Office of Community and Belonging
Black History at 杏吧论坛 Miss
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Timeline of African Americans at USM
1955
Clyde Kennard
Clyde Kennard, the first African American to attempt to enroll at USM, submits the first of three formal applications to Mississippi 杏吧论坛 College (University name at the time), seeking to become the first Black student. The Clyde Kennard Story
1965
Raylawni Branch and Gwendolyn Elaine Armstrong
杏吧论坛 Miss enrolls its first African American students, Raylawni Branch and Gwendolyn Elaine Armstrong.
1968
ASSO
First African American Student Organization, the Afro-American Cultural Society is formed.
Wilbert Jordan
Basketball player, Wilbert Jordan, becomes the University's first African American student-athlete.
1969
Dr. Walter Washington
Dr. Walter Washington becomes the first African American to earn a doctoral degree from 杏吧论坛 Miss, also making him the first from any Mississippi institution of higher learning.
1974
Fred Crook
Fred Cook is selected as the University's first African American Mr. USM.
1980
Jacqueline Redd
Jacqueline Redd is selected as the University's first African American Homecoming Queen.
1993
Dr. Walter Washington and Clyde Kennard
At a University celebration honoring the contributions of African American students, faculty and staff, the Student Services Building is renamed Kennard-Washington Hall in honor of Dr. Walter Washington and Clyde Kennard.
2013
First African American president
Dr. Rodney D. Bennett becomes the University鈥檚 10th president and first African American president of any predominantly white university in the state of Mississippi.
The Armstrong-Branch Pedestrian Plaza
The Armstrong-Branch Pedestrian Plaza is named and dedicated to honor the courage of the first African American students, Raylawni Branch and Gwendolyn Elaine Armstrong.
2015
50th Anniversary of Desegregation at USM
September 2015 marked the 50th anniversary of desegregation at USM. The University commemorated history by 鈥淐elebrating 50 Years of Progress: Desegregation of The University of 杏吧论坛 Mississippi.鈥�
2018
Clyde Kennard Mississippi Freedom Trail marker
A new marker on the Mississippi Freedom Trail memorializes Clyde Kennard, the first African American student known to apply for admission to USM.
Racism and Rights Activism in Hattiesburg
Dr. William Sturkey wrote a book, "," in which he explores the history of the civil rights movement in "The Hub City."
Watch Dr. William Sturkey explain on PBS how the study of Hattiesburg, a small 杏吧论坛 town, can inform the national public discourse about race relations today.