I am out of the office this week recruiting graduate students across the great state of Alabama. Listening to lots of radio during my drive time and a piece on NPR about today being the 50th anniversary of James Meredith's integration of Ole Miss captured my attention. The NPR web site has good information for those of you who want to review recent history
http://www.npr.org/2012/10/01/162083705/ole-miss-students-look-back-at-integration In the transcript from the story that aired today, current Ole Miss students reflect on the past and question how integrated the institution really is today.
http://50years.olemiss.edu/photo-gallery/ Pictures taken of Meredith's first day of classes. Shocking and heartbreaking to view the classroom emptied of everyone, students and professor, leaving only Meredith.
http://microsites.jfklibrary.org/olemiss/home/ Information from the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum about Meredith's integration of Ole Miss. Kennedy was president in 1962 when Meredith enrolled at Ole Miss. He ordered 30,000 troops, federal marshalls and National Guardsmen to Oxford to help keep the peace. In spite of their presence, two people were killed and more than 300 injured.
For Ole Miss alum, please note that I am not picking on your alma mater by singling it out on this historic date. The University of Alabama has its own shameful segregationist past, as do many other southern institutions of higher education, as do many other cultural institutions for that matter. Witness Mobile's "proud" tradition of Mardi Gras, which to this day maintains separate white and black mystic societies with their own kings and queens. For a revealing look at this tradition, view Margaret Brown's documentary "Order of Myths."
And for James Meredith's own account of his experiences at Ole Miss, read "Three Years in Mississippi."
I just read the transcript of the NPR piece, and I have to say that the discussion about the homecoming kings and queens and student body presidents was somewhat shocking to me. I also identified with the point about black and white fraternities and sororities. I understand that a lot of the reason for their existence is because of tradition of the sororities and fraternities, but I just thought American universities were past segregation. Even at my Alma mater, Auburn University, there was a definite separation between the black and white Greek systems. There were also distinct characteristics of those organizations that set them apart, whether it was their initiation process or social gatherings. Also, it was noticeable that black and white Greeks do not really associate between one another. I understand that they are part of a different councils, but one would think that after all this time, the two different councils would try to form an alliance.
ReplyDeleteThis little tid-bit of information bothers me a bit because I think there should be no separation between organizations because of race. This fact just blows my mind and causes me to examine other types of organizations and see what kind of "quiet segregation is going on with it.
Rachel, thanks for your comments. A lot of your classmates were also unfamiliar with James Meredith's experiences at Ole Miss. I'm glad this class is exposing you to our sometimes painful past in higher education. You know what they say about history. Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
ReplyDeleteDr. Delmas,
DeleteI must say that is definitely a point that this class is educating me on. I used to have this box that my mind placed college violence into which mostly consisted of the modern-day shootings, and incidents like those at Kent State University. I am gaining much more knowledge about Higher Education's history of violence than ever before.
Indeed this is yet another great story that I too feel should have had more attention. This is another piece of educational history that should be shared one because it helps to identify issues and struggles of times past that help us get to where we are today but also it helps to point out those issues that linger around today. When it got to the part discussing separate kings and queens, separate greek entities, and so on this reminded me of today. I am a part of several "fraternities" however one of them is predominantly black, although I see where "we" have come together in many areas the fraternities that actually bring us together are the mainly the business and honor type societies while the social greek letter organizations still seem to keep that line and no one ever says anything. With regards to the name of the school, I know that many of the people deny it being true but with the history that the south has I would not be a t all surprised if the statement s about the name "ole miss" were true because the south has always had underlying meanings in things to help keep the old south alive and in the picture. In your blog you mentioned how the different Mardi Gras societies are still segregated and basically has become a social norm within our southern culture. This is so true and I actually decided to try and do something about it. Although it was small I feel it was still a start. Myself and one of the young guys I mentor got together and organized a junior Mardi Gras society that was integrated and long story short it went great and there was a black king and white queen. To my surprise it got a lot of support and a lot of people showed up including the children of many that are viewed as high status individuals. We plan to continue these efforts this year and hope that things go just as well. I have always believed that change takes time and in the majority of cases like higher education the change may start small but some progress it definitely better than none
ReplyDeleteReading the transcript, it amazes me how much tension and segregation there still is on the Ole Miss campus. The thing about it though is that it seems the people and students of Ole Miss are fine with being stuck in their old ways. Even Neil McMillan, the fraternity brother who is in the Kappa Alpha Order, said him and his fraternity brothers were bothered by the Greek segregation. However, they just accept it for the way it is and do not try to do anything about it. The school itself has tried to make changes to reduce the image of segregation on campus. For example, officials of the school changed the mascot from a old plantation owning rebel to a black bear. But that process took seven years, much longer than it should have, because people complained about changing their old ways. I thought it was interesting when student Hope Owens-Wilson said, "Still there's kind of an indescribable atmosphere on campus that's alienating to students of color, which is difficult to explain." Unless changes are made, the campus will always have that feel.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the articles and viewing the pictures about The University of Mississippi and its struggle to integrate many thoughts went through my mind. First it is in the south so I knew that the article would be about race and segregation. Although I say the school has came along way, the separate homecoming kings and queens is a bit much. I have never heard of homecoming courts being segregated. This alone would make me reconsidered attending the college because that is a way of showing the belief in inequality of blacks and whites. This story should be more known but at the same time this happened alot; the first black to be enrolled etc. I am pretty sure residents of Mississippi know who James Meredith is and the stories of his process. I am also not surprised about the greek life because the organizations were created for blacks to have support systems in college and vice versus with the whites. It is natural to migrate toward people who are similar to you so that is how the segregation in the greek systems take place. I will say it would be a different story at Ole Miss if a black man wanted to join a IFC fraternity and was discriminated against because of his race. I am apart of a Historically black sorority and when I joined it was because of the mission and goals of the organization not because I am black and the members were black. This is also the same case for whites and why they join their organizations. I am pretty sure that the organizations are diverse at Ole Miss, and if its not that may be their choice. For example at South in our NPHC it is made up of all blacks but there are just about all races represented in IFC and Pan organizations. I think it is a growing process that takes time but at this point students should highlight the improvements and other changes that could be made. Every school in the south has drawbacks about race but if Ole Miss was that bad of a school no blacks would be there now.
