African American Student Experiences at the University of Arkansas

Entries on This Tour

In order to explore African American experiences at the University of Arkansas, Nandi Hervey, political science major, starts our tour where all prospective students begin. Named after Silas Hunt, the first African American admitted to our law school in 1948, the admissions building serves as a symbol of inclusion for all at the University of Arkansas. But how have things truly changed? On May 25, 2020, a Black man named George Floyd was choked for 8 minutes and 46 seconds and ultimately murdered by Minneapolis police officers over a "counterfeit" 20 dollar bill that turned out to be real. This death heightened the Black Lives Matter movement across the country. On May 31, 2020, a hazing video made by University of Arkansas students from the Omega Omega Chapter of the Sigma Chi fraternity went viral. This video included them reenacting Floyd's death with a caption reading, "Let's do some George Floyd shit to 'em" which resulted in two of the students getting expelled from the University. On June 16, 2020, the BlackStudentCaucusUARK Twitter account released a list of demands for reaching a more inclusive campus for the University. #BlackAtUark, a hashtag that University of Arkansas (UARK) students and faculty shared stories on of racism and microaggressions faced on campus, started trending. An example of what one of these tweets would look like is: Being #BlackAtUark is seeing a video of members of a fraternity on campus mock the murder of an innocent Black man. These current events could be a reflection of issues faced during the B.A.D Movement at UARK in the 1970s. Taking a look at that movement could provide insight into the movement seen on campus today.

2. Safer Spaces for UARK Students: Integration at the University of Arkansas

The integration of University of Arkansas housing facilities did not come automatically with the admittance of Black students to the university. Nor has on-campus housing consistently been a welcoming space for Black students. This entry by Megan Rodgers, international studies, political science, and Spanish major, explores the slow evolution of University of Arkansas housing policy to allow Black students to live on campus, as well as the experiences of Black students living in University of Arkansas housing. It begins with law student George Howard who lived in the Lloyd Hall dormitory in the Spring of 1951. Upon crossing Garland to the Law building, look across Maple St. to see the large residential portion of campus, where the now-nonexistent Lloyd Hall was located.

3. Omega Psi Phi and KUAF: B.A.D. Student Leadership

For the next location, Terrell Page, English education major, asks us to take a look at Memorial Hall, further down Maple Street. Omega Psi Phi, the first Black fraternity at the University of Arkansas, launched the pledging of its first members here in Memorial Hall in August of 1974. This fraternity was just one of some ways in which Black students developed community among themselves. As a very small minority on campus, Black students had to find ways to preserve their culture and foster unity. Some of these ways were the Black Americans for Democracy (BAD) organization, its student newspaper (BAD Times), Black Greek life, and extracurricular activities.

4. Racist Symbolism in the Built Environment

Nate Cole, architecture major, takes us further down Maple Street to consider the role of symbolism on college campuses. The chosen location, the Delta Gamma sorority house, serves as the main exemplar for reference, although the aesthetics mentioned can be found up and down Maple Hill and fraternity row. This entry focuses on the plantation revival aesthetics of Greek life houses on the University of Arkansas campus. #BlackatUARK and The BAD Times newspaper serve as additional references that focus on the implicit and explicit racism in both the architecture and the actions of Greek life members. Although a more theoretical stance, you are encouraged to think on this theme throughout the tour as you walk through the built environment of our college campus.

5. "Dixie" Protests and Student Life through the Eyes of BAD Member

Next, we arrive at the Chi Omega Greek Theatre, where Ahmad Pace, Jr., mathematics major, shares the site of student protests against the Razorback Band's playing of "Dixie." The Greek Theatre itself was not built for protests, but for the connectivity for the students on campus. This amphitheater was made for the well-being of students and to uplift the morality of campus life. Though it was built as a symbol of hope for the campus, it would soon become grounds for something much more sinister.

6. The Razorback Marching Band Chimes in to Bring Down "Dixie"

In response to B.A.D's protests, Alydia Brashear, accounting major, next explores how the Razorback Marching Band was prompted to evaluate the appropriateness of their playing of "Dixie." Formed in 1874 during the University's fourteenth year of operation, the band had the song "Dixie" in their library up until 1969, when the playing of the song was scrutinized and the racially insensitive roots and lyrics of the song were brought to light. The song was officially removed from all University of Arkansas events after a Student Senate vote on December 2, 1969.

7. White Student Resistance to the Removal of "Dixie"

While The BAD Times was the organ of Black Americans for Democracy on the University of Arkansas campus, and most certainly the focus of this class, it was not the only organ on campus speaking out about controversial topics at the University of Arkansas. Anna Kate Dooly, history and French major, shares with us that the student newspaper, The Arkansas Traveler, was also a very vocal organ on campus, specifically for the white majority of students at the University of Arkansas. The focus on this organ in relation to the Black Americans for Democracy organization at the University amplifies how the voices of the white majority were propelled into the spotlight over Black voices speaking on similar issues. One of the topics most popular during the time period that Black Americans for Democracy was on campus was the decision on whether or not the fight song "Dixie" should be played at University-sponsored functions.

8. Tradition and Terror: Two Different Perspectives on "Beat Texas Week"

Starting in 1969, the tradition of "Beat Texas" week roused the University of Arkansas's campus annually. Sydney Nichols, art history and creative writing major, explores the annual "Beat Texas" pep rally held at the Chi Omega Greek Theatre. This week is remembered for its use of Confederate flags and cheers with racist slurs. Seen by white students as a time of celebration and by African American students as a time that necessitated increased apprehension and caution, the week heightened racial tensions each year. Vexed by the Razorbacks' losing streak against Texas, white students took their frustrations out on Black students. As a result, the close-knit Black student community at the University of Arkansas was forced to modulate their actions to ensure their safety during this week throughout the 1970s.

9. Minority Experiences in the College of Engineering

Kaleb Manley, engineering student, now takes us away from the Greek theater and into the world of the university's College of Engineering, primarily located in Bell Engineering Hall. The first civil engineering degree from the Arkansas Industrial University was awarded in 1888, but it wasn’t until 1913 that the College of Engineering was organized as a college of the better-known University or Arkansas. It would be the 1970s before the University would see its first group of African American students. With this came the first African American engineering students and the formation of B.A.D. In many of the respective colleges of the university, new African American students would be faced with adversity, and the College of Engineering was no exception. Today, the College of Engineering has taken strides to accommodate all of its students, but there continue to be discussions on whether or not diversity and inclusion is at the forefront.

10. Student Athlete Experiences Then and Now: How Far Have We Come?

Our final entry takes us alllll the way down the Hill and into student athletics with biomedical engineering major Smit Patel. Being a student is hard. However, Arkansas women basketball players kneeling show how being a student-athlete is harder. Every student-athlete that plays and has played at Barnhill Arena should be respected regardless of their color, gender, and background. They are all Razorbacks--just like the entire University of Arkansas community.

This Tour is a Walking Tour.

African American Student Experiences at the University of Arkansas

Created by Katie Powell on December 15th 2020, 9:00:57 pm.

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In fall 2020, Provost Robinson’s forum B.A.D Times (Black Americans for Democracy) studied the historic and contemporary African American student experience at the University of Arkansas. Ten Honors College scholars scoured archives, interviewed current students and alums, and collected stories. From integration through the viral Twitter campaign #BlackatUARK, these scholars’ articles enrich our understanding of the Razorback family and its surrounding community. Trace the the lasting legacy of B.A.D and its influence on today's student activists as it unfolds across campus.

Entries on This Tour

African American Student Experiences at the University of Arkansas

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