FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why are you trying to change the mascot?
The current mascot of Boyle County High School is the ‘Rebel’, depicted as a man on horseback brandishing a sword. Previous iterations of this mascot are more explicit in demonstrating the inspiration behind it: a member of the Confederate States Army, which seceded from and rebelled against the United States during the American Civil War.
In addition to embodying the losing side in a fight against the United States, the Rebel mascot celebrates the opposing force of the deadliest military conflict in American history, in which over half a million Americans lost their lives.
To Americans today, the paraphernalia of the Confederacy represents the values for which the army fought, chief among them the right to enslave Black people. While states’ rights and socio-economical differences are often cited as causes for the conflict, these factors were informed directly by the legality of the institution of slavery (as Civil War historian James McPherson puts it, “A state’s right to what?”). In fact, seceding states explicitly cited upholding slavery in declarations of secession.
Furthermore, the iconography of the Confederate Army in modernity has increasingly been adopted by white supremacy groups. The Ku Klux Klan used the Confederate battle flag while terrorizing Black Americans during the Civil Rights Movement. Though the Confederate flag and Rebel soldiers undoubtedly have a place in American history, it is undeniable that in 2020 glorifying these symbols is interpreted by many as support for a legacy of racism and intolerance that is contradictory to the values of Boyle County Public Schools.
Our goal is a mascot that all of our BCHS community can be proud of for generations to come.
What should I know about the history of Boyle County’s use of the ‘Rebel’ as a mascot?
There hasn’t been much written about the history of the Rebel as BCHS’ mascot. If you have images or memories of the Rebel mascot’s use, we invite you to share them.
Paraphrased from Boyle County High School's website:
“On September 3, 1963, Boyle County High School was born through the consolidation of schools from four districts (Perryville, Junction, Parksville and Forkland).
One of the decisions that had to be made was choosing the new school’s colors and mascot... The mascot was a more difficult decision to make; the choice was between the Brigadiers or the Rebels. After a vote from the senior class, the mascot was chosen, and the Rebel was born.”
It is not unimportant that 1963 was a pivotal moment in the nation’s Civil Rights Movement, and in fact was the very same year that Danville City Schools started to integrate. It was also the year of a contentious gubernatorial race between Ned Brethitt, Jr. and Louie Nunn in which civil rights and integration were a critical issue. Nunn, who ultimately lost the race, went so far as to say that his first act as governor would be to abolish the Fair Services Executive Order, which had desegregated public accommodations in Kentucky.
The decision to make the Rebel the school’s mascot took place against the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement, and it is impossible to deny that the choice was informed by white backlash to the events of this period. Depictions of the mascot included a Confederate flag until at least the mid 1980s. The school newspaper was called “The Confederate” from its inception.
In more recent decades the depiction of the BCHS Rebel has been revised, rendering its Confederate affiliation more ambiguous. In 2013 the school held a logo contest soliciting student designs, the winning entry is the version used today.
From the responses of signatories of our petition, it is clear that there are many students and alumni who are uncomfortable with and ashamed of the connotations of the Rebel mascot. There are perhaps thousands more graduates who spent their high school careers not fully aware of the racist implications, or worse, fully aware of and in support of it. Excellence in education requires confronting bigotry and teaching methods for expanding world views, rather than tacitly endorsing hatred.
It is time for our community to acknowledge the spirit of exclusion and racism embodied by this mascot, and to unequivocally declare that there is no place for it in our school.
BCHS represented by a Confederate Flag
BCHS represented by a Confederate Flag
Why now?
In May 2020, the murder of George Floyd at the hands of four police officers reignited the 2013 ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement, a call to all Americans to confront police brutality against Black people. Protests against similar cases of police brutality, including the murder of Breonna Taylor by plainclothes officers executing a no-knock warrant in Louisville, Kentucky, took place across the United States and the world, sparking a national conversation about the role of race and white supremacy in America’s history. As a result, white Americans are increasingly becoming aware of how race shapes their experience and reality in this country, and recognizing the ways in which our culture and the way we teach history has devalued the lives and contributions of non-white people, particularly Black and indigenous populations.
Celebrating the Confederacy while ignoring its legacy of enslaving, torturing, and murdering Black people is one of the many ways that our culture continues to perpetuate white supremacy and ignore the realities of discrimination faced by Black Americans even today. While it is only a small act in the face of much larger injustices, adopting a more appropriate mascot is one way that Boyle County High School can demonstrate its commitment to racial equity and create a more inclusive atmosphere for students, faculty, and other community members.
Is this an attempt to erase our history?
Kentucky’s history was undoubtedly shaped by the American Civil War, but a Confederate rebel hardly reflects the reality of that history. The state officially declared neutrality early in the war, and even petitioned the Union for assistance following a failed attempt by the Confederacy to seize control of Kentucky. From 1862 the state was under Union control and over three times as many Kentuckians enlisted in the Union Army than did the Confederacy (125,000 Union soldiers versus 35,000 Confederate soldiers). The Battle of Perryville, an important part of Boyle County’s history, was a strategic victory for the Union and marked the end of Confederate attempts to control Kentucky. BCHS alumni are proud to be Kentuckians, and that pride encourages us to openly and honestly reflect on our history.
It is also important to distinguish between honoring and remembering history. Students in Boyle County Public Schools should absolutely learn about the Confederate rebels, as well as their Union counterparts and the history that turned them against one another. But to chant ‘Go Rebels’ or emblazon it on apparel ignores history: the rebels lost, and there is nothing about their legacy that is worthy of honor. We now have the opportunity to become a part of history by using this pivotal moment to acknowledge the dangers of white supremacy and change our mascot in response.
Ultimately, a high school mascot cannot provide the full context and nuance necessary for teaching us about our history. Rather, a mascot should be a rallying point for the community, something that represents shared values and allegiance to a team.
Are you concerned that this change is largely symbolic and won’t create real impact?
It’s true that in the face of systemic racism, changing a name or logo is a small act, but as the saying goes, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Being antiracist takes constant reflection and awareness about the impact of our choices, and we hope that this act is just one of many ways that you choose to confront injustice.
When it comes to effecting change, we have the greatest power to do so in our closest communities—our families, our neighborhoods, and yes, our schools. While this change may not register on a national scale, it can make a big difference to our community, and students who spend their formative years at BCHS. To a young person facing adversity or bullying as a result of their identity, knowing that they have the support of the administration is empowering. All students deserve to feel confident that BCHS is a safe and welcoming place for them to learn, grow, and thrive.
Unfortunately, there have been incidents of racism displayed by BCHS students under the pretext of showing school spirit during sports matches, as well as within the school building itself. As things stand, it would be hypocritical for the school to discipline students dressed in Confederate or similar regalia to intimidate others, as the mascot itself represents a Confederate soldier. These events have been remarked upon by many, and people have reported feeling deeply ashamed and disturbed, commenting that these recurring events have tarnished their feelings about the school. To outsiders, these actions unquestionably reflect poorly on the school—and the current mascot indicates tacit endorsement. Changing it would be an important demonstration to students and to others that the school is determined to change and will take racist behaviors more seriously.
It is the first of many steps that Boyle County Public Schools can take to demonstrate a commitment to inclusion and that discrimination against any member of our community will not be tolerated.
Who supports this change?
At the time of this writing, our petition has over 240 signatures and counting. Signatories include current and former students, former faculty, a former principal, a former school board member, Boyle residents, community members, and students’ families. Ultimately, the decision to change the mascot lies with school administrators, and we hope that by building a network of current and former students, faculty, and community members, we will help demonstrate to them the support and need for this change. We hope you will consider joining us by signing our petition and sharing it with your network!