The History of Johnny Bright and Drake University

As a student at Drake University, the history and reputation of Drake is something that I carry with me to all my future careers, so an understanding of this past is a very important tool to carry along the way. When it comes to important moments in our history, I believe Drake’s stance against racism in 1951 stands out as one of their proudest steps towards equality. Johnny Bright, an African American football player, was our star player on Drake’s desegregated football team was at Oklahoma A&M (now known as Oklahoma State) for a game, where he was assaulted on the field. Johnny did not have the ball in his possession, yet he was hit three times and breaking his jaw in the process. In the 1999 news column “Film crew visits Drake to depict "The Slugging of Johnny Bright"” (Drake University, 1999), where “Despite his broken jaw, Bright was able to throw a 61-yard touchdown pass a few plays later.” (Drake University, 1999), showing the sheer dedication to what he loved to do he took. As you would expect, we took this very seriously. Drake demanded justice for the assault that occurred on the field, according to Lane Demas in his book “Integrating the Gridiron: Black Civil Rights and American College Football” he says, “Within days, the athletic council released an “angry statement” to the public and lodged a formal protest with the MVC.” (Demas, 2010) in reference to Drake’s response. I truly believe that if Oklahoma A&M had taken action, severely punished the players and taken action to settJohnny Bright, a former tailback at Drake University who twice led the country in total offense and was inducted into the Canadian Football League Hall of Fame in 1970. Johnny life was anything but easy. Bright received the Nils V. "Swede" Nelson Sportsmanship Award and was voted a First Team College Football All-American in 1951. Bright was selected the greatest football player of all time at Drake University in 1969. Bright is the only Drake football player to have his jersey number (No. 43) retired by the school, and he was named one of the top college football players to ever wear No. 43 by ESPN.com senior writer Ivan Maisel in June 2006. In February 2006, Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa, dedicated a football field in his honor. Bright was named one of the CFL's Top 50 players of the contemporary era (No. 19) by Canadian sports network TSN in November 2006. Bright was the victim of a racially motivated on-field assault by an opposing college football player from Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University) on October 20, 1951, which was documented in a widely circulated and Pulitzer Prize-winning photo sequence and became known as the "Johnny Bright incident." On October 20, 1951, during an American college football game in Stillwater, Oklahoma, a white opponent player launched a vicious on-field assault upon African-American player Johnny Bright. The game was historic in and of itself since it was the first time an African-American athlete with a national reputation and a vital role in the Drake Bulldogs' success had played at Oklahoma A&M College (now Oklahoma State UniversityLewis )'s Field. Bright's injuries also emphasized racial tensions at the time, and it gained prominence when it was filmed in what would later become both a widely distributed photograph and a widely disseminated film.

​​As a result of the event, Drake dropped out of the league and did not return for football until nearly 20 years later. Bright, a strong runner and the Bulldogs' greatest thrower, was determined to halt the Aggies from running all over them at home. Bright went on to break school records in track, football, and basketball before being selected first overall by the Eagles. However, Bright chose to play in the Canadian Football League instead, claiming a fear of racial discrimination in the United States. Bright College is named after Johnny Bright, a celebrated 1952 Drake graduate who starred on the football field for the Bulldogs and went on to have a successful career. Naming Bright College after Johnny pays tribute to his personal and professional qualities—qualities that Bright College will instill in its students: grit, resilience, dedication, drive, and civic and professional engagement. Drake University recognizes diversity as an asset that includes a wide variety of human variations. Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion recognizes the role Drake University can play in redressing historic injustices that have resulted in the continued marginalization of members of specific groups and seeks to understand and respond to contemporary calls for inclusivity as mandated by social justice. Drake University goes beyond mere tolerance of diversity to foster an inclusive culture that values the variety of identities, cultures, and opinions as essential to our institution's brilliance and success. Since this occurrence, I think Drake has been devoting time and resources to ensure that all students, instructors, staff, alumni, community members, and visitors to campus are treated equally.On Friday, Drake University students gathered to Painted Street on campus to demonstrate their solidarity in the face of recent racist incidents directed at students of color. The wide walkway between Forest and University avenues was given a layer of black paint. Before the track and field meet, every student organization paints a design on a concrete square of the roadway. In announcing the idea, organizers claimed that painting the roadway black would be a  show of unity and anti-racism. Drake needs a public location like the Painted Street to convey a statement, and we need people to notice what's going on, according to a #PaintItBlack organizer.I have been able to participate in paint it black to help promote cultual awareness and support anti-racism. Unfortunately, racism is still a thing but I believe that Johnny bright created the path for drake to spread awareness and stand up for what's right.