There’s a reason DeAndre Hopkins never says Clemson when being introduced before NFL games.
Hopkins and fellow Clemson alum Deshaun Watson, like many other Tigers past and present, are ashamed of the school’s history — specifically of notorious slave owner and former U.S. vice president John C. Calhoun. They’ve joined with thousands of others petitioning the university to remove Calhoun’s name from the Honors College and rename it something else.
“As we watch everything happening in the world, I want to bring up something that has been bothering me for a long time in my community,” Hopkins wrote in an Instagram post on Monday. “Clemson University still honors the name of well known slave owner and pro-slavery politician John C. Calhoun on its buildings, signs, and in the name of its honors program.
“I felt this oppressive figure during my time at Clemson and purposely do not mention the University’s name before NFL games because of it,” the All-Pro wide receiver explained. “I am joining the voices of the students and faculty who have restarted this petition to rename the Calhoun Honors College. I urge all Clemson students, football players, and alumni to join us, so the next generation of young Black leaders can be proud of the institution they graduate from. Now is the time for change.”
Watson, the quarterback of the Houston Texans, shared his thoughts on renaming Calhoun Honors College on Monday, as well.
“Clemson University should not honor slave owner John C. Calhoun in any way,” Watson tweeted. “His name should be removed from all University property and programming. I am joining the students, faculty & DeAndre to restart this petition to rename the Calhoun Honors College.”
By Tuesday, five days after the petition was created — with the goal of achieving 15,000 signatures — it had already reached nearly 12,000.
On June 1, Clemson president James Clements released a university-wide statement in response to the nationwide protests happening to call for justice for George Floyd and an end to racism and police brutality.
“I, like many others, am deeply saddened by recent tragic events nationwide and the deep divisions that still threaten our ability to move ahead as one nation,” Clements wrote. “Let there be no doubt: Racism, injustice, violence, brutality and hatred, in any form, cannot be tolerated.”
