Students, alumni and faculty gathered to reflect on the legacy of the 1970 protest and its lasting impact on the University of Mississippi on Thursday, Feb. 15 in Fulton Chapel.
The event revisits the history of eight Black Student Union members who made 27 demands for racial equality on the Ole Miss campus at Fulton Chapel on Feb. 24, 1970. Although the protest was warranted and peaceful, 89 students were subsequently arrested for the demonstration. Author W. Ralph Eubanks, UM visiting professor and writer-in-residence, explained the significance of the event.
“The core of the students’ demand was the elimination of symbols and structures at the university that were hostile to their very presence,” Eubanks said. “The story of the Ole Miss Eight demonstrates that the Black power philosophy can be applied to nonviolent protest, and that is the new narrative that I hope we at this university can begin to embrace.”
The story of the 1970 protest is a milestone of Black history that took place on this university’s campus. To honor the story, the Mississippi Humanities Council will be adding the 1970 Fulton Chapel protest as a new marker on the Mississippi Freedom Trail.
Freshman Aminata Ba, a public policy leadership and economics double major, recited the demands, calling the event necessary for contextualizing the university’s history.
“Understanding the truth about the Fulton Chapel protest is to understand the importance of empathy, to understand the pain of Black suffering and to understand the dire consequences of not dealing with difficult history,” Ba said.
The event featured other student presenters, all of whom explained their perspective on what the protest’s legacy means to them.
Freshman Edward Wilson, a public policy leadership major, recited a poem, “Black History Month” by Nikki Giovanni. He also spoke about what it means to be a student activist today.
“The modern protest, particularly for us, is speaking up in our classes about medical experiences and sociology, about groups (and) about ideologies for people from areas not really shown in universities or other areas,” Wilson said. “It’s about ensuring that we say ‘I’m here.’”
Sophomore Fatimah Wansley, an international studies major, was another student speaker who memorialized the 1970 protesters.
“They made those choices to fight for a future that could have that more equality than their present,” Wansley said. “While I’m sure they didn’t know it that night, they established a legacy at this university that will always be remembered.”
After the student speakers’ presentations, Donald Cole and Kenneth Mayfield, participants in the 1970 protest, engaged with the audience to talk about their role in the rallies as well as the importance of empathy and understanding.
Mayfield was impressed by the students and praised their efforts.
“(The students) really did make me proud,” Mayfield said. “I’m amazed at the talent that these young people have.”
Cole echoed the same sentiments, believing they will continue as the next generation of activists.
“I didn’t do anything that you would not have done,” Cole said. “When your opportunity comes to speak up and do something for marginalized individuals, then you’ll do it as well.”
The event left a lasting impression on the audience, and many stayed afterwards to talk to Mayfield and Cole to know more about their experiences at Ole Miss.
Freshman June Guin, a Spanish and Chinese major, attended the event to learn more about UM’s history and was left inspired.
“I felt very proud when I saw a lot of the students from our university speaking up on stage,” Guin said. “Dr. Cole and Mr. Mayfield were very inspiring as well. They had a very powerful presence and it inspired me to make the most out of the opportunities that I have.”
