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In 1970, WVU football team cheerleader Phil Mack was dismissed from the squad for refusing to not to raise his fist in a black power salute during the national anthem. The slideshow below includes features and editorials appearing in the WVU student newspaper, The Daily Athenaeum, over the month of November 1970 covering the events. The links before the slides share additional sources about cheering and activism NOTE: Slideshow best viewed on a desktop.
"The incidents that angered me and many others were the throwing of paper cups, a liquor bottle and other debris at WVU's black cheerleader who was registering a peaceful, non-violent, legitimate protest during the playing of the National Anthem."
Friday, Nov. 6, 1970 The Daily Athenaeum
- Not Black - the author of the letter which appeared with the headline "Black Student Angry," in the Athenaeum Friday is not black. We confused his letter with another article and we regret the resulting error. - Correction published Friday, Nov. 13, 1970 The Daily Athenaeum Vol. 83. No. 38 89 p.2
"Brothers and sisters, don't be fools as far as the next home game is concerned. Don't start anything at the next game and above all maintain your cool because the University is just waiting for something to happen just so they can expel us blacks."
Friday, Nov. 6, 1970 The Daily Athenaeum
Black cheerleader Johanne Bryant has decided to join Mack in his exile from the squad. "I feel really hurt," she said, "but in the long run I expected it. The only way I can express my feeling is by not cheering."
...
Miss Bryant also believed that is was a matter of principle. "You're black first-then a cheerleader. Cheerleading is something created through man; being black is born into the world. It's something you can't refuse and I don't want to," she declared.
Thursday, Nov. 12, 1970 The Daily Athenaeum
Two black cheerleaders have quit the squad at West Virginia University, after one refused to give up his black power salute during playing of the "Star Spangled Banner" at football games.
Thursday Nov.12, 1970 The Daily Athenaeum vol.43 NO. 124
Brothers and sisters, the time has come for us to throw off verbal action and get down to business. We have a nation to build. by Phil Mack
Thursday, Nov. 12, 1970 The Daily Athenaeum p.2
Phil Mack, the black cheerleader who was told by Red Brown, WVU Athletic Director, to either "quit raising his clenched fist during the national anthem or be removed from the squad," said today that he will be at the game Saturday unless Brown "officially makes a statement that he is kicked off the squad."
Friday, Nov. 12 13, 1970 The Daily Athenaeum Vol. 83. No. 38 89 p.1
This viewpoint was written by members of the Black Unity Organization in response to the ultimatum which Robert (Red) Brown, WVU Athletic Director, gave black cheerleader Phil Mack this week.
...He says that Mr. Mack "cannot use the cheerleading to exploit his own political views."
Well Mr. Brown; What are you doing when you raise the flag? What are you doing when you play the national anthem before the game? What are you doing when you give the conventional salute to the flag? What you don't want Mr. Brown, is for someone to enunciate a political belief which is not the same as yours. Why Mr. Brown can't Mr. Mack express his beliefs the same as you can express yours?...
Friday, Nov. 13, 1970 The Daily Athenaeum Vol. 83. No. 38 89 p.2
"...the days when our society can hide from its problems are nearly gone. The Saturday afternoon football game has been one of the last bastions of escapism. Thousands of people could turn off radio news of starvation in Mississippi and toss away the newspaper article telling of discrimination in New York. They could forget the the problems of society for a while as they watched the game. But those days are disappearing."
Friday, Nov. 13, 1970 The Daily Athenaeum Vol. 83. No. 38 89 p.2
Phil Mack - WVU Cheerleader defies warning of Athletic Director Robert N. "Red" Brown and gives black power salute during the National Anthem at Saturday's game. (Athfoto by Gary Truman)
Tuesday, Nov. 17, 1970 The Daily Athenaeum Vol. 83. No. 40 p.1
Phil Mack, the black cheerleader who was told by Red Brown, WVU athletic director, to either "quit raising his clenched fist during the National Anthem or be removed from the squad," was at Saturday's game with raised clenched fist.
Tuesday, Nov. 17, 1970 The Daily Athenaeum Vol. 83. No. 40 p.1
"He raised his fist during the playing of the national anthem Saturday, however, and was joined by a number of black and white students in chanting "Power to the People" during the singing of the University Alma Mater."
Wednesday, Nov. 18, 1970 The Daily Athenaeum
Phil Mack, recently dismissed from the cheerleading squad for raising his fist during the playing of the National Anthem during football games, will appeal his dismissal in court.
"I raise my fist because I'm black and proud of it," Mack explained. "I don't think a white cheerleader giving the peace sign would be thrown off the squad."
Friday, Nov. 20, 1970 The Daily Athenaeum
Protesters at Commencement 1967
Black Unity Organization 1969
Black Unity Organization Officers 1969
Face Painting on Peace Day 1969
Vietnam Moratorium Day Protest in Courthouse Square 1969
Female Students Demonstrate for Better Security on Campus 1970
Women Students Demand Better Security on Campus 1970
Peace Movement Member with Large Letter to Richard Nixon 1970
Vietnam War Protesters In Towers Housing Complex 1970
Students with Peace Movement banner 1970
Anti-War activist Susan Young at a protest rally 1970
National Guard Uses Tear Gas during a Demonstration in front of the Mountainlair 1970
Anti Draft protestors 1980
Students in Anti-Draft Peace Vigil in Front of County Court House 1980
Draft Protest Marchers on University Avenue and Willey Street 1980
Anti Draft Protestors 1980
