Race and the University: A Memoir

by George Henderson, Sterlin N. Adams (Contribution by), Sandra D. Rouce (Contribution by)

In 1967, George Henderson, the son of uneducated Alabama sharecroppers, accepted a full-time professorship at the University of Oklahoma, despite his mentor's warning to avoid the "redneck school in a backward state." Henderson became the university's third African American professor, a hire that seemed to suggest the dissolving of racial divides. However, when real estate agents in the university town of Norman denied the Henderson family their first three choices of homes, the sociologist and educator realized he still faced some formidable challenges.

In this stirring memoir, Henderson recounts his formative years at the University of Oklahoma, during the late 1960s and early 1970s. He describes in graphic detail the obstacles that he and other African Americans faced within the university community, a place of "white privilege, black separatism, and campus-wide indifference to bigotry." As an adviser and mentor to young black students who wanted to do something about these conditions, Henderson found himself at the forefront of collective efforts to improve race relations at the university. Henderson is quick to acknowledge that he and his fellow activists did not abolish all vestiges of racial oppression. But they set in motion a host of institutional changes that continue to this day. In Henderson's words, "we were ordinary people who sometimes did extraordinary things."

Capturing what was perhaps the most tumultuous era in the history of American higher education, Race and the University includes valuable recollections of former student activists who helped transform the University of Oklahoma into one of the nation's most diverse college campuses.

Genres: History

272 pages, Hardcover

First published September 10, 2010

About the author

Dr. George Henderson is a professor emeritus and former dean of the University of Oklahoma. He earned a Ph.D. in educational sociology from Wayne State University in Detroit, is the author or co-author of 30+ books and 50+ articles and has accumulated several awards and honorary degrees. Dr. Henderson created the Human Relations Program at the University of Oklahoma and n 2001, the University established the Henderson Scholars Program to honor him. Also, the Henderson-Tolson Cultural Center bears his name.

Reviews

[Jamie Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having my B.A. in Human Relations (the program created by Dr. Henderson) from OU, this book was extra special to me. Dr. Henderson is still teaching life changing classes at the school, and I was lucky to be a student in them. This book outlines his work at the university from 1967-71 as the university struggled to overcome racism and systemic barriers to black students at the university and in the formerly sundown town of Norman. As our country is currently undergoing major civil unrest, this book provides examples from pioneers in race relations and provides hope that a better and more egalitarian future is possible.

[Marla O'Fallon · Rating 5 out of 5]

"For four glorious years and beyond, we fought bigots and we won more battles than we lost. Along the way, I came to understand the deeper meanings of friendships that have no racial boundaries. When we were together, we felt a boundless sense of potential. Truth to tell, it was a time of cross-cultural enlightenment for me."

[Hannah Harness · Rating 4 out of 5]

Should be required reading if you’re going to The great University of Oklahoma!

[Serena Christianson · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐
After the George Floyd protests in 2020, my team at work started having conversations about race, justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Oftentimes there were comments desiring further resources to understand others' perspectives, so the idea was proposed to start a book club for those interested and able to participate. A colleague of ours who was originally from Oklahoma suggested this book and it was selected as the book club pick.

This is a powerful memoir about race at Oklahoma State University in the mid 20th century. This was a time of many "firsts" when it came to African Americans in positions of power and influence at the university level, as well as in student services' activities and functions.

I remember thinking about the sense of place while reading this book, as comments about the "good" and "bad" parts of the city were discussed in the book related to wealth, race, and safety. It seems like this isn't really discussed in a social sense - how places become the less-than-desirable places to live and what that means for personal and professional opportunities and assimilation.

Even if you aren't in higher education and are simply interested in reading about a historical account that is oftentimes not discussed, this book is a wonderful read.

[RYCJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Good are the citations upon citations of racial incidents, student perspectives, and ‘rebel’ philosophies elegantly conjoined and scholarly threaded through this historical inspection of the overall quality of education at the University of Oklahoma in particular, but education for all of society in general. This autobiography certainly is a great resource for reference.

The Mmeh Okay for me was being ‘distracted’ by the many perspectives and the time it took to wheedle through them all to reach Dr. Henderson’s summation on his experience.

And still, I highly regard and respect this work, as the Best Part are the punctilious challenges Henderson takes on from many façades (inclusive of, but not exclusively: students, faculty, leaders, rebels and their philosophies, his bridled anger and personal experiences and perspectives) to reveal a courageously impeccable researched understanding of barriers hindering reconciliation between races.

[Jeremy Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Currently reviewing for The Journal of Negro History