Racial Injustice on College Campuses
Racial injustice is back in the news on college campuses around the country. The president was forced out at the University of Missouri. Students are protesting, including sit-ins, at Princeton, Yale, and William & Mary, which is the alma mater of Thomas Jefferson.
Many students want to discuss statues, symbols and buildings named for men who supported white supremacy. We in Mississippi, a land dotted with Confederate statues and whose state flag remains controversial, are familiar with arguments over symbols of the past and what they mean today.
Some at William & Mary want to remove a statue of Thomas Jefferson due to his dismal record on race and slavery. Student protesters at Princeton have demanded that its Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, which I attended, be renamed because Wilson, who was born in Virginia and raised in Georgia, was an avowed racist.
How should a university respond in these situations? A university campus should be a place where students from all backgrounds feel respected and valued. A welcoming environment and an inclusive campus are necessary to foster scholarly and educational excellence in today’s world.
On the other hand, if we get rid of Thomas Jefferson and Woodrow Wilson, then who is next? Must American history be whitewashed of its past sins in the name of inclusion?
Ole Miss has taken an interesting approach. They are keeping their Confederate statue in the center of campus, but adding language to provide historical context. But they will likely change the name of Vardaman Hall. James K. Vardaman, a Mississippi governor and senator, was known as the Great White Chief and famously said, “If it is necessary every Negro in the state will be lynched, it will be done to maintain white supremacy.”
This action represents a thoughtful re-examination of our history. College campuses are the perfect venue to discuss difficult topics with civility and mutual respect. The president of Princeton said, “To be an inclusive community we must treat one another with respect even when we disagree vigorously about topics that matter deeply.”
One African-American Princeton alum wrote, “Though the process might be painful, pain is often part of healing and reconciliation. And fair exploration of our heroes and villains need not necessitate desecration. We can acknowledge the contributions of even greatly flawed individuals. Understanding our failures should not lead to the erasure of history.”
Princeton and William & Mary should examine the racial record of their famous alumni. The conversation is worth having, especially in a free and open society. In the end, I suspect those schools will keep the name Wilson and the statue of Jefferson since their contributions to history outweigh their faults.
University campuses need to provide an environment for thoughtful and meaningful dialogue on controversial issues like racial injustice and its ongoing legacy. We are stronger when we openly discuss what we value from the past and honor in the present. And, please, if we ever talk about renaming the Ross Barnett Reservoir, count me in!
Brother Rogers works at the Stennis Center for Public Service and is a guest columnist for the Starkville Daily News.
Many students want to discuss statues, symbols and buildings named for men who supported white supremacy. We in Mississippi, a land dotted with Confederate statues and whose state flag remains controversial, are familiar with arguments over symbols of the past and what they mean today.
Some at William & Mary want to remove a statue of Thomas Jefferson due to his dismal record on race and slavery. Student protesters at Princeton have demanded that its Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, which I attended, be renamed because Wilson, who was born in Virginia and raised in Georgia, was an avowed racist.
How should a university respond in these situations? A university campus should be a place where students from all backgrounds feel respected and valued. A welcoming environment and an inclusive campus are necessary to foster scholarly and educational excellence in today’s world.
On the other hand, if we get rid of Thomas Jefferson and Woodrow Wilson, then who is next? Must American history be whitewashed of its past sins in the name of inclusion?
Ole Miss has taken an interesting approach. They are keeping their Confederate statue in the center of campus, but adding language to provide historical context. But they will likely change the name of Vardaman Hall. James K. Vardaman, a Mississippi governor and senator, was known as the Great White Chief and famously said, “If it is necessary every Negro in the state will be lynched, it will be done to maintain white supremacy.”
This action represents a thoughtful re-examination of our history. College campuses are the perfect venue to discuss difficult topics with civility and mutual respect. The president of Princeton said, “To be an inclusive community we must treat one another with respect even when we disagree vigorously about topics that matter deeply.”
One African-American Princeton alum wrote, “Though the process might be painful, pain is often part of healing and reconciliation. And fair exploration of our heroes and villains need not necessitate desecration. We can acknowledge the contributions of even greatly flawed individuals. Understanding our failures should not lead to the erasure of history.”
Princeton and William & Mary should examine the racial record of their famous alumni. The conversation is worth having, especially in a free and open society. In the end, I suspect those schools will keep the name Wilson and the statue of Jefferson since their contributions to history outweigh their faults.
University campuses need to provide an environment for thoughtful and meaningful dialogue on controversial issues like racial injustice and its ongoing legacy. We are stronger when we openly discuss what we value from the past and honor in the present. And, please, if we ever talk about renaming the Ross Barnett Reservoir, count me in!
Brother Rogers works at the Stennis Center for Public Service and is a guest columnist for the Starkville Daily News.