An individual who is not originally from Burke is attempting to rename our area because the namesake, Silas Burke (1796–1854), was a slaveowner. You can read about this move to rename Burke, called The Fenton Project, by clicking here. We have several issues with this renaming attempt, starting with the fact that Burke is our community. Thousands of people made their family history here. Renaming Burke is a very selfish move that will upset many people's history. Second, many of the claims the Fenton Project makes aren't historically accurate or lack the full story. For instance; historical records show that Silas Burke was an anti-slavery proponent - we invite you to read our thoughts on this matter as well as dig into the history with us & read our Open Letter to the Fenton Project..
We understand the ongoing tribute we give places, regardless of their origin story, is growth and community. We study history to learn from it, not change it. We are not honoring any misdeeds of individuals long dead when one proudly exclaims they grew up in Burke, or they met their spouse in Burke, or raised a family in Burke. Thankfully our brains are far more advanced than that – we can hold and process multiple truths.
The foundation of the question is this; Who does renaming a place hurt more?
Does it hurt Silas Burke? – or – does it hurt the families whose stories begin or end with Burke, the name of the place that holds their life stories?
To rename a community is to shift more than what others are suggesting. While Burke was the name of a person, as time passed, it became the name of a place, of a people, of a collective story. That story is worth honoring – we would say even cherishing --- and certainly protecting.
In 1951 the federal government decided to build an airport in Burke. (The airport, Dulles International Airport, is now in Chantilly.) The Government condemned land under “eminent domain” including many of our parent’s homes and businesses. It took the community seven years to fight the government to have the airport moved to Chantilly and preserve the Burke community. Letter after letter, community meetings, calls, gatherings, appeals, and the joint effort of many, many people worked tirelessly to ensure that Burke would remain. Why? Not because of Silas Burke – but because of the community of Burke. Because of the people who have claimed that address and that name as their home for generations. Burke means home for them, for us.
In the early 1960s the US Postal service made a move to close the Burke Post Office and make Burke part of Springfield. Our father, Roy Carson, and others in Burke fought that movement because they had a vision for this place -- because they believed in the importance of this community. Their argument was that Burke was going to grow, and a post office is an important identity for a village.
To change the name Burke doesn’t change the historical truth of Silas Burke or others of his time. What it does do is shift in painful ways the stories of thousands of other families, thousands of other experiences.
Now, some facts about Silas Burke:
Silas was actually an anti-slavery proponent. A newspaper article published in the National Tribune quotes Jonathan Roberts, a Fairfax County Sheriff and Quaker who spoke with Silas Burke stating he was anti-slavery, but as a judge he must uphold the law. Also, Silas Burke was elected the vice president of the Fairfax Temperance Society, which not only supported abstinence of strong alcohol, but also supported antislavery. He held various county offices including County Sheriff, Commissioner/Chief Judge for the Fairfax County Judicial System, Road Surveyor, Commissioner of Public Buildings, chair and treasurer of the “Relief to Ireland” campaign in 1847, Superintendent of the Primary School system for educating indigent children in Fairfax County, and president/director of the Fairfax County Agricultural Society among other positions of responsibility. Click here to read more.
We ask that instead of disparaging a man’s name and trying to change history, honor factual research and ask important questions. There is currently much more in-depth research being done into Silas Burke – we owe the past our careful considerations – not careless and poorly formed conclusions.
Thank you,
This Save Burke effort is initiated by current and former residents of Burke including: The Carson Family; Suzanne Simpson Fowler Neal; John Simpson Family; Phillip Lane; Rose Maley Berberich family; Ron Rice family, John A. Marshall Family; Donna Markl (lead researcher), and many others.
