William and Mary Flat Hat, 1945

William and Mary Flat Hat, 1945

This editorial from the Flat Hat (William & Mary student run newspaper) prompted the temporary suspension of the paper from publication, according to a 1985 publication called The Black Presence at William and Mary. Editor-in-chief Marilyn Kaemmerle claimed “Negroes should attend William & Mary,” though not at that time. Discussion of our collective biological origin, noting that “Northern Negroes had higher [IQs] scores than Southern whites,” and comparing desegregation to “…Nazi race tactics.” inflamed the conservative white administration. At a time when many believed in the separate but equal, Kaemmerle saw that freedom from formal bondage did not mean freedom from oppression.

The described editorial can be found on the final page of the edition.

Marilyn Kaemmerle, "Lincoln's Job Half Done"

Swem Special Collections

William and Mary Flat Hat

1945

Anonymous William and Mary students, description
Ari Weinberg, metadata