The Lens, a newsletter that spotlights Social Justice and Racial Equity Initiatives in Iowa City. Recent highlights:
Duke Slater: A Hawkeye legend & 2020 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee
Fall is here and it’s time for football, but COVID had other plans. With games cancelled and bars closed, try learning a little Iowa football history. Notre Dame’s famous coach Knute Rockne said of Duke Slater, “[he] just about beat my team single-handed.”
Frederick “Duke” Slater was born in 1898. His family moved to Clinton, IA when he was 13. His father initially forbade Duke from trying out for football because of the potential for injury, but Duke was so determined, he went on a hunger strike until his father agreed to allow him to play. The family could not afford both shoes and a helmet, so Duke played bareheaded throughout his entire high school career, reasoning he needed shoes more. His feet were so big (14 ½ FF), his shoes needed to be ordered from Chicago. With Duke on its team, Clinton claimed two Iowa state championships in 1913 and 1914 and compiled a 22-3-1 record in his three years there. He led Clinton in scoring as a senior in 1915.
In 1918, Duke Slater arrived at the University of Iowa. As a freshman, he normally would not have been allowed to join the football team, but with World War I raging, eligibility rules had been suspended, so Slater played all four years of his U of I attendance. He earned four letters for the U of I team from 1918 to 1921. During his tenure at U of I, like other black students, Duke was not permitted to live in U of I housing and was subject to other forms of racism during his academic career in Iowa City. Although, the U of I's catalog, policy handbook, and housing rules did not explicitly exclude students, faculty, and staff on account of race, unwritten and long-established discriminatory customs and practices were enforced.
As a sophomore, Slater earned unanimous first team All-Big Ten honors. He was also chosen as a second team All-American in 1919, becoming just the sixth Black player ever to earn All-American honors in college football. In 1921, Slater’s senior year, Iowa posted a perfect 7-0 record and never trailed at any point during the season. The 1921 Hawkeyes captured the school’s first Big Ten title in 21 years and won the first outright Big Ten crown in school history. A photo taken during that season’s game against Notre Dame by University photographer F.W. Kent showed a helmetless Slater clearing a hole for teammate Gordon Locke by blocking three Notre Dame defenders. This photo was recreated as a relief sculpture at Kinnick Stadium in 2019. Slater also has a dormitory at the U of I named after him. Slater was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951, the first African American ever to be elected. He also earned three varsity letters for the U of I Track Team.
Slater joined the NFL immediately after college, becoming the first Black lineman in NFL history, and played ten seasons. In the off seasons, he attended law school at the University of Iowa College of Law, graduating in 1928. By this time, he had been married to his wife Etta for two years.
Sadly, the NFL instated an unofficial color ban in the early 1930s; there were no Black NFL players from 1934 through 1945. Slater, who retired from football in 1931, assembled and coached several teams of Black players while also practicing law.
In 1948, he was elected to the Cook County Municipal Court, becoming the second Black judge in Chicago history. He served six terms on the Municipal Court and became the first Black Judge on the Cook County Superior Court in 1960. In 1964, he moved to the Circuit Court of Cook County upon its formation.
Throughout Slater’s life, he was an active booster for U of I, recruiting dozens of prominent Black athletes including Ozzie Simmons, Jim Walker, Emlen Tunnell, Earl Banks, Harold Bradley, Jr., Nolden Gentry, Carl Cain, and many others. The Slaters had no children. Etta died in 1962, and Duke followed in 1966, succumbing to stomach cancer.
On January 15, 2020, Duke Slater was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but the program was rescheduled to next year, due to COVID-19 for next year claiming it will be “twice the fun”. Duke’s legacy as one of the most legendary and groundbreaking athletes of the 20th century has been underreported, not only here in Iowa City but across the country. U of I alumna, Neal Rozendaal, wrote a book, Pioneering Black NFL Player & Judge: Duke Slater, a copy is available at the Iowa City Public Library, link here. For a quicker read check out this article in Iowa Magazine. The podcast The Football History Dude, hosted by Arnie Chapman, featured an episode on Duke’s life and his contribution to Civil Rights earlier this year. To listen, visit this link.
Support the Alexander Clark, Jr. Fund
Students come to University of Iowa College of Law from many states. If a prospective student visits campus, that person is much more likely to enroll than a person who does not visit. However, some BIPOC students cannot afford to travel to the law schools they are considering. Winnie Uluocha, an Iowa Law alumna, has changed that. She created and is currently raising funds for the Alexander Clark, Jr. Award Fund, which assists prospective students from two groups: those who are historically under-represented in the legal profession and those who are economically disadvantaged. The fund provides travel and lodging expenses to four to six prospective students per year.
