The lies of Texas would have you believe the controversy at the Lone Star State’s largest and wealthiest institute of higher learning and football is about a song.
Years ago, a wealthy University of Texas donor was so bothered by an opinion I expressed in the newspaper that he felt we needed to talk.
He thought a “set the record straight” conversation, one in which he could provide some background details of which I might not be aware, would help me reevaluate my conclusion.
Instead, early in the conversation and well before we got to the good stuff, he offered something I considered confirmation that my take was indeed on point.
“Where did you get that opinion from, Africa somewhere?” he asked.
Clearly, he was triggered by more than just my opinion.
As much as I would have loved to hahaha that off and insert a Reggie Hammond bar slap for entertainment purposes, he wasn’t joking.
This is the shared mentality of most of the donors who have reached out to UT president Jay Hartzell to express their dismay that some football players have the audacity not to be as enamored with their beloved “Eyes of Texas” school song as they are.
This particular bent of booster, so upset with this failure to conform to unwritten burnt orange law, has threatened to keep substantial donations to themselves. According to emails obtained by the Texas Tribune, correspondences to Jay Hartzell claim $1 million endowments and seven-figure donations are now in jeopardy.
“It is sad that (‘The Eyes of Texas’) is offending the blacks,” a donor, who said he graduated in 1986, wrote. “As I said before, the blacks are free, and it’s time for them to move on to another state where everything is in their favor.”
In other words, submit, or leave. Sing, boy.
Yes, that is sad.
Other scholarship students aren’t forced to stand and sing the song. Other university employees aren’t required to either.
New football coach Steve Sarkisian hit the ground with a whip in hand, declaring that “We’re gonna sing that song. We’re gonna sing it proudly.”
Oh, really?
See, this isn’t about a song.
Were it just about the music, so many of you who have absolutely no affection, affinity or affiliation with UT or the “Eyes of Texas” wouldn’t be turning red right now.
Just because the song has a loose connection to racist Robert E. Lee, who killed people to keep Blacks enslaved and was originally performed by mocking racists in blackface at an annual racist show, a half-century before UT accepted its first Black student, doesn’t make it inherently racist.
Inherent: (adj.) existing in something as a permanent, essential, or characteristic attribute.
However, it is racist-like.
Undoubtedly, the vast majority of Hook ’em waiving worshippers of all things Longhorn, including many Blacks, did not fall in love with the tune because they, and it, are racist.
UT fans and boosters who have been flashing the Hook ’em sign and singing the “Eyes of Texas” in tears for decades, are emotionally attached to the tune. No matter what its true origins are, as racist-like as they might be, it is important to them.
There is nothing wrong with that.
Yet, be leery of anyone whose position is UT’s Black athletes can and should be forced to stand at attention, Hook ’em symbol raised high, and sing the song after every competition.
To that crop, UT is a 40 Acres and a mule society. They are the 40 Acres; the Black athletes are mules.
Forced worship is as anti-American as slavery. Oh … wait.
Well, you know what I mean.
Just as the Colin Kaepernick “controversy” wasn’t about the national anthem or his taking a knee, this isn’t about that silly song.
Black students at Texas — not to mention the tens of thousands throughout history who were denied admission because of racism — have always had reason to feel unwelcomed at UT.
Back in the day, after the school finally allowed Black students, it gave them a whitewashed version of school history during freshmen orientation that culminated with a stirring, starlight rendition of “The Eyes of Texas.”
They would have to connect with other Blacks on campus to be told the rest of the story.
The university has progressed immensely in recent years as it comes to grips with its past. (Translation: Admits to the racism that once was so prevalent.)
UT’s history is American history. The school record on race is no worse than most universities and a lot better than many. We shouldn’t run from it.
It says something that Duke Washington could be the first Black man to play a football game at Texas and reportedly received a huge ovation from the crowd after he scored on a 73-yard touchdown run.
That Washington wasn’t a UT player, and because of his race wasn’t listed in the game program or announced with the starting lineups, says something too.
It says something that the Longhorns’ student section led those roars for a Black man way back in 1954.
And something else again that UT’s Board of Regents had a rule against Black players competing in any sport on campus, even for visiting teams, and that UT athletic director D.X. Bible tried his darnedest to get Washington State to leave Duke at home.
Last summer, amidst athlete protests, Hartzell said he had talked to “scores of students about how The University of Texas at Austin can promote diversity, inclusion and equity and fully support our Black students.”
UT’s Black students have been speaking to school presidents about these issues for decades.
And big-money boosters have been writing school presidents demanding that Blacks be kept in their place (or away from that place) for decades.
Hartzell, who formed a committee whose findings will be released this week, said he wants to “reclaim and redefine what this song stands for.”
It will be interesting, because the lies of Texas have been upon us for all the livelong day.
But this isn’t about the song.
Among the most prevalent and disgusting sentiments in college sports is that athletes are supposed be inordinately thankful that a school “gave” them a scholarship.
If the school says “sing,” they should sing. If it says “dance,” they should dance.
And be damn appreciative they were asked to sing and dance.
It is as if college football coaches raid orphanages and children’s cancer wards to “give” scholarships to needy kids out of the kindness of their hearts. As if bigger, faster, stronger with special skills have nothing to do with it.
The one position of Booker T. Washington’s with which I agree, is we can’t “permit our grievances to overshadow our opportunities.” But the “work hard and you will achieve” narrative has long been proven to skew dramatically along racial lines.
In many ways, UT athletes, particularly football and men’s basketball players, are supposed to be invisible men, participants in Ralph Ellison’s battle royal.
Those donors mean business.
A business that still fails to recognize everyone’s humanity.
Has UT progressed enough to recognize them?
jerome.solomon@chron.com
twitter.com/jeromesolomon
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