Civil Rights Walk: A Walk Down Memory Lane
posted by Brittany Doss, Shania Ingram | September 11, 2020 | In News“Attending college is great, but attending an HBCU is paradise” was a sentiment to which many African American college students cling.
With the unrest of racial and political injustice across the United States over the past four months, members of the Student Government Association were adamant to reiterate among their colleagues, the great significance of their racial background to society.
On September 9, the SGA lined both sidewalks from New Residence Hall to the Rudolph Jones Student Center’s free speech zone with numerous placards. On these cards, were names of famous African American historical figures with the likes of Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Park, Malcom X and Thurgood Marshall.
As students walked down this stretch of campus, they are taken down memory lane with the urge to reflect on the impactful actions of these brave women and men and how they positively revolutionized the civil, judicial and social rights of African Americans throughout the United States. Though these stalwarts have passed on before, contemporary society has been left with a great deal of responsibility, which is to continue a legacy of greatness.
As students, faculty, and staff walk along the red brick sidewalk leading to the student center, to the left, (while facing the student center) they can see signs with various names of those who have fallen victim to police brutality.
As viewers say their names: Emmett Till, Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice, George Floyd, Deborah Danner, Sandra Bland, it is a reminder of these victims and countless others gone too soon.
The SGA encouraged all Broncos to be a part of the “March on the Murch” social media challenge by visiting this civil rights walkway.
As thoughts and emotions arise along this walk to remember, the grand finale stands front and center to the entrance of the Rudolph Jones Student Center’s dining room.
Here, the hashtags “VOTE” and “BLM” are bolded in black as a reminder that Black lives and votes matter. Viewers are welcome to sign their name or leave an empowering message on the call to action.
Students left reminders stating: “God made me, too,” “Say their names,” “Black women matter,” “Black men matter,” “Black children matter,” and “Black is beautiful.”
Taneyll Allen, a biology major here at FSU, described her reaction to seeing the names and the canvases as feeling empowered: “Our voices matter even though we are young. Most of us are old enough to vote, so it’s very powerful for us to make a change because we are the next generation.”
Tavars Denning, a junior and attorney general of the SGA, was pleased to share how vital this activity was for students: “We hope to raise awareness of the importance of Black lives on our campus. With all the chaos that has been happening in the U.S. this year as it relates to racial injustice, we thought his would be a good way to help us encourage our students. We also want our students to be compelled to exercise their voting rights as citizens,” he added.
Each card spoke volumes as the legacies these individuals had set, would live on for years to come.
Allen expressed her desire to be part of something that makes a positive change and said, “We do care. We deserve equal rights.”
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