Annual Social Justice symposium

Honored A&I alumnus Sidney Blanks

In honor of Javelina alumnus Sidney “Sid” Blank, a social justice pioneer and All-American member of the Texas A&I football team, the Sid Blanks Social Justice Symposium was held on Nov. 4, giving students an opportunity to present their research in the feld of social justice.

Blanks played on the football team from 1960 to 1963 and was also a member of the Javelina track and feld team.

Blanks’ acceptance onto the Javelina football program made him the frst African American to play at an integrated school on a football scholarship in the state of Texas, and the frst African American football player in the Lone Star Conference.

In 1960, Hall of Fame Head Football Coach Gil Steinke offered Blanks a football scholarship to play at Texas A&I University.

Blsnks’ acceptance made him the frst African American to play at an integrated school on a football scholarship in the state of Texas. In 1989, Steinke told The Houston Chronicle, “We integrated football in Texas. We had Sid Blanks before anyone else integrated.” In spite of being the only African American player on the football team, Blanks would eventually lead as team captain.

He went on to play for the Houston Oilers in 1964 and championed social justice issues during a boycott of the 1965 All Star football game, where racist acts targeted African

American football players, according to a school-wide email sent by Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Dr. Jarett Lujan.

“The purpose of this symposium is to gather everyone that has done research in the social justice feld and share the knowledge of our community,” Lujan said.

“We are really excited to honor [Blanks] as a pioneer for the social justice movement, during the time of civil unrest.”

While Texas A&M Uni- versity-Kingsville hosts the symposium annually, a diferent individual is honored each year. Sid Blanks was honored at this year’s symposium.

During the frst hour of the event, students were