Pomona College alma mater controversy as of Wednesday
is still unsettled.
Pomona College spokeswoman Cynthia Peters said Wednesday afternoon in a phone message there had been no conclusion made about the alma mater, which was composed for the finale of a blackface minstrel show nearly 100 years ago, but a decision would be made before Dec. 25.
If anyone has heard anything else, please let me know.
Here is the September story I wrote about the issue:
School song at center of controversy
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin (Ontario, CA) - Sunday, September 14, 2008
Author: Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
CLAREMONT - About 250 people watched a performance outlining the history of blackface minstrel shows last week at Pomona College, designed to help students understand the issue of the college's alma mater .
"We're trying to get as much information as we can so the committee can make a decision," said Kim Bruce, co-chairman of the 11-member college songs committee, which includes students and alumni.
The song, which was composed for the finale of a blackface minstrel show nearly 100 years ago, became a controversial topic in February after fliers were posted during a "family weekend."
An anonymous photocopied flier of the back sleeve of a 10-inch record of Pomona College songs included "Hail, Pomona , Hail!"
There were descriptions of several songs on the record, including this passage after "Hail, Pomona , Hail!":
"The song that has become the alma mater was composed for a blackface minstrel show in the season of 1909-1910, staged to raise money for a set of new uniforms for the baseball team."
Students, faculty, administrators and alumni are now trying to figure out what to do with the song, whose lyrics and music have nothing to do with race.
"It obviously depends on who you're talking to," said Sidney J. Lemelle, an associate professor of history and black studies at Pomona College.
"For special groups of people, for African-Americans, who are affected by the history and racism that went along with it, there is more meaning and more significance," Lemelle said. "For most black people, not all, it still resonates today."
"Ironically, those who tend to be most adamant are the older alums" in keeping the song, Lemelle said. "The younger tend to be not as adamant in keeping it."
Bruce said he had received more than 600 responses about the issue from alumni that are still being read.
He said Tuesday's performance, titled "The Dance: The History of American Minstrelsy," "provided an important background for students to discuss when raising" the issue.
Questions Bruce believes should be asked are: "Do you care whether the alma mater was written for a blackface minstrel show? Should we care what happens 100 years ago or today? There's good arguments on all sides."
Bruce said Tuesday's show helped arguments because "I've seen letters where people think a blackface minstrel show is a tribute to blacks and black music, and it was made clear (Tuesday) night this was not the case."
Pomona College's Arielle Brown said she believed the piece, which showed photos of old performers along with facts and cited resources, presented a strong dialogue.
"Personally I believe it should be changed," Brown, 19, said of the alma mater .
Cyrus Winston, a 20-year-old junior, has researched the history of the minstrel show to help students understand the issue better.
"I think if you're going to use it you should acknowledge the history of it," said Winston, who watched the NAACP-award winning show for a second time.
On Friday, many students at Pomona College declined to comment because they said they had not heard the song, did not know the issue or did not know the entire controversy.
Freshman Andrew Chandra said he in favor of having a new alma mater after being told the song was linked to a blackface minstrel show.
When asked why the song should be changed, he said because "it's a new millennium."
A meeting is being arranged with student government to gauge opinions on the subject, Bruce said.
Bruce said a closed meeting about the issue has been set up with President David Oxtoby, who also attended the performance, later this month.
An e-mail will be sent to get more opinions about the issue, Bruce said.
Eric Hurley, an assistant professor of psychology and black studies at Pomona College, said he found the issue "fascinating" because it's "subtle" and not something as overt as trying to change the racial makeup of the student government.
"I could say my generation wouldn't have gone after this," Hurley said.
Hurley said the college has made a "good public face of being sensitive" toward the issue. He said he heard that many of the older alumni have threatened to withhold donations if there is a song change.
"They're in a precarious position," Hurley said of the school. "Hail, Pomona , hail!
We, thy sons and daughters, sing
Praises of thy name,
Praises of thy fame.
Til the heav'ns above shall ring:
To the name of Pomona
Alma Mater hail to thee!
To the spirit true of the White and Blue.
All hail Pomona , hail!"
"We're trying to get as much information as we can so the committee can make a decision," said Kim Bruce, co-chairman of the 11-member college songs committee, which includes students and alumni.
The song, which was composed for the finale of a blackface minstrel show nearly 100 years ago, became a controversial topic in February after fliers were posted during a "family weekend."
An anonymous photocopied flier of the back sleeve of a 10-inch record of Pomona College songs included "Hail, Pomona , Hail!"
There were descriptions of several songs on the record, including this passage after "Hail, Pomona , Hail!":
"The song that has become the alma mater was composed for a blackface minstrel show in the season of 1909-1910, staged to raise money for a set of new uniforms for the baseball team."
Students, faculty, administrators and alumni are now trying to figure out what to do with the song, whose lyrics and music have nothing to do with race.
"It obviously depends on who you're talking to," said Sidney J. Lemelle, an associate professor of history and black studies at Pomona College.
"For special groups of people, for African-Americans, who are affected by the history and racism that went along with it, there is more meaning and more significance," Lemelle said. "For most black people, not all, it still resonates today."
"Ironically, those who tend to be most adamant are the older alums" in keeping the song, Lemelle said. "The younger tend to be not as adamant in keeping it."
Bruce said he had received more than 600 responses about the issue from alumni that are still being read.
He said Tuesday's performance, titled "The Dance: The History of American Minstrelsy," "provided an important background for students to discuss when raising" the issue.
Questions Bruce believes should be asked are: "Do you care whether the alma mater was written for a blackface minstrel show? Should we care what happens 100 years ago or today? There's good arguments on all sides."
Bruce said Tuesday's show helped arguments because "I've seen letters where people think a blackface minstrel show is a tribute to blacks and black music, and it was made clear (Tuesday) night this was not the case."
Pomona College's Arielle Brown said she believed the piece, which showed photos of old performers along with facts and cited resources, presented a strong dialogue.
"Personally I believe it should be changed," Brown, 19, said of the alma mater .
Cyrus Winston, a 20-year-old junior, has researched the history of the minstrel show to help students understand the issue better.
"I think if you're going to use it you should acknowledge the history of it," said Winston, who watched the NAACP-award winning show for a second time.
On Friday, many students at Pomona College declined to comment because they said they had not heard the song, did not know the issue or did not know the entire controversy.
Freshman Andrew Chandra said he in favor of having a new alma mater after being told the song was linked to a blackface minstrel show.
When asked why the song should be changed, he said because "it's a new millennium."
A meeting is being arranged with student government to gauge opinions on the subject, Bruce said.
Bruce said a closed meeting about the issue has been set up with President David Oxtoby, who also attended the performance, later this month.
An e-mail will be sent to get more opinions about the issue, Bruce said.
Eric Hurley, an assistant professor of psychology and black studies at Pomona College, said he found the issue "fascinating" because it's "subtle" and not something as overt as trying to change the racial makeup of the student government.
"I could say my generation wouldn't have gone after this," Hurley said.
Hurley said the college has made a "good public face of being sensitive" toward the issue. He said he heard that many of the older alumni have threatened to withhold donations if there is a song change.
"They're in a precarious position," Hurley said of the school. "Hail, Pomona , hail!
We, thy sons and daughters, sing
Praises of thy name,
Praises of thy fame.
Til the heav'ns above shall ring:
To the name of Pomona
Alma Mater hail to thee!
To the spirit true of the White and Blue.
All hail Pomona , hail!"
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