148 The pep band also still played the “Dixie” song at sporting events. It became prominent that Harding made space for Black students before creating a welcoming environment. Seeing this, Black students at Harding created the Groove Phi social club was created in 1968 by Black students at Harding. This social club provided a space that was more accessible and welcoming to Black students compared to the existing social clubs on campus. The social unrest on campus was a reflection of the unrest felt by Black people across the nation since the civil rights movement. A New Movement The civil rights movement was not the only thing that stirred the pot at Harding. During the global pandemic in 2020, the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement was in full effect after the unjust killing of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer. Many saw the BLM movement as a call to action, and during this, Jackson House, a Harding graduate, started the petition to replace Benson’s name on Harding’s auditorium with Botham S. Jean. House stated the purpose for the petition was to honor the life of Harding graduate Botham S. Jean instead of promoting the racism of Benson present during his speech. Seeing that the building is the most prominent on Harding’s campus, a name change would be a huge statement. George S. Benson Auditorium is used for most of the key events in the community and daily chapel. Although the petition received over 18,000 online signatures, Bruce McLarty, Harding’s president at the time, decided against the name change. Some of his statements on this decision were, “Dr. Benson indeed gave speeches in chapel opposing integration of Harding College in the late 1950s. That he said these things is true, and Harding University regretfully acknowledges that. Yet, before the end of his tenure, this man who defended racial segregation presided over the integration of Harding College in 1963.” Harding’s Motion for Progress After the petition, McLarty created a task force in the fall of 2020. The purpose of this task force was to acknowledge color, race, ethnicity, size, age, doctrine, or in any other way whatsoever, is misguided. I am not about mere integration. I am about Oneness. I am one with you. You are not just my brother, although you are that, too. I am you and you are me, as we are one in Christ Jesus, blessed forever. As you are hearing my words, you are absorbing me. As I hear your words, I am absorbing you. But, we are much more than just White and Black. We are, also, One in the Spirit. Integration is just one of ten thousand considerations of our overarching. Oneness. I am putting integration in a larger context. The implications are of Wholeness. Holy, Holy, Wholly.” Open Doors, Closed Minds Harding opened her doors to Black students in the fall of 1963. Walter Cunningham, J.C. Lewis Brown, and David Johnson were the first three African American students to enroll and attend Harding. Following in their path, Elijah Anthony and Dr. Howard Wright were the first two African American students to graduate from Harding with a bachelor’s degree (class of 1968). In March of 1968, Anthony and Wright spoke on the racial bigotry within the Churches of Christ during chapel. Barclay Key stated in a journal for The Arkansas Historical Quarterly, “The two seniors were most intent on emphasizing that Churches of Christ had not adequately addressed racial discrimination.” Anthony stated that the churches have, “been avoiding the issue of race; we just slid over, under, and around it.” This opens the conversation of belonging. Harding was now admitting Black students, but were they accepting them? Derogatory terms were still being commonly used around campus such as, “boy,” “Nigra,” and “colored.” David Johnson - 1964 Petit Jean J.C. Lewis Brown - 1964 Petit Jean Walter Cunningham - 1964 Petit Jean Walter Cunningham shown here at a Bison basketball game in 1963. Photo courtesy of UCM
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc5NA==