It is important to diversify the legal profession, Ms. Uluocha says, because “interpretation of the law is influenced by a person’s life experiences and background. Paving the way for future lawyers from disadvantaged and under-represented populations is critical because it brings different cultural, racial, religious, and other perspectives” to the legal field. Ms. Uluocha hopes to raise $100,000 by the end of 2021.
The fund is well on its way, with $45,000 already raised. Another $5,000 will allow the fund to become an “endowed fund,” which means the University would invest the funds in perpetuity, providing a reliable and predictable source of revenue. To contribute, visit this link and type “Alexander Clark, Jr.” in the search bar. You can then designate your donation to this fund.
Ms. Uluocha named the fund after Alexander Clark, Jr. because he was the College of Law’s first Black graduate in 1879, and the first Black law graduate west of the Mississippi River. His father, Alexander Clark, Sr. was the second Black graduate of the College of Law, in 1894. The Clark family also brought the lawsuit that integrated Iowa’s public schools 86 years before the United States Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. Learn more about the the Clarks, here.
Remembering courageous students: The Little Rock Nine
As today’s students begin a school year fraught with uncertainty and danger, remember September 1957, when a group of nine courageous students attempted to attend Little Rock Central High School in the capital city of Arkansas.
Their story began in 1954, when Brown v. Board of Education was decided. The Brown decision mandated that schools be desegregated, but did not include a timeline beyond saying desegregation must happen “with all deliberate speed.” Many states, especially in the South, delayed implementation as long as they possibly could. By 1957, the school board of Little Rock had adopted a plan for gradual integration of its schools, starting with the high schools. Two virulent opposition groups formed to protest integration.
Because of the intense opposition, Daisy Gaston Bates, President of the Arkansas NAACP, personally recruited students she felt had the courage and strength to stand up to the resistance they would face. Nine teenagers agreed to register at Central High School. The students were given counseling and training on how to respond to hostile situations before the start of the school year. Still, they were children who could not have anticipated the horrific abuse they would face.
Ms. Bates was able to contact eight of the students to arrange a carpool for the first day. Minnijean Brown, Ernest Green, Thelma Mothershed, Melba Patillo, Gloria Ray, Terrence Roberts, Jefferson Thomas, and Carlotta Walls arrived together with Ms. Bates.
Elizabeth Eckford’s family, however, did not have a telephone, and she arrived alone. One of the most famous images of the Civil Rights Movement shows Elizabeth, back straight and head high, walking toward the school as white protestors scream hatefully at her, faces contorted with rage. Ms. Eckford later reported one of them spit on her. Having been prepared for this sort of thing, she managed not to react. None of the students were able to attend school the first day, September 4, 1957. Governor Orval Faubus had ordered the National Guard to prevent them from entering the building.
On September 20, Judge Ronald Davies ordered the governor to recall the National Guard, and on September 23, the Little Rock police escorted the teens through over 1,000 screaming protestors to begin school. The protesting became so hostile, however, that the students were removed after several hours for their safety. President Eisenhower sent the US Army’s 101st Airborne Division to protect them, and finally, on September 25, 1957, the students attended their first day at Central High School. Despite ongoing protection, the students encountered harassment and hideous violence: acid was thrown in Melba Patillo’s face, and Gloria Ray was pushed down a flight of stairs.
Sadly, Governor Faubus was so committed to segregation that he closed the Little Rock schools in September of 1958 rather than acquiesce to progress. Ernest Green, the only senior in the group, graduated from Central High, but the remainder of the students had to complete their education by correspondence or at other schools.
Several of these determined young people went on to distinguished careers. Ernest Green became Assistant Secretary of Labor under President Carter. Minnijean Brown was Deputy Assistant Secretary for Workforce Diversity in the Department of the Interior under President Clinton. Melba Patillo became a reporter for NBC. Jefferson Thomas worked as an accountant for private companies and at the Pentagon. All were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 1999 for their significant role in the civil rights movement and received personal invitations to President Obama’s 2009 inauguration. Courageous young people have always been at the forefront of progress; the Little Rock Nine were an outstanding example.
Join the world in shaping peace on September 21
The International Day of Peace is observed around the globe every September 21. In 1981, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously established this day with the purpose of “commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples.” According to the official website, “Peace Day provides a globally shared date for all humanity to commit to Peace above all differences and to contribute to building a Culture of Peace.”
