This collection includes articles and images from the Reflector, Mississippi State University’s student newspaper. This collection ranges from 1965-1975 and represents the first ten years after integration at MSU. The collection includes articles highlighting MSU Black student organizations, efforts to recruit students and faculty of color, MSU’s first Black student athletes, and notable speakers on campus.
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Newspaper article, Joe Williams Brings The Blues To State, April 6, 1971
The Reflector
In this article, the Reflector announced that the Y was sponsoring Joe Williams's appearance at Mississippi State. Williams was a Blues musician who mentored figures like Bob Dylan and John Lennon. He also wrote the song "Baby, Please Don't Go."
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Newspaper Article, McCain Says "No", October 22, 1971
The Reflector
This article discusses the denial to allow Black gubernatorial candidate, Charles Evers, to speak on the University of Southern Mississippi campus. The denial came from USM's president, William D. McClain without any cause or explanation given.
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Newspaper article, Metamorphosis, February 9, 1970
The Reflector
In this letter, the Reflector discussed the importance of Black History Week, initiated by Carter G. Woodson. The paper noted the slow historical progression from slavery to abolition and the Civil Rights Movement. It noted that the United States could not completely put its past behind it until the Civil Rights Movement created a color blind society.
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Newspaper Article, Mississippi Voters Granted Extended Voter Registration, September 25, 1971
The Reflector
This article describes the extension of voter registration in Mississippi stating that voters who register to vote between July 2 and October 2 will be allowed to vote in the November 2 general election with the caveat that the supreme court ruling in the validity of a Mississippi voting law requiring general election voters to register four months prior of the general election could mean they the late registrants votes may not get counted.
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Newspaper Article, Segregationist Brady Becomes Gubernatorial Candidate, September 24, 1971
The Reflector
This article discusses the candidacy of segregationist, Thomas P. Brady, in the gubernatorial race in Mississippi. The article discusses the significance of his entrance into the race, the challenges made by Charles Evers against democratic candidate, Bill Waller, citing violation of campaign expenditures and goes on provide some information on Brady. An illustration of Thomas Brady is included with the article. An article on the Danforth awards is also on the page along with some advertisements.
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Newspaper Article, Strikes Dorms, Union, and YMCA, December 14, 1971
The Reflector
This article describes some of the Christmas events occurring on the Mississippi State University Campus and includes a photograph of young Black child meeting Black Santa at YMCA Christmas party. The child and Santa are holding a white sheet of paper.
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Newspaper Article, Student Association Neglects Blacks
The Reflector
This article includes an excerpt from the Mississippi State University Student Association constitution and follows it with an explanation of how not allocating funds to the Afro-American Plus, the Student Association Senate "grossly inhibited the means whereby the black students may express themselves effectively in the programs of the university." The article goes on to assume that the SA doesn't want to see full participation from Black students on campus and is trying to prevent the exchange of ideas and opinions between Black students and rest of the student body.
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Newspaper article, 'Student Participation' Is Slogan For YMCA Election, April 20, 1971
The Reflector
In this article, the Reflector named those running for YMCA offices and their platforms. All called for student involvement in campus governance.
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Newspaper article, Students Awakened By Reveille, April 27, 1971
The Reflector
In this article, a variety of students wrote scathing letters regarding Ronnie Walton's job as the Reveille yearbook editor. The common theme was annoyance toward Walton's sarcastic style and neglect of student pictures and campus life.
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Newspaper article, Students Express Displeasure With Reveille, April 23, 1971
The Reflector
In this article, a variety of students wrote scathing letters regarding Ronnie Walton's job as the Reveille yearbook editor. The common theme was annoyance toward Walton's sarcastic style and neglect of student pictures and campus life.
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Newspaper Article, Thanks to the Administration, November 5, 1971
The Reflector
This article is a thank you from The Reflector to the Mississippi State University administration and Dr. Giles for allowing students to go home to vote.
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Newspaper article, Thinclads, May 11, 1971
The Reflector
In this article, the Reflector pictured and described the four members of Mississippi State's relay team.
