The Project

Between 2014-2019, I attended Southern Adventist University. While I was its Student Association President, I made it a point to research and share messages of inclusivity because, at the time, Southern still had not been completely honest about its history.

The moment is now.

I’ve been building historical context as to why so many people call Southern a “racist institution.” This is a much deeper issue than Southern’s Yik-Yak fiasco of 2016, where students took to social media to express their disapproval for a Black Christian Union vespers and speaker. This is deeper than a racist Snapchat story at Black Christian Union Night 2018, calling Black students celebrating their origins “n*ggers.”

I’ve decided to share my findings within this blog series and ongoing research. My goal is not to “stir the pot,” but to help galvanize a sense of urgency to bring about strategic changes that students, faculty, and staff have been advocating for for years. I also believe in the power of sharing a narrative that has yet to have been told and shared with a new, contemporary audience.

Through Adventist history, you’ll find that Black Adventists had advocated for change and inclusion for decades before Adventists were forced to comply in the 1960s. Many of those Adventists, both Black and White, were never honored for their work nor have they ever been interviewed. I aim to change this.

I am NOT encouraging slander of any kind, but would like to encourage healthy dialogue surrounding the institution to promote healing, reconciling conversations on this topic. My job is providing some context for those conversations.

Since our current climate welcomes discussion on racism and culture-change, I felt that this was a great time to engage in conversation.

I hope that my research, presented in story form, will help us all move forward. I know the university has made steps forward, albeit slowly, but there’s even more we can do when we understand our context. It’s important to tell these stories before the people who lived through such strife are gone.

• Phillip Warfield

2021 Update:

As I have devoted more of my time towards my Ph.D in United States history, this project is currently on pause as I gather more material, insight, oral histories, and primary resources. I’m not quitting at all, but please be patient as I learn and talk with some of the amazing people who will help this project get off of its feet!

Thanks so much for your ongoing support!