Black History was in living color when the University of Memphis invited one of the members of the Memphis State Eight on campus for a lunch and learn on Tuesday.
Bertha Rogers Looney spoke to students, colleagues and guests about the real life struggles of going to what was then Memphis State University in 1959.
Rogers also talked about the Brown vs Board of Education case in the United States where that particular case led to the integration of public schools. She said some of her classmates applied to Memphis State.
“There were a group of students who applied for admission here,” she said. “There were a group of students who were denied admission. After 1959, we [Memphis State Eight] were the fourth class–and finally we were admitted. The doors were open to eight African American students to start classes at Memphis State now the University of Memphis.”
Rogers said she originally did not want to go to Memphis State after graduating from Hamilton High School. She wanted to go with her friends to LeMoyne Owen College.
“The road to becoming a student was frightening, I did not want to be a part of change,” she said. “I wanted to go on to LeMoyne with so many of my classmates from Hamilton. I would join them in what would have been a real college environment.”
Rogers also gave credit to the community and people who helped her the most in high school and in her first years at Memphis State.
“First of all, I give credit to my principal and teachers over at Hamilton High School,” she said. “At that time, I did not thank them. I was upset with them. After talking to my parents, my family, my church members and members of my community I accepted the offer to become a student at Memphis State.”
She also described her view of going to a school along with her class where they were not welcomed.
“If you step out here in an environment that is so hostile–it was not the easiest thing to tackle,” Rogers said. “We were fortunate enough to have a separate orientation on Sept. 10. At that time, we thought we were going to meet the other freshmen and professors from the University. There were only eight of us in the Orientation. We were told that the eight of us start our classes at eight and must be off campus by noon. We would be escorted by class folks and law enforcement officers. This is for our good. The university warned us if we stayed on campus past noon, it would cause friction or unpleasant interaction with the other students. From Sept 10-18– were not allowed on campus.”
Rogers said as a group, the eight would only see each other two times during a long school day; in the morning and when they finish class at noon.
“The first day it seemed that sometimes I would get little butterflies in my stomach, " she said. “When I had to walk into a classroom with an escort–they did not say anything convenient and pointed me to the back of the classroom– it was not a pleasant situation.”
As Rogers went on with her story. There was an unexpected announcement. Rogers was gifted with a Memphis Men’s basketball signed by current and former Memphis Tiger players and Coach Penny Hardaway.
There was a Q and A session with Rogers. Several University of Memphis higher ups including Karen Weddle West, Rosie Bingham, and Linda Hall discussed they would not be here along with the students we have today if it was not for Rogers and the Memphis State Eight.
Some of the audience members said many students take being here on campus for granted and people like Rogers paved a way for most African American and other ethnicities of students.
Rogers also said this about the students at University of Memphis today:
“The students are more free now than back in 1967. They can now walk around free,” she said.
The event was part of the Black History Month events for the University of Memphis.
