Anti-Racism at Elon University Collection

George Floyd, a African American man, was murdered by white police officer Derek Chauvin and other officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on May 25, 2020. Floyd’s murder was recorded by several witnesses and uploaded to social media; the video went viral and created an uproar. The murder galvanized the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and resulted in protests in cities across the United States and internationally during the summer of 2020. The outcry and protests had a direct impact on Alamance County and Elon University.

During the 2020-2021 school year, Elon University supported anti-racism efforts in Alamance County, particularly in supporting the removal of the Confederate Monument in the Court Square in Graham. There were peaceful protests on campus; however, on one occasion a convoy of about 200 vehicles drove through the Elon campus, driven by supporters of then-President Donald Trump (who was up for re-election in 2020). In addition to displaying white supremacist symbols, some occupants of the vehicles shouted racist slogans, slurs, and profanity at Elon students and employees. Video of the procession was posted to social media, where it received national attention. The event was condemned by university officials as well as many officials in North Carolina, Alamance County, and the nation.

In September 2020, Elon University announced that it would publish a report by the school’s Committee on History & Memory; this report, published the following month, aimed to present a more inclusive story of Elon by focusing on overlooked stories of African American students and employees from Elon’s history. The report also included recommendations on how Elon could address the difficult topics of racism and discrimination in its history, as well as initiatives to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Throughout the fall and spring of the 2020-2021 academic year, there were a series of panels, film screenings, lectures, and discussions at the university focused on both current events as well as the history of racial violence in Alamance County.