HBCUs and the Continuing Problem of Leadership

The art department of Texas Southern University, my alma mater, has been one of the institution's centers of excellence. Over the years under the leadership of Dr. John Biggers, a world renown painter, students and faculty painted a series of African American history themed murals in Hannah Hall, the administration building. For almost a half century the murals were a source of pride and inspiration for those of us who love the University and appreciate the positive role it played in our growth and development. That pride was severely compromised recently when the current president,John Rudley,had the murals painted over because he found the titles of the murals embarrassing. Apparently he did not consult any of the interested constituencies, not students, not faculty, not alumni, before ordering workers to paint over the murals.

This episode is simply the latest evidence that of all the problems that bedevil HBCUs, leadership selection and ascension are primary. How could someone with such limited imagination and seemingly unlimited ignorance be appointed president of any university? What criteria do trustees and governing bodies use in the selection of HBCU presidents? And above all, who actually makes the decision?

Check out the story below from the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, September 30, 3010.

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Controversy at Texas Southern University Over the Destruction of Two Murals

John Rudley, president of historically black Texas Southern University in Houston, ordered workers to paint over two murals that had been created over 40 years ago in the Hannah Hall administration building. The murals were painted in 1970 and 1971 by Harvey Johnson, who was a student at Texas Southern at the time and subsequently taught at the university for 34 years before his retirement in 2007. Johnson was devastated when he heard the news that his murals had been destroyed.

One mural was called “Dere’s a Han’ Writin on de Wall.” President Rudley reportedly objected to poor spelling. He told the Houston Chronicle, “When I bring dignitaries to campus, I can’t have them seeing that kind of thing. All art isn’t good art.”

After student and faculty protests, President Rudley announced that he was earmarking $50,000 to hire a conservator who will review the remaining murals and will develop a plan for their restoration, preservation, and conservation.