The Soul of Southwestern: The 1964 Integration of a Presbyterian (US) College

Abstract

Southwestern at Memphis, now known as Rhodes College, became formally affiliated with the Presbyterian Church of the United States (PCUS) in 1855. This resulted in a particular Presbyterian identity that shaped the students, faculty, and overall ethos of the college. In 1954, the PCUS publicly denounced racial segregation as incompatible with Christianity and called PCUS-related institutions to integrate. Southwestern remained committed to segregation for another decade. The religious and moral values of the college encouraged a commitment to civility, rather than direct action, protest, or racial justice. Southwestern was a place where good character did not require bold action against inequality. In early 1960s, the Sou’wester newspaper became a space for lively discourse about Christian faith and integration among students. Some students challenged the college to integrate with passionate, satirical editorials. Others asserted that blacks should develop their own institutions. In the spring of 1963, The Board of Directors approached integration with great caution, fearing that integration and the presence of black students might destroy the college altogether. This process was expedited by a potential grant vi from the Ford Foundation, which would require the college to integrate. This financial incentive seemed to outweigh the moral or religious responsibility articulated by the PCUS in 1954. In 1964, Southwestern admitted Coby Smith and Lorenzo Childress, the first African American students. Ultimately, integration at Southwestern was approached cautiously and with great regard for civility. This often overlooked element of Rhodes College’s history has important implications for our conversations about campus climate and racism today.