StC News
Journeys to Manhood with the Syracuse 8
The challenges faced by the Syracuse 8 football players who boycotted against racial injustice 40-some years ago are still relevant and existent today.
These introductory remarks from the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities Director Jonathan Zur set the tone for panel discussions held at St. Christopher’s School Oct. 6 and Oct. 7. The Oct. 6 evening program was free and open to the community, while the latter took place during the school day and was geared to students. “We must lean into these conversations,” Zur said. “We must open our hearts and minds to difficult situations.”
By their actions, the panelists, then teenagers, sacrificed positions on the Syracuse University team, positions that were their ticket to a college education, positions that could have lead to prestigious NFL careers. The players sought right to compete fairly for any position on the starting team, better academic support and better medical care for injuries and racial integration of the coaching staff.
Participants included Gregory Allen, a retired regional manager with Liberty Mutual, Dana Harrell, an attorney, commercial real estate consultant and professor of real estate finance, Abdullah Alif Muhammad, a lifelong educator who has worked with all age groups from preschool through adults, Ronald Womack, a graduate school instructor in educational psychology, and Clarence McGill, creator and manager of the Employability Skills Program with the Richmond Sheriff’s Office Community Custody Unit. All shared powerful stories of their personal experiences.This program was sponsored by St. Christopher's Center for the Study of Boys.
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