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The Expense Of The Students

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expense of the students. In the early years of Fisk University’s history, the enrolled students considered themselves part of a talented tenth that was primed for positions of leadership among the race. According to historian Joe M. Richardson, “Fisk students were not content just to write about equal rights, they worked actively to retain or secure them (Berry 2005). Before 1924, racial tension at Fisk University concerning white leadership during this time simply foreshadowed future efforts by eager black students determined to emerge from their marginal status in society (Berry 2005). During the administration of Dr. Fayettee McKenzie from 1915-1925, tension over policies grew into conflict. Some of the policies enforced focused more …show more content…

Without any regard to black concerns, McKenzie launched special efforts to court the white community that hailed the university’s conservative racial policy as a key to racial understanding. He fostered impressions that Fisk subscribed to a separation of the races, as Tuskegee had, and therefore prospered (Berry 2005). These impressions however led to increased racial tensions, from 1924 to 1925, at that university and ultimately culminated into a strike in February of 1925. This strike would eventually force the resignation of McKenzie and lead to important changes in the school. W.E. Du Bois would return to his alma mater to speak at his daughter’s graduation June 2, 1924. During his speech, he blasted President McKenzie for the many student restrictions and angrily expressed his dissatisfaction at black females singing at white men’s clubs to raise money for the university. Already having a heated opposition and dispute to Booker T. Washington’s views on black education, and with the exploitation of black females at a higher educational institution, Du Bois would fully support a strike. The Fisk of 1924, as described by Du Bois, was not spreading the spirit of freedom. Du Bois states, “In Fisk today, “discipline is choking freedom; threats are replacing inspiration, iron-clad rules, suspicion, tale bearing are most universal” ( Du Bois 2001 Pp 66). Du Bois openly criticized the policies as he delivered

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