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Newspaper article, Voting Discrimination Suit to be Filed in Behalf of Mississippi College Students, September 17, 1971
The Reflector
This article describes the lawsuit filed against the State of Mississippi by the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law on behalf of students at Tugaloo College, a historically black college in Mississippi. The article covers the confusion between state and federal law that dictates whether or not students can register in college towns.
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Newspaper article, We Did It!, March 12, 1971
The Reflector
In this article, the Reflector announced that it was under new editorial management. It promised to dispassionate reporting of facts and to honor the student body's trust.
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Newspaper article, Well, That's The Way I Saw It, May 7, 1971
The Reflector
In this article, the Reflector presented a collection of letters to the editor about The Revielle. Writers either lauded or criticized Ronnie Walton's editorship.
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Newspaper article, Y Elections, April 2, 1971
The Reflector
In this article, the Reflector announced upcoming elections for the YMCA.
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Newspaper article, Y Elections, April 6, 1971
The Reflector
In this article, the Reflector announced elections for the YMCA
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Newspaper Letter to the Editor, Associated Women Studies Mistake, December 10, 1971
The Reflector
This article discusses the discrepancy of an article published previously, "Women Favor Dorm Visitation," alleging that the article misrepresented the actual number of AWS representations in favor. The letter authors state that the article failed to include the responses by the Black students who were not in favor and state that "this practice further illustrates the prejudices of AWS toward minority women students on campus." The letter was written by Gretta Eubank, Theoretic Ervin, Deborah Sherrod and Jacquelyn Bryant.
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Newspaper Page, The Reflector, October 5, 1971
The Reflector
This front page of the Reflector includes a photograph from the concert sponsored by Kappa Alpha, Showcase of the Bands. The photograph shows a crowd of people gathered in front of a large, white house with cars visible in the foreground. Articles on the page are titled "Homecoming Court, Senate Chosen Today", "United Community Fund Denies Funds to Day Care Center", "Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Featured in First Concert", and "State Pathologist Dies; Memorial Wednesday". "VOTE TODAY" is in large red print under the articles on the bottom half of the page.
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Newspaper photograph and advertisement, No Man Is Free Until All Men Are Free, February 9, 1970
The Reflector
In this advertisement, a large picture of Martin Luther King Jr. occupies the page. Below is a caption reading "No Man Is Free Until All Men Are Free."
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Newspaper photograph, Black History, 2/12/1971
The Reflector
In this photograph, the Reflector pictured two black students, Robert L. Barnes and Mary Sanders, viewing Nigerian artifacts. The exhibit was part of Black History Week and curated by Afro-American Plus.
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Newspaper Photograph, Poverty…The Specter of Christmas Past, Present
The Reflector
This newspaper photograph shows a small, male, Black child seated in a small wooden chair beside a metal milk can. The photograph is captioned "POVERTY…The Specter of Christmas Past, Present".
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Newspaper Photographs, Vanderbilt Pep Rally, September 24, 1971
The Reflector
This series of newspaper photographs documents a pep rally held prior to the Vanderbilt Pep Rally. The top, left image of the first page includes a Confederate Rebel flag in the lower portion of the photograph. The top right photo features a young female wearing a short skirt and long sleeved top. The top left image of the second page features a crowd of students, many of them holding up cloth signs that features support for the MSU Bulldogs. The bottom left photograph features a group of students holding Greek Letter signs. The right image features the backs of a crowd of students. Advertisements are on the bottom of each page.
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Newspaper section, Black America, February 12, 1971
The Reflector
This special section of The Reflector subtitled Black America contains several articles discussing various issues facing Black people in America. Topics include why Black History Week is important, desegregation, consequences of slavery, Black economics, Black politics, the plight of Black women, and religion in Black communities. Poems confronting racism and being Black in America are also included.
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Newspaper Article, A Fable for Our Times--Bigotry, October 15, 1971
Steve Tonkin
This article, told in story or fable style tells the tail of a little boy and the beliefs his father instilled in him about Black people. The story contains offensive terminology and ideology.