School song, meant to unify, divides

‘The Eyes of Texas’ has minstrel roots, but players should stand for it, AD says

University of Texas football players, many of whom have raised concerns over using “The Eyes of Texas” as the school song, have been told by the athletic director that they are expected to be “standing together as a unified group” during postgame playing of the song, which has roots in blackface minstrel shows.

“I have had many conversations with our head coaches outlining my expectations that our teams show appreciation for our university, fans, and supporters by standing together as a unified group for ‘The Eyes,‘ while we work through this issue,‘‘ Chris Del Conte said Wednesday (via the Associated Press).

Del Conte did not indicate whatwould happen if players refused. The Longhorns were off Saturday and don’t play again until Oct. 25 when they faceBaylor.

Coach Tom Herman on Monday encouraged players to join in singing the song but would respect the choice of thosewho don’t.

“I’ve encouraged our staff andteam to join me in participating after games if they are comfortable doing that,” Herman said. “I do believe it’s important that we acknowledge and thank our fans after a hard-fought game. ... That said, some members of our program have concerns and aren’t comfortable participating at this time. I respect that as well. This is an issue we will continue to have meaningful conversations about andwill work through.”

Over the summer, some football players requested that the song, frequently performed by musicians in blackface decades ago, be replaced by “a new song without racist undertones,” but the university president said it would continue to be used at football games and other events.

Jay Hartzell, interim president, outlined steps the school would take to “recruit, attract, retain and support Black students,” but said in a statement that he preferred to “acknowledge and teach about all aspects of the origins of ‘The Eyes of Texas’ as we continue to sing it moving forward with a redefined vision that unites our community.”

Players did not join in the traditional singing of the song after the Longhorns’ first two home games. The topica-rose again this week after quarterback Sam Ehlinger remained on the field at Cotton Bowl Stadium for the playing of the song while most of the team headed for the locker room after the loss last Saturday to Oklahoma.

“Like all families who see the world through different lenses, we have plenty of work to do on this subject and will continue to do so,” Del Conte said, “but rest assured, our student-athletes love and respect this university very much and are competing their hearts out for it.”

The lyrics to “The Eyes of Texas” were inspired in part by Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, who after the Civil War was a teacher at what would become Washington and Lee University, where he made an impression on

future UT president William Prather by repeatedly telling students that “the eyes of the Southare upon you.”

The Washington Post’s Des Bieler wrote over the summer that Edmund T. Gordon, a professor of African and African diaspora studies and anthropology at Texas, said (via Texas Monthly) that Prather reminded his own students that “the eyes of Texas are upon you,” inspiring a pair of UT students in 1903. Their song debuted at an annual campus minstrel show, according to Gordon, who said the students probably were wearing blackface whenthey performed it.

The melody is based on “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad,” which has its own originsin minstrelsy.

In June, football players called for the song to be removed and asked that the university rename four campus buildings. In a statement tweeted by multiple Texas players, they said they would not participate in recruiting or donor-related events until the university commits to the changes. The statement from the football players asks other athletes on campus “to stand withus.”

Players also asked that the athletic department create a Black athletic history exhibit in the Hall of Fame and rename an area of Darrell K Royal — Texas Memorial Stadium for Julius Whittier, the first Black player at the school. They also requested more diverse campus statues designedby artists of color, educational programs for incoming freshmen about the campus’ history of racism, and inner-city outreach programs in Austin, Dallas, Houstonand San Antonio.