Доктор Джон Пиплз отметил 100-летие, вспомнив трагедию 1970 года и свой путь к президентству Джексон Стэйт

Шестой президент университета Джексон Стэйт Джон Пиплз в день своего столетия рассказал о возвращении в Миссисипи и руководстве вузом во время расовых беспорядков. Он также сообщил, что выпускники 1970 года, чьи дипломы были отложены после расстрела студентов, наконец получили их в 2021 году.

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Jackson State's sixth president, Dr. John Peoples, reflects on 100 years of life and leadership Dr. John Peoples, the sixth president of Jackson State University, marked his 100th birthday by reflecting on his life, his career, and the pivotal moments that shaped his legacy. "Jackson State was so much a part of my life," Peoples said. "That's where I met my wife, Mary, at Jackson State." Peoples graduated from JSU with a bachelor's degree in mathematics and was deeply involved in campus life as a football player, track athlete, and student body president. After marrying Mary, the couple moved north to Indiana, until one day, Peoples received a call from a mentor that changed the course of his life. "At that time, I was going to be, so I thought, a mathematics teacher," Peoples said. "He said, 'That's OK. When you're the president, you'll have mathematics teachers working for you.' I didn't think much about that because I didn't see myself being president of a university." Although reluctant to return to the segregated South, Peoples followed his mentor’s advice. He and Mary packed up their two young children and moved back to Mississippi, where he became president of Jackson State University in 1967. During his presidency, Jackson State played a significant role in the civil rights movement. In May 1970, Peoples faced one of the most challenging moments of his tenure when law enforcement opened fire on students on campus. "I remember a lot of things. I guess most people know about the killings at Jackson State. That's the thing I remember most," he said. The shootings resulted in the deaths of two students and injuries to more than 20 others, leading to the cancellation of that year’s graduation ceremony. Fifty-one years later, in 2021, the Class of 1970 finally received their diplomas, with Dr. Peoples speaking at the ceremony. "Jackson State is living and will live beyond the killings," he said. "They were bad, and they still have the bullet marks on the building." Peoples served as president for 17 years and remains a cherished figure among Jackson State alumni. At 100 years old, he continues to share advice with younger generations. "You stay in there, get a good education, and there's no telling how far you can go," he said. "You'll probably go farther than I did."