Feb. 3, the Center for Student Diversity hosted an online forum with student activists, professors and College of William and Mary faculty gathered to discuss both the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and ways to advance racial justice in the present day.
Panel moderator Alton Coston III ’23 opened the discussion by arguing that King’s beliefs have often been incorrectly characterized.
“Oftentimes the legacy of Dr. King is misstated, misinterpreted or skewed purposely by many people,” Coston said. “Although everybody loves Dr. King now, back when he was really popping back in 1968, he was one of, if not the most, hated men in America. He was hated because he let his desire for tension be known publicly.”
The other panel moderator, CSD Associate Director Shené Owens, drew parallels between the civil rights movement in King’s time and modern racial issues. Owens pointed to the key role of college students in effecting social change.
“If you think back to all the photos you saw of Dr. King, these were young men and women that were standing alongside him in these movements. If you turned on the news throughout 2020, these were young people standing up and saying Black lives matter.”
“If you think back to all the photos you saw of Dr. King, these were young men and women that were standing alongside him in these movements,” Owens said. “If you turned on the news throughout 2020, these were young people standing up and saying Black lives matter.”
Following Owens’ presentation of young activism in 1960s movements, the panel discussed the role of college students in civil rights movements today, as well as advice for current and future student activists.
The panel of four included Dean of the College’s Law School Benjamin Spencer, visiting professor of government Jackson Sasser, student activist Felecia Hayes ’21 and community activist Justin Reid ’09.
Spencer, an expert in civil procedure, reminded listeners of their First Amendment rights to speech, protest and assembly and underscored the realities of exercising the right to peaceful protest, often times including police presence.
“It’s tricky because the police have a lot of authority and have a lot of discretion,” Spencer said. “That is not authority that is used equitably … the police have a lot of protection.”
Hayes discussed what led to her becoming an activist, recalling the days following the killing of George Floyd this past summer.
“I decided that I needed to get my voice heard in some way. So, some of my housemates and a professor passing by stood at Confusion Corner and held signs. We just spoke whatever was on our heart.”
“I decided that I needed to get my voice heard in some way,” Hayes said. “So, some of my housemates and a professor passing by stood at Confusion Corner and held signs. We just spoke whatever was on our heart.”
She said that the goal of protesting was to make Williamsburg residents more aware of racism, emphasizing that the movement is not just about the blatant racism displayed by the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, but also the racism embedded in everyday life.
Reid gave a perspective on activism during his time at the College.
“The defining moment was when our president at the time, Gene Nichol … was attempting to make change at a rate faster than many conservative alumni wanted, and he was pushed out because of that,” Reid said. “In particular, a major donor revoked a 12 million gift because of a decision the president made to make the campus more inclusive.”
Reid was referring to the Wren cross controversy, in which Nichol made the decision to remove a cross from display at the altar in the Wren Chapel. Reid spoke about efforts by himself and other students to show support for the embattled president. However, following other controversial incidents, Nichol’s three-year contract was not renewed, making him the College’s shortest-serving president since the Civil War.
According to Reid, this episode in the College’s history illustrated that change is not dependent on any one individual.
“We shifted our focus and said, look, a movement does not hinge on any one person; there are still goals and objectives that we need to accomplish, and even in his absence, there are things we can push for,” Reid said.
Reid continued to express some optimism and addressed Hayes.
“William and Mary can get to the point where students like you aren’t constantly having to push the institution to live up to what it claims to care about,” Reid said.
Spencer, who began as dean of the Law School in July 2020, said that the time for old policies is over.
“We are asking … and begging for things to happen,” Spencer said. “We have to put some energy into becoming insiders.”
Spencer spoke about his work and policies to stifle discrimination and racism within the Law School and the College community.
Spencer called out the Board of Visitors many times on the numbers of Black students and professors at the College.
“Our numbers in terms of Black students are abysmally low,” Spencer said. “It is disgraceful … same thing with faculty numbers. It is a disgrace.”
Following their discussion, the panelists answered questions from the audience.
In response to a question about the possibility of reform within the system as it currently exists, Spencer and Reid discussed the influence of donors on the College’s policies and priorities.
“We have to understand the fact that higher ed in this country is a capitalist enterprise,” Reid said. “When someone who has a considerable amount of wealth disagrees with what the institution is doing, they have the power to shape that institution.”
“We have to understand the fact that higher ed in this country is a capitalist enterprise,” Reid said. “When someone who has a considerable amount of wealth disagrees with what the institution is doing, they have the power to shape that institution.”
Spencer concurred with Reid, and said that budget cuts by state legislatures to public higher education institutions has caused an increasing reliance on alumni donors.
“It’s a small minority of people that is giving the majority of the money, but that shouldn’t give them a majority of the voice in what’s going on at the school,” Spencer said. “What about the silent majority?”
In commemoration of King and his work in the advancement of civil rights, the four panelists and two moderators encouraged and called on listeners to take personal action to fight racism and discrimination.
“It starts with you,” Hayes said. “Take it upon yourself to make it happen.”
