Sorority at the University of Southern Mississippi Disciplines Six Students for Blackface Incident

Six students at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg were placed on probation by their sorority for dressing in blackface to attend an off-campus party. The students went in costume depicting themselves as members of the Huxtable family from the 1980s television sitcom, The Cosby Show.

The students, all members of the Phi Mu sorority, will not be disciplined by the university. Dean of Students Eddie Holloway, stated, “Though it is clear that these women had no ill intent, it was also clear that they had little cultural awareness or competency, and did not understand the historical implication of costuming in blackface.”

Related Articles

4 COMMENTS

  1. Some in the Black community have tried to justify this portrayal of the Huxtables. The photograph that is shown does not bear any resemblance to anyone who played even small parts on The Cosby Show. How pathetic. Sensitivity training might do some good; however the picture indicates that this is how Black people are seen by those six students, as well as others.

    What a pathetic message the incident sends in the Year 2011.

    • LaVerne, while I won’t engage in a prolonged discussion about this incident or attempt to defend the actions of these Southern Miss students here, I would like to point out that the image portrayed is not a Southern Miss student. I am not sure of its origin, but have contacted the JBHE to request that it is identified properly.

      Jim Coll
      Chief Communication Officer
      The University of Southern Mississippi

  2. My feelings are that the University is also insensitive to what this kind of behavior reflects. These young ladies are, we assume, well educated and know what the plight of Blacks has been over hundreds of years. I think that the University is not being responsible.

  3. Has anything really changed in ole Mississippi? And these women are supposed to college educated…really? Their actions speak volumes about the kind of education they are receiving at the University of Southern Mississippi. What a shame that a college education is wasted on them.

Leave a Reply

Get the JBHE Weekly Bulletin

Receive our weekly email newsletter delivered to your inbox

Latest News

Three African Americans Who Have Been Appointed to Diversity Posts in Higher Education

Terrence Mitchell was appointed executive director for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice at Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pennsylvania. Faye Belgrave has been named vice president and chief diversity officer at Virginia Commonwealth University and Tammy Bennett is the inaugural vice president for inclusive excellence in philanthropy at the University of Cincinnati Foundation.

Federal Government Calls on States to End Funding Disparities at Black Land-Grant Universities

The federal government sent letters to 16 governors emphasizing the over $12 billion disparity in funding between land-grant Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and their non-HBCU land-grant peers in their states. Unequitable appropriated funding of the 1890 institutions in the states ranges from $172 million to $2.1 billion.

A Trio of Black Scholars in New Faculty Roles at Universities

The City College of New York has appointed Jervette R. Ward as director of the Black Studies Program. Scotti Branton is a new assistant professor of communication at the University of Arkansas, and professor Danille Taylor was appointed director of the Clark Atlanta University Art Museum.

Shaw University to Expand Its Presence to Research Triangle Park

The collaboration will secure Shaw University a dedicated office space within Frontier RTP innovation campus, located in the heart of the city's new vibrant downtown area. The space will include private offices and an administrative area dedicated to Shaw University, as well as classroom space.

Featured Jobs