Chicago Backtracks on Naming School for Obama

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has canceled plans to name an elite new high school for his former boss, President Barack Obama, the Chicago Tribune reports. Suggested Reading The Root 100 – 2021 The Root 100 – 2022 The Root 100 – 2023 Video will return here when scrolled back into view Stefon Diggs and Cardi…

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has canceled plans to name an elite new high school for his former boss, President Barack Obama, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Video will return here when scrolled back into view
Stefon Diggs and Cardi B Viral Boat Video Prompts Response from Patriots Coach
Stefon Diggs and Cardi B Viral Boat Video Prompts Response from Patriots Coach

Emanuel, Obamaโ€™s first White House chief of staff, said Thursday that he would consider other names for the selective-enrollment high school set to be built near the site of the former Cabrini-Green public housing project just northwest of downtown, which is now an upscale part of the city. Some members of the black community had expressed concern that the name was inappropriate for a school to be located in a wealthy, mainly white neighborhood.

โ€œOver the last few months, my team has listened to questions and concerns from the community, ranging from location of the building to the naming of the school. We take that community input seriously, which is whyโ€”as we continue to look for a thoughtful way to honor President Obamaโ€”we will look for other possible names for this future school,โ€ Emanuel said in a statement, according to the Tribune.

The name, the Barack Obama College Preparatory High School, was announced in April amid fanfare. It is slated to open for the 2017-2018 school year.

Read more at the Chicago Tribune.

Straight From The Root

Sign up for our free daily newsletter.