The theme for 2020 is “Shaping Peace Together.” Anyone can register a Peace Day activity on the website. Peace Day organizers suggest using the universal statement, “may peace prevail on Earth,” as an opening and/or closing to Peace Day programs and gatherings. Regardless of whether there is a formal event nearby, all can participate in the annual “Moment of Peace” or “Peace Wave,” which takes place at noon in all time zones. Simply stop at noon for one minute of silence; create one minute of peace wherever you are, whatever you are doing. As “noon” proceeds around the world, a 24-hour “wave of peace” also occurs, as people across the globe pause to envision a peaceful world.
This year’s theme is meant to counteract isolating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, spreading compassion, kindness, and hope instead of fear, distrust, and distance. Stand together with the UN against attempts to use the virus to promote discrimination or hatred. Join the Johnson County United Nations Association and the Office of Equity & Human Rights in taking a moment of silence at noon. Learn more at this link. The City will issue a proclamation at the City Council meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020, that urges residents to particpate.
Help protect ife: share your thoughts with HUD
HUD, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, issues rules governing temporary housing shelters. Since 2016, shelters have been required to grant shelter in accordance with a person’s self-identified gender, under a provision called the Equal Access Rule. Currently, however, HUD is seeking to end the protection of the Equal Access Rule and instead rely upon shelter staff’s perception of a person’s gender to decide where to house the person.
Why is this a problem? Shelter staff are trained in providing services, not in discerning gender. Something as simple as a military haircut on a woman may result in her being placed in the male section of a shelter against her will under the proposed new rule.
Transgender persons experience homelessness at a rate far exceeding that of the cisgender population. In 2015, the US Transgender Survey reported that almost 25% of respondents had been homeless within the previous year, a rate far exceeding that of the cisgender population. BIPOC transgender people experience homelessness at a rate of almost 50%.
Prior to the adoption of the Equal Access Rule, over 70% of transgender people who stayed in a shelter reported harassment, sexual or physical assault, or removal due to their transgender status. It is critical to a transgender person’s safety to be housed with others of their own gender identity. As with the experience of homelessness, violence against BIPOC transgender persons is disproportionate. The Human Rights Campaign found that 91% of victims of fatal anti-trans violence in 2019 were Black women.
Fears of danger to cisgender individuals are unfounded. In 2016, more than 300 national and local housing providers affirmed that housing transgender persons according to their identity does not adversely affect safety. Since 2007, transgender Iowans have accessed services and facilities in accordance with their gender identities, with no documented rise in safety incidents. Therefore, rescinding the Equal Access Rule would not protect cisgender people. It would, however, actively harm transgender persons. In addition to returning to the unsafe conditions within shelters that existed before the Equal Access Rule, rescinding the rule would provide an excuse for turning away transgender persons, leaving them to suffer bitter cold or intense heat. In Iowa, overnight temperatures in winter are frequently life-threatening.
Mayor Bruce Teague joins many others in signing a letter to HUD Secretary Carson protesting the rule change. You can do your part by opposing the rule change here until September 22, when the public comment opportunity closes.
Entry-level job-seeking during COVID-19
Finding a job is a difficult process at any time. During COVID-19, with businesses closed and the economy in turmoil, it may seem almost impossible. But, if you are beginning your career right now, Shawndel Evans of Diversity, Inc. has some advice. Above all, he says: network. Although job-listing sites and university career offices are still important tools, networking is key, as many jobs are never advertised.
How do you network if you are entry-level and just starting out? First, use LinkedIn to search for professional organizations or volunteer opportunities that can put you in touch with industry insiders. Review your personal contacts for possibilities. You probably know more people than you think. Now is the time to remember the supervisor who appreciated your work at your internship, the coach who admired your work ethic, the executive you did summer yard work for. A person you can contact directly at a company you are interested in is the best way to get your foot in the door.
Second, show your skills. Evans says online portfolios bring resume verbs to life. If you say you can fundraise, for example, create a video or presentation showing a successful fundraising project. Include your portfolio with your application. Evans notes portfolios used to be shown at job interviews, but in-person interviews are becoming less common, and amid hundreds (maybe even thousands) of online applications, one with a portfolio attached will stand out.
Finally, demonstrate your value. Every individual is unique. Use your knowledge of the company you are targeting, and your personal skillset to create something that shows how you will be an asset. Propose something realistic and relevant. Even if your idea is never used, it will show initiative and enthusiasm, qualities Evans notes are universally in demand.
