From the Civil War era and antebellum South to the turbulent 1960s, there is no denying that the state of Alabama has a less-than-positive civil rights track record. Fortunately, in this day and age, most are not actively condoning the state government’s previous actions. Progress is evident in state institutions. We are slowly but surely becoming more tolerant as a state. The University of Alabama even sponsored an entire host of events celebrating Black History Month, many of which were geared towards championing diversity. We are taking steps in the right direction, but the time has come for serious action.
A 2016 petition called for the renaming of Morgan Hall in memoriam of Harper Lee, author of To Kill a Mockingbird and perhaps the state’s and the University’s greatest contribution to American literature. John Tyler Morgan, for whom the building is currently named, was allegedly the Grand Dragon of the Alabama Ku Klux Klan beginning in 1872. Other than a personal account, we lack complete historical evidence of his involvement. It is certain, however, that Morgan was a supporter of black migration out of the south and into foreign territories. Morgan may have been a prominent U.S. senator who made multiple contributions to The University of Alabama, but he was also a white supremacist.
It is irresponsible of the public to assume that the University as an institution currently supports Morgan’s actions. The University of Alabama’s genuine efforts to provide events encouraging diversity and celebration of cultural differences speak for themselves. The turn of the century was a long time ago, and we have made leaps and bounds since. However, continuing to honor a white supremacist by having a building named in his honor, intentionally or not, is not conducive to an inclusive and progressive learning community. Breaking ties with institutionalized racism can only be a positive force for change.
At the same time, we cannot erase the state’s unfortunate history. To ignore our troubled past is to create a troubled future. We cannot let future generations forget what happened in Alabama, lest we repeat our mistakes. We can, however, decide to treat problematic historical figures the way they deserve to be treated: with recognition, but not pride. We can start by renaming Morgan Hall.
Taking this simple yet effective step sends a clear message to the outside world: we have made mistakes and we intend to disenfranchise ourselves from those who were proponents of those mistakes. That message is one of inclusion and acceptance, qualities that should be reflected in the values of our student body and the state population. There is nothing wrong with southern pride as long as it is based upon our advancement as a society. We have come a long way, but we still have a long way to go.
We must understand that we can only benefit from diversity. Students cannot be properly equipped for life after their studies if they are not surrounded by a wide variety of people and viewpoints. The current student population is far from an even mix of ethnic and cultural backgrounds, but proudly eliminating ties to the institution that previously kept people of color from enrolling at the University re-establishes a commitment to diversity. Hopefully, this will encourage more high school seniors from all sectors of the nation and walks of life to apply to the University and fall in love with it just as I have.
There are obviously much more pressing issues surrounding the subject of race. There is no plaque on Morgan Hall detailing the sins of the founding fathers of the University’s past. Intimate details of Morgan’s life can be identified with research, but I assume that the number of people who have taken the time to look into it outside of a class assignment is relatively low. The actual impact of the name, therefore, is probably rather small. That does not excuse the University from taking action nor does it change the fact that a little good press goes a long way, especially in regards to relevant social issues. It is clear that both the University and state of Alabama will benefit massively from doing the right thing.
Emma Royal is a freshman majoring in aerospace engineering. Her column runs biweekly.
