A Bermudian artist has been left “honoured” after painting a high-profile mural celebrating a team of Black university athletes who took a landmark stand against racism more than 50 years ago.
Dubbed .
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WAER s Ben Shulman reports on the reflections of Syracuse University athletes from the late 1960 s and early 1970 s who took a stand to fight for racial justice, in much the same way athletes and others are doing today.
The ‘Syracuse 8’ were a group of nine African American football players that boycotted the Orange in 1970 to take a stand for equal treatment in athletics– among other issues.
Along with Harrell, the ‘Syracuse 8’ included Gregory Allen, Richard Bulls, John Godbolt, John Lobon, Clarence “Bucky” McGill, A. Alif Muhammad, Duane Walker, and Ronald Womack.
Last Month, six of the nine members (Allen, Muhammad, Womack, Harrell, McGill, and Lobon) spoke to WAER alumna Beth Mowins about their experiences with racial equality at Syracuse over a Zoom hosted by the Newhouse Sports Media Center.