A thread to chew on: Area small towns that would later come to be known as Manhattan were founded throughout the 1850s in an effort to further the free-state movement - men with names like Goodnow, Marlatt, Kimball, Houston, Thurston, Denison, Pomeroy and others led the effort.

This Univ was founded as Bluemont Central College in 1858, largely by these abolitionists, w goal of “the promotion of education & science in KS Territory.” The bell outside Bmont Hall was donated by abol Joseph Ingalls in ‘61. Its peal called to students for more than 100 years.

Our 1st Black graduates were from what was then KS State Ag College - George Owens came from Alma to MHK in 1896, his parents having been enslaved. He graduated in 1899, earning a degree in the General Course. Minnie Howell from MHK and graduated in 1901 in domestic science.

Kansas State athletes were the first in the Big 7 Conf to integrate football, with Harold Robinson in 1950; baseball, with Earl Woods (yes, Tiger’s dad) in 1951; and basketball, Gene Wilson in 1951. You want a statue we will all celebrate? Put one of those three men on campus.

In 1968, Dr. MLK, Jr. spoke at Ahearn. King's address concerned whether any progress had been made in the area of race relations. He summarized slavery and segregation in the U.S., telling the audience that there was still much that needed to be done re: racial equality.

Since, what progress have we forced for Black brothers & sisters on this campus? Equality is the founding cornerstone - there is no reason we can’t be the country’s most inclusive University. Anything less is a denial of our history & an insult to those who paved the way. #KState