DETROIT (Michigan News Source) – After many months of debate, the Detroit School Board voted to remove Dr. Ben Carson’s name from a school in its district.

Carson was born and raised in Detroit.  

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Formerly the Benjamin Carson High School of Science and Medicine, the school will now bear the name Dr. Ethelene Crockett, an activist and first African-American woman to be certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology in Michigan, according to Audacy.  Another school that previously bore Crockett’s name, Crockett Technical High School, closed down between 2012 and 2013 they said. 

Detroit Public School District policies dictate that a request for a school building name change must come from a school board member, the superintendent, a school’s student body, or other community stakeholders such as a parent or alumni associations.  Schools cannot begin conducting community meetings and surveys to indicate interest levels of a name change until the board signs off on the request.  The board must also vote before a new name is finalized.  

Carson, a renowned neurosurgeon, professor, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and many other contributions were overshadowed by some people’s concern with his involvement and association with former President Donald Trump’s administration as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.  This prompted discussions, a survey, and vote that demonstrated some division. 

Superintendent of Detroit Public Schools Community District Nikolai Vitti told Capitol Confidential in a statement that the name change of Carson to Crockett concluded with a majority in favor of the name change. 

“Through the recommendation of the superintendent and the urging or (sic) several school board members, the school board voted at its regular board meeting in October 2022 to initiate a school name change consideration process,” he said, “That process concluded with the majority of current students, staff, parents, alumni, and community members favoring a name change for the school.” 

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After the vote, more than 55 of Carson’s former staffers and other advocates, co-signed a letter voicing their frustration with the school name change. 

“We, former staff for Dr. Carson at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, write to set the record straight and celebrate the incredible accomplishments of the good doctor, with the hope that more focus is shined on students and less on perceived political slights.”

They further commended his numerous work accomplishments and character. 

“The reason that we adorn our buildings with the names of heroes is to continually remind us of their examples. Their life stories provide us a roadmap to follow, and these lessons are meant to inspire us to live up to their example,” the letter said.  

Recently, Dr. Ben Carson responded to his name removal from the school. 

“It’s very sad that we’ve reached the point where political ideology trumps the whole purpose of an educational institution,” he said, “We’re seeing this wokeness spreading throughout our community to the destruction of our community.  How does it do any good for us to demonize people with whom we disagree?”