Not singing ‘Eyes’ won’t change racist past
The University of Texas at Austin’s Eyes of Texas History Committee report states there was zero evidence of racist intent in the school song, even though it was first performed by white students in blackface at a 1903 minstrel show.
“The Eyes of Texas” is not just a “sports” song. It is the alma mater song of Ut-austin. It is a solemn song commemorating the lives of UT students, faculty members, staffers and alums who pass away each year. It is also a joyful song that is sung at graduations, celebrations, dedications and sporting events.
Not only is it a part of the fabric of UT, it is, in fact, “a beating heart” of UT.
I am an American of African descent. I have been teaching at Texas since 1989.
Many African American athlete alumni are adamant that we keep “The Eyes of Texas.”
Like me, many African American Longhorns are proud to sing “The Eyes of Texas.” That will not change.
Some argue that we should change the song in recognition of its foul history.
Excuse me?
UT’S existence, like that of the United States, is based on a world that has a “foul history.”
Of all the things that are part of UT’S history, a song that began in a minstrel show is not even a rounding error.
When I was born in 1947, Blacks could not attend or teach at UT. No longer singing “The Eyes” will not change this historical fact.
Black students were not allowed on campus until after the Supreme Court’s Sweatt v. Painter decision in 1950. No longer singing “The Eyes” will not change this historical fact.
UT did not have a Black varsity
football player until 1970. No longer singing “The Eyes” will not change this historical fact.
Until recently, statues of Confederate generals were on the mall leading up to the tower that is the symbol of UT. No longer singing “The Eyes” will not change this historical fact.
UT for decades had a dorm named after a KKK leader. No longer singing “The Eyes” will not change this historical fact.
UT has buildings that were, and in some cases still are, named after hard-core racists,
eugenicists and purely evil men. No longer singing “The Eyes” will not change this historical fact.
Too many people want to play the cancel culture game, as though that will change a thing.
I do not want to cancel culture. I want to change culture.
The first step is to understand and accept the reality of our history. Acting like foul things did not happen helps no one.
I have spent more than three decades working hard to change the culture at the university by being a role model for all my students. In far too many cases, I have been the first Black professor some of my students have ever had.
Why is that important? I have spent more than three decades on the ground fighting to turn this university into a place that belongs to all of us.
We have made tremendous progress. UT is a better place. And many of our old traditions are now traditions that are embraced — might I even say loved? — by all of us.
Does that mean our work is done? Of course not. What it does mean, however, is that we, who work and study at UT, will focus on the everyday work of change.
We will continue to be the change that we want to see at UT.
Revolutions are won by those who know the real history of an institution. Revolutions are won by those who are disciplined. Revolutions are won by people who are fighting on the ground.
At UT, we say, “What starts here changes the world.” That is not just a marketing slogan for me. It is why I teach at UT. So I will continue to proudly sing “The Eyes of Texas” because our fight is to take all that is this university and make it ours. Including “The Eyes of Texas.”