African American Profiles
(Produced by UMC.org/United Methodist Communications)

Once-expelled civil rights leader receives honors at Vanderbilt
United Methodist News Service 1/20/06

Decades following his expulsion from Vanderbilt University as a student, civil rights pioneer James Lawson will return as a distinguished visiting professor for the school's 2006-07 academic year. While studying at the university, Lawson helped organize nonviolent sit-ins at Nashville's segregated lunch counters. Vanderbilt's Board of Trust voted in 1960 to expel him for his role. The board reversed its decision shortly afterward, but Lawson had already enrolled elsewhere. <read full news story>

 

 

 

Profile: Lina McCord Lina McCord, former executive director of the Black College Fund, shares her faith story. The daughter of a preacher, Lina recalls her memories of the Central Jurisdiction and the segregation she experienced growing up. One of the first black employees hired at the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, Lina helped pioneer the Black College Fund intern program.