Walton R. Johnson Papers

Walton R. Johnson was born in 1938. He trained in social anthropology. He received his PhD from the University of London in 1971. His areas of concentration include African political economy, South African race relations and U. S. race relations. Extensive field work in Africa resulted in the creation of some of his major works: Worship and Freedom: A Black American Church in Zambia (1977) and Dismantling Apartheid: A South African Town in Transition (1994). Johnson is also the editor of African Christianity: Patterns of Religious Continuity (1979) and Inside the Mixed Marriage: Accounts of Changing Attitudes, Patterns, and Perceptions of Cross-Cultural and Interracial Marriages (1994).

In addition to his teaching, Johnson as served as an Admission Counselor and as a former Dean of Livingston College. Johnson was teaching on the Livingston Campus during the spring of 1995 when reaction to Rutgers President Francis L. Lawrence's racially insensitive statement surfaced (see Historical Background below). He was instrumental in the formation of the Coalition of Black and Latino Faculty and Staff, which was a direct response to the situation. He also gathered and saved newspaper articles that were published almost daily on the state of affairs at Rutgers that serves as an important part of the collection chronicling the events of 1995.

The Statement:

". . . When you're looking at assessment, you got to look at the input. Do we assess in the same way at Rutgers that we would in an open admissions county college? Do we assess—let's look at the SATs. The average SAT for African-Americans is 750. Do we set standards in the future so that we don't admit anybody with the national test? Or do we deal with a disadvantaged population that doesn't have that genetic hereditary background to have a higher average."

-Francis L. Lawrence to Camden Faculty, November 11, 1994

Francis L. Lawrence became the eighteenth president of Rutgers, in the fall of 1990. His administration was not a popular one. Students and faculty had expressed dissatisfaction on various issues such as tuition and administrative policy during his term in office. However, it was his utterance of three words, "genetic hereditary background," which ignited a firestorm of protest and criticism.

President Lawrence addressed a Camden faculty meeting on November 11, 1994. During his speech, he made comments that included the phrase, "genetic hereditary background," referring to low African-American SAT scores. It was not until January 31, 1995 when Robert Braun, a Rutgers College graduate and a columnist for the Star-Ledger, made the remarks public that the controversy erupted. Reaction was swift and widespread. There were apologies, calls for his resignation, and statements of support for the beleaguered president. Rallies and protests were held both on and off campus. Demonstrations disrupted the Board of Governors meeting, caused the suspension of a February 7th men's basketball game, and blocked traffic on Route 18 leading to the arrest and trial of Rutgers University students. A hunger strike was held. Tensions on campus were high and the situation built up racial divides among the student population. There was an increase in reported bias incidents. The media spotlight was intense and race relations at Rutgers were closely examined in the press. A bomb exploded in the basement of the Mabel Douglass Library on the Douglass College campus of Rutgers and two more explosive devices were found in Rutgers libraries, as numerous bomb threats were received throughout the semester. The calm of the commencement exercises in May 1995 brought the turbulent semester to an end. However, it was not the end of trouble for President Lawrence. A decline in African-American enrollment at Rutgers and fewer black students accepting aid or scholarships to attend Rutgers were attributed to Lawrence's remarks. A diversity program proposed to heal wounds was initiated with the dissemination of a report titled the Multicultural Blueprint. Faculty dissatisfaction with Lawrence on academic issues and the university budget continued. There was a call by the NAACP for Lawrence's resignation in August 1995. The Board of Governors reaffirmed support for Lawrence in September 1995. Lawrence continued as president of Rutgers until his resignation in 2002, after which he stayed at Rutgers in the capacity of University Professor.

President Lawrence's controversial remarks which so inflamed the Rutgers community and beyond were perceived by many as reflecting theories proposed in the The Bell Curve: Intelligence and Class Structure in American Life by R. J. Herrnstein and C. Murray (1994). Their controversial conjectures linking genetics and performance prompted much discussion, articles and research.

November 11, 1994

Dr. Francis L. Lawrence, President of Rutgers University, in an address before Camden faculty uses the phrase "genetic hereditary background" to explain low SAT scores for African-Americans.

January 31, 1995

The Rutgers Council of the AAUP distributes tapes of Lawrence's remarks. Robert Braun breaks the story in the Star-Ledger.

February 1, 1995

Lawrence issues formal apology. 500 students march through campus and demand his resignation. 700 students gather at the Busch Campus Center to plan action.

February 2, 1995

Lawrence appears at Newark and New Brunswick campuses and apologizes to students, faculty, and staff. Some students walk out rejecting his apology.

February 5, 1995

Universitywide Black and Latino Coalition formed at New Brunswick Meeting

February 6, 1995

Paul Robeson, Jr. requests forgiveness for Lawrence's remarks and asks for calm.

February 7, 1995

Rutgers vs. U Mass men's basketball game at the Louis Brown Athletic Center disrupted by student protest sit-in, causing suspension of the game.

February 10, 1995

The Rutgers Board of Governors issues statement of support for University President Lawrence while some students scuffle with police.

February 27, 1995

Protest rally led by former NAACP head, Benjamin Chavis, held on steps of State House in Trenton calling for Lawrence's resignation.

March 17, 1995

Lawrence announces creation of a multicultural college-based committee.

April 4, 1995

Small bomb explodes in an unoccupied basement level of the Mabel Smith Douglass Library on the Douglass College campus. No injuries are reported.

April 5, 1995

Several bomb threats are received following the Douglass Library blast.

April 7, 1995

A second bomb placed inside hollowed-out book in Douglass Library is removed without incident.

April 12, 1995

Students participate in "Day of Outrage" calling for Lawrence's resignation. Protestors disrupt traffic during Route 18 demonstration.

May 12, 1995

Eleven Rutgers University students charged with disorderly conduct stemming from April 12th protest.

May 21, 1995

Commencement exercises proceed without incident

May 24, 1995

Third bomb discovered among books in the Paul Robeson Library on the Rutgers-Camden campus. This is the third time in two months that an explosive device has been planted on Rutgers. The FBI, city and county authorities, and the Rutgers police investigate.

June 9, 1995

Board of Governors adopts the Multicultural Blueprint, an outline of a diversity program submitted by Lawrence to ease tensions around the university.

August 1995

NAACP calls for Lawrence's resignation.

September 18, 1995

Board of Governors issue statement of support for Lawrence in response to faculty petition calling for his removal.

February 29, 1996

Trial begins for three students for charges stemming from April 12, 1995 protest.