By Patrick F. Cannon

The National Audubon Society has been roiled by (or embroiled in, take your pick) a controversy about its name. It seems that the artist and naturalist it’s named after, John James Audubon (1785-1851), was once  a slave owner. He was actually born in Haiti, the son of as French officer, and lived there, for a time in France, and eventually in many parts of the United States. Although he resided for a time in the Philadelphia area, most of his life was spent in the South. His birth name was Jean-Jacques Rabin, but he changed it after he cast his lot with the new country.

            He tried his hand at many businesses, but eventually spent most of his time finding, cataloging and painting birds. Between 1827 and 1838, he issued installments of his hand-colored copper-plate etchings, that would eventually number 435 when published together as the Birds of America in what has come to be known as the Double-Elephant Folio. The prints are 39.5 by 28.5 inches each. About 200 bound sets are thought to exist. One recently sold for $9.5 million.

            Most people have seen at least some of the prints in reproductions, even if they didn’t know what they were looking at. Audubon’s particular genius was to show the birds in their actual habitat, the landscapes and plants just as accurately drawn as the birds. Even in smaller-scale reproductions, they are stunning. You should be able to find a good selection on-line.

            But none of the great man’s accomplishment matter to some of the members of the Audubon Society who are demanding the organization change the name because its namesake once owned a few slaves. So far, the National Audubon Society has resisted these demands. Some of its local chapters, however, have punished Audubon – the Seattle chapter is now “Bird Connect Seattle,” and the Washington, DC chapter has named itself  “Nature Forward.”

             The DC chapter might also want to demand that the nation’s capital change its name too. After all, George Washington owned many more slaves than did Audubon. And while we’re at it, let’s rename everything else named after him, and after Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Jackson, and even Franklin. In Chicago’s Loop, only Adams Street would survive. There is actually a street named after me – Cannon Drive just east of the Lincoln Park Zoo. I wouldn’t object to removing my name there and moving it to replace Madison Street. State and Cannon as the crossroads of Chicago? Now that has a nice ring to it!

            Haven’t we had enough of this nonsense? Expecting historical figures to be as virtuous and altogether as perfect as we are? Perhaps if we taught context as well as facts in our history courses at all levels, then we might just look at things in a different way.

             For example: isn’t it wonderful how much better things are now than they were in Audubon’s time? Slavery was actually legal then. Even after it ended, the South – who after all lost the Civil War – managed to reinstate a version of it. Beginning in the 1960s, equality began to have real meaning for African-Americans. Racism still exists, but at least it’s no longer institutionalized.

            If we’re honest, we live in a world much richer than it’s ever been. Abject poverty was once widespread; now, it exists  mostly in countries suffering political upheaval. Likewise, actual hunger. Despite an increasing population, the world’s farmers produce enough to feed everyone. And based on a reading of man’s history, even climate change will eventually be controlled.

            So, instead of worrying about Audubon, let’s glory in his achievements and concentrate on solving today’s problems, instead of demonizing the dead, who are, after all, beyond punishment.

Copyright 2023, Patrick F. Cannon