Public statues and names attached to public spaces such as parks are powerful communication tools that political jurisdictions can use to convey their values and priorities. Federal, state, and local officials, therefore, have embarked on the task of removing from public spaces the names of Confederate officers and battles, segregationists and white supremacists because they convey the wrong moral beliefs.

The Memphis City Council voted in 2013 to rename three parks with existing names that symbolized the Confederacy: Nathan Bedford Forrest Park (now Health Sciences Park); Jefferson Davis Park (now River Garden Park); and Confederate Park (now Fourth Bluff Park). The Memphis City Council also adopted in 2020 an ordinance giving it the power to rename streets, parks and places.

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The ordinance also created a City Council Renaming Commission, on which I served as a member. The commission was charged with developing guidelines for renaming public spaces and submitting recommendations on renaming some of the city’s public spaces. The report was submitted in November 2021.

After growing up as an African American woman in segregated Memphis, I am pleased to see that the city is removing these controversial statues and names. My concern is with a controversial name that is still attached to one of this city’s most prominent and widely used regional parks, with amenities that attract Memphis’ diverse population: Audubon Park, named for artist and naturalist John James Audubon (1785-1851).

Audubon is known worldwide for his paintings of birds and for his publication “The Birds of America.” He was also a white supremacist and enslaver who bought and sold enslaved people, opposed the abolitionist movement and considered African Americans and Native Americans inferior.

Because of his racist legacy, the 118-year-old National Audubon Society is currently assessing the impact of affiliation with the Audubon name on the organization’s future. Also, in 2021, the 75-year-old Audubon Naturalist Society voted to remove the name Audubon from the organization’s title.

The name John James Audubon should be removed from the park located at 4145 Southern Ave. because it is a symbol of racial divisiveness and disrespect. The name is associated with inhumane treatment and disparagement of African Americans and Native Americans.

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I am aware that other parks and streets in Memphis are named for former enslavers or white supremacists. As the 2021 City Council Renaming Commission Report notes, however, some national and local individuals with moral shortcomings continue to be honored because they advanced influential and enlightened ideas or engaged in monumental undertakings that were critical to establishing a united and inclusive society.

For example, John Overton, whom Overton Park is named after, was an enslaver who also co-founded and invested in the growth of Memphis, now a diverse community of citizens who are equals under the law. Similarly, Thomas Jefferson, whom Jefferson Avenue is named after, was an enslaver who also drafted the Declaration of Independence, creating the United States.

By contrast, John James Audubon was an enslaver and white supremacist who made no contribution to establishment of a united and inclusive society.

What should the park be named? The Renaming Commission Report recommended renaming the park in honor of Dr. Miriam DeCosta-Willis (1934-2020). DeCosta-Willis, a renowned scholar, civil and women’s rights advocate and Memphis historian, was the first African American faculty member at Memphis State University, now the University of Memphis.

An alternative is to name the lake located within the park in honor of DeCosta-Willis and assign to the park a name that highlights the geographic area’s focus on the natural environment and/or the visual and performing arts. Any costs associated with changes to the park or lake pale in comparison to DeCosta-Willis’ contributions to this city.

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Removing the name John James Audubon from a prominent culturally-inclusive park is important in communicating a message of diversity, inclusion and unity in Memphis. If the Memphis City Council wishes to name the park, or any public spaces, for an individual, there are Memphians and non-Memphians who are more than deserving of this honor.

Indeed, there are men and women in this community from all racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds whose philanthropy and humanitarianism, civic involvement or exceptional accomplishments have elevated this city. Let us honor them.

Editor’s note: Except for specific references to the Renaming Commission Report, the views expressed in this article are those of Thelma Crivens, not the Renaming Commission.