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Furman President Elizabeth Davis speaks in front of the James B. Duke Library during the Joseph Vaughn Day ceremony on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023.<\/p><\/div>\n
Alongside members of the Furman and Greenville, South Carolina, communities, Davis had just traveled about 280 paces from Daniel Chapel across Furman Mall to the library. The Walk of Honor in the early afternoon of Jan. 27 was part of the ceremony to\u00a0commemorate Joseph Allen Vaughn \u201968, Furman\u2019s first Black undergraduate student.<\/p>\n
Joseph Vaughn Day<\/a>, which arose from the \u201cSeeking Abraham\u201d report by Furman\u2019s Task Force on Slavery and Justice<\/a>,\u00a0celebrates the anniversary of Vaughn\u2019s enrollment on Jan. 29, 1965. Davis and others spoke at\u00a0Joseph Vaughn Plaza, which was completed in April 2021 and features a statue recreating a photo of Vaughn climbing the library steps in 1965.<\/p>\n The ceremony began at Daniel Chapel with a welcome by Franklin Ellis, associate dean and director of the university\u2019s\u00a0Center for Inclusive Communities. For Ellis, Vaughn\u2019s legacy brought one particular word to mind.<\/p>\n \u201cJegna is an Ethiopian word, concept and title of distinction that, when translated into English, means \u2018hero, warrior, soldier, courage, strength and protector of culture, land and people,’\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Joseph Vaughn exhibited every trait necessary to gain that prestigious title, said Ellis.<\/p>\n \u201cThe path to being a jegna is arduous,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd as we take the Walk of Honor today, I implore you to take time to remember those who walk before you, those who have the hardest job of being first, of having to remove the debris to forge a path for others to follow.\u201d<\/p>\n Ellis also urged the crowd of students, staff and faculty and others to \u201ctake a moment to acknowledge those walking beside you today, who are laying the foundation for tomorrow,\u201d he said. \u201cRemember what it takes to be the first, both the pride and the pain, so none of the steps \u2026 will be taken in vain.\u201d<\/p>\n At Furman, Vaughn was a member of the Baptist Student Union, ROTC, the Collegiate Educational Service Corps, the Southern Student Organizing Committee and the cheerleading squad. President of the Greenville and Southeast NAACP Youth Chapters, he led civil rights demonstrations in downtown Greenville. After graduating cum laude, he began a career as a teacher in the Greenville schools.<\/p>\n Plans are underway to honor others who helped make Furman what it is today, including Sarah Reese \u201971 H\u201914 and Lillian Brock Flemming \u201971 M\u201975 H\u201914<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI hope that our students of color look at this statue of Joseph Vaughn, and the portraits that will soon be hanging of Lillian and Sarah, and see themselves, and realize that they, too, can live lives of distinction,\u201d Davis said.<\/p>\n The day\u2019s guest of honor, Furman Trustee Emeritus Merl Code<\/a>, also knew what it takes to be first, Davis noted in her introduction. As the first African American chair of the Greenville County United Way and the Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce and as Greenville\u2019s first African American municipal court judge, the businessman, civil rights advocate, community activist and retired football player has had \u201ca lifetime of being first,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Code, who received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree, praised Furman, calling The Riley Institute\u2019<\/a>s Diversity Leaders Initiative<\/a> one of the premier programs in the country for diversity.<\/p>\n \u201cI thank this university for sharing what you do with us,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is the shining light on the hill, which has now decided to focus its light around itself and draw in others to its warmth and light.\u201d<\/p>\n\u2018A shining light on the hill\u2019<\/h3>\n
\u2018It\u2019s time, Furman\u2019<\/h3>\n
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