Harding University has a deep and rich Black History that goes back almost 100 years. Last summer, former university president Dr. Bruce McLarty made a promise to the Harding community to better educate people on this history. In the last year, Harding has contributed seminars discussing racial justice, panels with faculty and alumni who understand the Black Experience and the promise of a future bronze state to honor Botham Jean.
“I’m standing today in front of the American Heritage Building at the entrance where students go into the cafeteria at the site where the Botham Jean Memorial Plaque will be located,” said President Dr. David Burks.
Dr. Jonathan Singleton, who teaches the Composition II: Research and Writing course on campus, has been developing a research project to further educate the Harding community about Harding’s Black History. Located in the middle of the stairwell in the Brackett Library are over 900 names of students and faculty who wanted former president George S. Benson to desegregate Harding University in 1957. The petition was distributed all over campus to students and faculty and would become known as the Statement of Attitude.
“What Dr. Singleton is looking for is he is analyzing each name on there, reaching out to those people and trying to get more of their stories. Especially from notable people such as the SA president at the time, things like that. Also hearing what campus was like around that tie. What inspired them to pursue this petition and how they feel about being remembered as a brave character in Harding’s history. Especially with everything happening this summer,” Senior Daniel Burley said.
Dr. Singleton attended a seminar hosted by the Bible Department about having a christian response to racial injustice. He was inspired by the ideas that guest speaker Angela Davis, who teaches History at Harding Academy, voiced during the Seminar.”
“She mentioned the Statement of Attitude and pointed out, with all of the debate about Dr. Benson, I really wish people were focusing on the stories of the people supporting desegregation. Without minimizing some of the criticism that might be just, we could really praise people that were trying to champion a change for the better,” Dr. Singleton said.
You can see the glass case in the Brackett Library with hundreds of signatures of people who wanted to integrate Harding’s campus. The petition was rejected by former president George S. Benson, but Harding would later integrate its campus in 1963.
Written by: Katelyn Allen