ReplyDeleteI think that it is a sign of the times that we look at this article and are able to say, quickly, "What were they thinking?!" The fact that there is outrage at this sort of behavior, as well as an acknowledgement that the outrage is more than merited is a strong indication that, as a nation, we are moving beyond such feelings; however, it is obvious (especially here in the South, sadly), that some people are holding on to these prejudices fiercely. But for what purpose? Many (like, I am sad to say, some members of my own family) have had hate bred into them. They were taught from a very early age that difference was tantamount to evil and should not be tolerated. Overcoming that in-bred hatred is a very difficult task, but many seem prove enough to take it.
ReplyDeleteI would like to take a moment and make a parallel to a very similar issue that seems to be happening in modern day; many people share these same feelings toward homosexuals, even in higher education. Though they would not openly admit it, many Greek organizations will not admit someone that they know are gay. There is a lot of prejudices against homosexuals that are very similar (if no where near as extreme) as what African Americans experienced (and some still do in places). I have homosexual friends, and their stories are very similar to things that African American students face.
I remember being taught about James Meredith in the 11th grade during Mississippi History class. This was typically a class taught to freshmen; however, I had just moved to Tupelo, MS with my family and was playing catch up as a result. I feel I have learned quite a bit more about the story now that I am older. For instance, I had no idea that James Meredith had been in the United States Air Force for NINE years prior to his admission into Ole Miss. I also had no idea about the his overseas schooling or his classes taken at Jackson State.
ReplyDeleteAll of this makes more sense when you stop to consider it. I had pictured a 17 or 18 year old boy entering ole Miss classrooms back then. But, when reading Meredith's letters on the JFK site a clearer picture is painted for you about who Meredith was and his motivation for pursuing Ole Miss acceptance so passionately! Meredith was obviously an intelligent man who wrote and lived with such courage and conviction about himself.
The pictures speak for themselves and obviously focus on showcasing Mr. Meredith in his solitude. But I can't help but wonder what was going through the minds of the one or two white students who were included in a few of the classroom pictures. What made them stay when others had jumped ship?
It is interesting to look at this story as a Mississippian. It is a stark reminder of how things still have a hold to our old past. Like one of those interviewed in the article, I can remember electing a black and white Homecoming queen at my high school. Sadly, that was in 1995. It was interesting to read about the intense feelings that surrounded this intergration. How strongly people held to their beliefs and how overt they were in displaying those attitudes.
ReplyDeleteWhat makes me think today is how apathetic we are to how we segregate ourselves. As one of the current Ole Miss students referenced, many students still choose self segregation in public or social elements. Take Greek life for example. I am in no way making fun of or pointing blame at Greek organizations, however, many organizations remain segregated in the South. The article mentioned the KA organization. I have been at institutions where it is still seen as the most "Southern" fraternity on campus. This also extends to being mostly, if not exclusively, made up of white members. This can also be seen in traditionally black Greek organizations. While there can be opportunities to end this self segregating practices, the tendencies still persist on both sides of the coin.
I fully acknowledge that there are some images and beliefs of the Old South that will forever be present in today's world. From the confederate-flag-over-all wearing fans of the West Monroe High School Rebels to those that still insist on having the Confederate flag on display at the South Carolina Capitol, there is a constant reminder of our ghosts. Higher education institutions continue to fight this trend. Unfortunately, the rise in enrollment comes from those that live in some of the same back-woods communities that continue to favor such beliefs.