NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) —In the wake of George Floyd’s death and the protests that followed, historic figures like Confederate general and Ku Klux Klan leader Nathan Bedford Forrest are more controversial than ever.
The debate over whether Forrest’s statue should stay at the Tennessee State Capitol has been going on for years, but recent protests for racial equality have reignited calls for it to removed.
Now one of Forrest's very own descendants is weighing in as well.
Brett Joseph Forrest doesn’t talk about his relation to Nathan Bedford Forrest often, but feels it’s now time to break his silence on the issue. He says he will not be offended at all if the bust gets removed, and understands why so many people view it as a painful symbol of intense racism.
“For someone to look at a bust or a statue of Nathan Bedford Forrest, feelings and reactions of our dark history are going to come to mind,” explains Forrest. “So I totally recognize and understand why people have a problem with these busts and monuments being publicly displayed.”
Forrest thinks the statue would be more appropriate inside a museum. While he believes Nathan Bedford Forrest should be remembered, he doesn’t think he should be honored or celebrated with such a prominent spot at such an important place.
And, while he lives in Colorado, Brett is confident Tennessee has other important figures that could replace the bust of his ancestor.
“It’s about trying to heal these wounds and move on and if removing a bust of my ancestor can help, I support it,” he said.
Forrest wants to point out that there are members of his family who do not share his beliefs on this issue. But he says it's really opened up conversations within the Forrest family about racism about their ancestry, and he thinks that is a positive and powerful thing.