Task Force on Anti-Black Racism; funding to advance understanding and Brown’s influence in meaningfully confronting issues facing Black communities; campus programming to engage the entire community in discussing issues of race in America; work in admission to address issues of representation in undergraduate enrollment; progress on efforts to support the Providence public schools; engaging campus in the Department of Public Safety Review; and the clerical adjustment to address a state government affiliation historically appended to the University’s name.

Response from Ray Rickman, Stages of Freedom:

Brown University tries harder than anyone. But it can and must do better. College Hill is the most successful gentrified effort in America – all black families are gone with the exception of one or two out of 4 or 500. When you look at Brown, and what they have done – but could do – it’s insulting. Nothing worse than an archaic institution pretending to do something for the Brown community by removing an archaic name that only historians knew about anyway. They need to do more, and I know they are looking at programs and initiatives. I could tell them about 25 black institutions in need of $10,000 a year for the next 100 years. Institutions that need stable income for their endowments, to assure them of sustainability and strength. And there are big companies in RI who can join them in adopting Black institutions working to make a difference. There’s CVS and Raytheon and IGT and others. They could buy every triple decker where people of color can stay in the area of Mt. Hope, a community where gentrification is under way. But, mostly, I say to Brown – thank you for this – but I challenge you to come back in one year from today and tell us not what you have studied, but what you have done.

Response from Jim Vincent, NAACP-Providence:

Vincent seemed to echo Rickman’s sentiments to see action overtake words in his response, ” I applaud the Brown University Corporation for dropping the painful reference of “Plantations ” from Brown’s name! I look forward to Brown making more positive, “tangible” changes in the future.”

More from Brown:

The university also announced plans for forming a Task Force on Anti-Black Racism; funding to advance understanding and Brown’s influence in meaningfully confronting issues facing Black communities; campus programming to engage the entire community in discussing issues of race in America; work in admission to address issues of representation in undergraduate enrollment; progress on efforts to support the Providence public schools; engaging campus in the Department of Public Safety Review; as well as the “clerical adjustment to address a state government affiliation historically appended to the University’s name”.