50 years of students making a difference
1970 was a turbulent year. The baby boom following World War II resulted in unprecedented numbers of young people attending college in the late 1960s and early 1970s who were just as interested in issues of the day as today’s students. Along with the cultural revolution and the Civil Rights Movement, one of the major public concerns was US involvement in Vietnam. On April 30, 1970, President Nixon announced US invasion of Cambodia, sparking nationwide student protests beginning the next day.
Over a thousand gathered at the Federal Courthouse in Seattle. Major protests also occurred at the University of Maryland, University of Cincinnati, and Princeton University. The event that turned scattered student protests into a nationwide uprising, however, occurred on May 4, 1970. On May 2, students at Kent State University in Ohio burned down the ROTC building. (ROTC stands for Reserve Officer Training Corps, a program which offers incentives to college students, including tuition payment, if they contract to join the Armed Forces upon graduation. ROTC buildings were targeted due to anti-military sentiment stemming from American involvement in Vietnam.) Two days later, as protests continued, National Guardsmen killed four students and injured nine more during a peace rally on campus.
At the University of Iowa, students boycotted classes and around 400 held a “sleep-in” at the Old Capitol. During the night, some broke into the Old Capitol building and activated a smoke bomb. University of Iowa President Willard (Sandy) Boyd asked the State of Iowa’s Highway Patrol to arrest students on the Pentacrest, but later stated his decision was based on faulty information and he regretted it. On Saturday, May 9, the “Old Armory Temporary” building, which was next to the present Adler Journalism building, was burned. The next morning, President Boyd offered students the option of leaving campus and taking the grades they had already earned.
Soon, walkouts and strikes arose on over 700 campuses across the country, and more than 450 high school and college campuses were shut down amid protests involving over 4 million students. By the time the “student strike” was over, 30 ROTC buildings had been burned or bombed. The National Guard had been called to 21 campuses in 16 states, and violent clashes between students and police had occurred at 26 schools. Charles Colson, Counsel to the President, recalled observing 82nd Airborne troops guarding the White House and thinking, “This can't be the United States of America. … This is a nation at war with itself.” In response, President Nixon took the unusual step of personally meeting protesters gathered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, a gesture that was seen by some as “clumsy and condescending,” and others as “a very significant … effort to reach out.”
Since then, student protesting has brought about real change worldwide. In Soweto, South Africa, in 1976, thousands of students protested apartheid and the Bantu Education Act, which limited educational opportunity and lessened the quality of education available to Black students. Police used tear gas and warning shots to attempt to quell the demonstration. When the students did not disperse, police fired, killing two and injuring hundreds, which led to a massive uprising met with armored tanks and brutal force. While South Africa did not institute a democratic government until 1994, the student protests exposed the brutality of apartheid to the world and greatly strengthened the anti-apartheid movement.
Students were also the architects of two major events in 1989: the Velvet Revolution and Tiananmen Square. While the Soviet Union was moving toward disbanding throughout the 1980s, Czechoslovakia continued harsh control of its citizens. In November 1989, a peaceful march for International Students Day became a rally against communism. Riot police responded, injuring over 150 students severely enough to be hospitalized. The brutal response led to nationwide demonstrations and strikes; ¾ of the nation joined a strike the day after the rally. Only ten days later, the Communist Party ceded power and free elections were held for the first time. The fall of Czechoslovakia and rise of the Czech Republic became known as the Velvet Revolution due to the almost totally peaceful transfer of power.
A far less peaceful student uprising the same year brought the world’s attention to human rights abuses in China. Protesting the oppressive Chinese government, students began a hunger strike in Tiananmen Square, Beijing. Over the next week, the demonstration grew to over 1.2 million, most participants students. Police and military troops shot and beat protestors, and many were also injured attempting to flee the scene. No official death toll was ever released, although Western reporters estimated thousands were killed. The Tiananmen Square protest led the United States to impose sanctions on China for human rights abuses. Jeff Widener’s Associated Press photo of a lone student facing a line of military tanks became a symbol of the power of individual dissent against the state.
Student protest continues in the 21st Century. In 2014 in Hong Kong, student protests lasting months called for fully-democratic elections. While the students did not achieve their goal at the time, they did renew interest in political activism in Hong Kong, which continues today. Here at home, students are currently protesting racism and inequality. Fifty years after Kent state, student protest continues to be a powerful force for change.
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