Fisk University protest

The Fisk University student protest were from 1925-1927. The president of Fisk University was Fayette Mckenzic. Mckenzic was accused of exercising a dictatorial rule on campus. He had some of the schools magazines censored, dating and dancing were not allowed, and conversation was not allowed between males and females of different races. He was also supported with money by the Northern Foundations because they were considerate to his request. The Northern Foundation wanted many African-American schools to abide by and teach the Jim Crow Laws and not try to challenge or reject them. In May 1925, a very angry W.E.B Du Bois got on a train to go to his alma mater, Fisk University, located in Nashville, Tennessee. On June 2, 1925 In the University’s chapel there was the president of the university, students, alumni and others in attendance. W.E.B Du Bois attack Mckenzic with a speech, his speech made the protest more fired up and serious. When the board of trustees had arrived at campus they were greeted by the protest, people screaming statements against Mckenzic and for Du Bois. Due to the protest the board of trustees suggested that Mckenzic make some compromises. Mckenzic then agreed to the recommended suggestions of the board of trustees, but eventually he changed his mind.

The Students responded then rioted. They did things such as turning over chairs, breaking windows in the chapel while shouting and chanting Du Bois, and singing songs. Mckenzic responded by calling in the police to restore order. There were about eighty police officers that had riot guns and searched the men’s dormitory and had beat and arrested the six men that were on the list.<-- This is a very unclear passage. It also would be helped with a specific citation, and may need to be edited on POV issues--> The crime that the students got charged with was a felony, the students left the school after being released from jail. The students then organized a protest along with the community which lasted for 8 weeks. The post offices and euro-American owned banks would not service the African-Americans.<--Unclear whether this is a ban on all African-Americans, or just those who were involved in the protest--> Mckenzic then resigned even though he still had the board of trustees support. Due to what happen at Fisk University it caused confrontation between the president and students at Howard University, which led the president to resign and an African-American president was elected.

References

Anderson, James. The President as Ethical Role Model:Instituting an Ethic of Leadership at Fisk University in the 1950s. [Online] Available http://www.collegevalues.org/articles.cfm?a=1&id=510

Mitchell, Reavis. Fisk University. [Online] Available http://www.tnstate.edu/library/digital/FISKU.HTM

Wormser, Richard. Fisk University Student Protest. [Online] Available http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/stories_events_fisk.html, 2002