New Ripon sociology course to explore history, justice

As we celebrate the 40th federal observation of the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a small group of Ripon College students is looking forward to next Monday night. That’s when they will meet for the first class of a new sociology course focused on human and civil rights.

Professor of Sociology Jackie Clark is teaching the 200-level course: “Exploring History & Justice: The Legacy Museums and Selma.”

According to the course description, “This course will consider human and civil rights from historical and sociological perspectives … including the historic marches to Selma, Alabama.”

The students in the course will attend the Symposium of the Fred D. Gray Institute for Human and Civil Rights, March 12 and 13, in Montgomery, Alabama. The group also will tour the Legacy Sites of the Equal Justice Initiative organization and visit historical sites associated with the Civil Rights movement in Selma. Last year, Vice President and Dean of Students Al Sturgeon took several students on a similar trip.

“As a former history teacher, I am particularly passionate that the past should never be forgotten,” Sturgeon said after last year’s trip. “It is especially important, when possible, to meet the people who were on the front lines of history.”

The group had the opportunity to meet Gray, who served as an attorney for Dr. King, Rosa Parks and plaintiffs/victims of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, among others. 

Sixty-one years ago, another group of Ripon College students made a trip to Alabama at a time of great conflict. The Rev. Jerry H. Thompson, then chaplain and professor of religion at the College, accompanied three students — Noel Carota ’67, Richard M. Grimsrud ’65 and Gary G. Yerkey ’66 — to participate in the Selma to Montgomery Voting Rights March led by Dr. King in the spring of 1965.

An engraved brick honoring Thompson is included in a walkway at the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute in Selma.

“I don’t think anything can replicate learning about history in the exact places where it occurred,” said Sturgeon, who will once again accompany the students on this year’s trip with Professor Clark. “And for Ripon College students in particular, the opportunity to make the connection between Montgomery and Selma, Alabama and Ripon, Wisconsin, and literally walk in the footsteps of former students is remarkable.”

Ripon College’s Center for Diversity and Inclusion will recognize campus and community members who honor Dr. King’s legacy with its annual MLK Spirit Awards during a ceremony Friday, Feb. 6.

Photo: Students who made the trip to Montgomery and Selma last year were Tekiera Farrell, Shaniya Harris, Myhkia Johnson, Tamyra Patrick, along with Ji’Mya Sullivan-Owens ’24, post-graduate assistant for student life and admissions.