Organizers of 'Confederate General and First Grand Wizard of KKK Nathan Bedford Forrest Memorial Marathon' Consider Name Change
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Organizers of the Confederate General and First Grand Wizard of KKK Nathan Bedford Forrest Memorial Marathon are rethinking the event's name, Dumb Runner has learned.
The event, held each fall in Georgia, dates to 1964. Its name, according to the ABOUT US page on the event’s official website, was meant to “honor the history of our state’s proud residents and remember the legacy of an honorable and valorous military leader,” a reference to the race’s namesake, Nathan Bedford Forrest.
The page mentions the word heritage 14 times.
"I suppose, by today's standards, I can see how the name might be taken as insensitive," J.D. Hogg, the marathon's race director, said in a Skype interview, alluding to the growing chorus of voices demanding the removal of public monuments and renaming of buildings and military bases dedicated to racist, treasonous figures. “Maybe it is time for a change.”
“Come to think of it,” he added, “the Confederate General and First Grand Wizard of KKK Nathan Bedford Forrest Memorial Marathon is sort of a mouthful. Something shorter would be easier to remember, that’s for sure.”
He paused.
“Also, I guess, we don’t really need that ‘KKK’ part in there, do we?” he said. “Yeah, in hindsight maybe that was a bit much.”
Hogg said that he and the race committee never intended to offend anyone with the name of their event.
“My colleagues and I sincerely regret if anyone mistakenly chose to be offended by anything we might have done,” he said. “The Confederate General and First Grand Wizard of KKK Nathan Bedford Forrest Memorial Marathon always has been, and always will be, about one thing, and that’s celebrating athletic achievement and human potential.”
He paused again.
“That, plus heritage.”
