Letter: Name Ole Miss journalism school for black reporter

JACKSON, Miss. – After a Facebook post by a prominent University of Mississippi donor was denounced as racist, some professors say the university should rename its journalism school for an African-American journalist who crusaded against lynching.

Ida B. Wells-Barnett was born a slave in Mississippi in 1862. She became an investigative reporter in nearby Memphis, Tennessee, and denounced racial violence.

Ole Miss donor Ed Meek has asked that his name be removed from the journalism school after he posted photos of two black women last month and suggested property values could drop.

A letter from 62 Ole Miss professors and several instructors and graduate students was published Friday in the student newspaper, The Daily Mississippian, suggesting the journalism school be named for Wells-Barnett. They also suggest starting journalism scholarships for black women.