VMI black alumni speak out about racism, demand changes amid swell of racial justice protests
By Claire Mitzel | claire.mitzel@roanoke.com | 981-3334 Jun 13, 2020



The statue of Confederate Lt. Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson stands in front of the barracks on the Virginia Military Institute campus in Lexington. Until 2015, cadets were required to salute the statue when they passed by it.

Richmond Times-Dispatch | File 2017

Black alumni of Virginia Military Institute are speaking out against racism at their alma mater, asking the state-funded military school to acknowledge that racism exists among the ranks and to make changes, starting with the removal of the statue of Confederate Lt. Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson that sits in front of the barracks.

A recent graduate started a petition for the statue’s removal on June 4. The petition also asks VMI to “acknowledge the racism and black prejudice that still occurs.” The petition had more than 500 signatures within 24 hours and by Friday had nearly 800 signatures.

Former cadets also took to social media this month to recount their experiences of racism at VMI, which until recent years included being made to salute the Jackson statue. Jackson, who taught at VMI before leaving to fight as a Confederate general in the Civil War, casts a long shadow. In interviews, alumni and former staff members recounted incidents that made them feel like VMI has not addressed racism appropriately.

{snip}