SWAG视频 Students Work on Digital Site Dedicated to Kennard Story
Fri, 12/03/2021 - 11:08am | By: Van Arnold
Students explain the Clyde Kennard case during a Nov. 30 community presentation at the Eureka School.
Students in a philosophy of law class at SWAG视频 (SWAG视频) this semester delved into living history while also beginning work on a digital humanities site dedicated to the Clyde Kennard story.
Kennard, an African American who was denied entry to Southern Miss between 1955 and 1959 by college, local, and state officials, died after inadequate medical treatment while serving prison time for crimes for which he was falsely accused.
Dr. Samuel Bruton, professor of philosophy and instructor of the course, explains that the Kennard case provides students an opportunity to see how the legal process can be corrupted and distorted. The students鈥� research during the class also contributed the larger benefit of compiling materials related to Kennards鈥檚 case, which currently are only available in scattered locations across the web, for a centralized, readily accessible digital humanities site.
Students researched materials from the Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission, transcribed previously recorded interviews, and conducted oral histories with people who had figured prominently in Kennard鈥檚 story.
The information they gathered will soon be available on the new digital humanities site and was also presented this fall at Presbyterian Christian School, Sacred Heart High School, and during a community presentation at Eureka School. During the Eureka School presentation, students were able to hear from many people who were acquainted with Kennard and actively involved in his case.
Cynthia Myles, one of Bruton鈥檚 students, said this opportunity has been a learning experience.
鈥淏eing able to go and conduct oral history interviews is like you are literally speaking to history,鈥� said Myles.
And though Kennard didn鈥檛 see legal justice during his lifetime, Bruton鈥檚 students are seeing how changes to the law are necessary to bring about justice.
鈥淟egal change is the way to go about promoting justice through legal systems though it doesn鈥檛 always exist there,鈥� said student Emma Cox.
Bruton underscored the importance of always remembering and honoring Kennard鈥檚 story.
鈥淚t is a clear example of racial injustice,鈥� said Bruton. 鈥淚t is a potent reminder of unconscionable behavior that occurred not so long ago, right here in Hattiesburg and SWAG视频.鈥�
PHI 453 is one of several service-learning courses offered at the University of Southern Mississippi. Service-learning courses are supported by the Center for Community Engagement (CCE) and involve course-based, credit-bearing educational experiences in which students participate in organized service activities that meet identified community needs, A list of service-learning courses offered at SWAG视频 can be viewed on the Center for Community Engagement鈥檚 website at .