UVA's Bicentennial Stories initiative from WTJU 91.1 FM tells our collective story. It helps us understand our shared history and make meaning in the University today. And as we look ahead, these stories help us shape the future of the University and our role in a democratic society.

John Merchant, 1958 UVa Law School Graduate

Merchant: “I just turned 85.”

Narrator: Back in 1958, John Merchant was the first African-American to graduate from the UVa Law School.

Merchant: “Quite honestly, I’m more proud of my daughter.”

Narrator:John’s daughter graduated 36 years after he did.

Merchant: “My daughter didn’t come here as a black student, my daughter came here as a law student. And the difference between how she was accepted and the way I was accepted is like the difference between night and day. And that’s my hallmark of progress.

“Her classmates invited me to speak at the commencement. I was in shock.

“When I look at my life, I’ve been lucky, I’ve been blessed, and I hope I’ve been worthy.”

For more: www.uvastories.org

UVA's Bicentennial Stories initiative from WTJU 91.1 FM tells our collective story. It helps us understand our shared history and make meaning in the University today. And as we look ahead, these stories help us shape the future of the University and our role in a democratic society.

John Merchant, 1958 UVa Law School Graduate

Merchant: “I just turned 85.”

Narrator: Back in 1958, John Merchant was the first African-American to graduate from the UVa Law School.

Merchant: “Quite honestly, I’m more proud of my daughter.”

Narrator:John’s daughter graduated 36 years after he did.

Merchant: “My daughter didn’t come here as a black student, my daughter came here as a law student. And the difference between how she was accepted and the way I was accepted is like the difference between night and day. And that’s my hallmark of progress.

“Her classmates invited me to speak at the commencement. I was in shock.

“When I look at my life, I’ve been lucky, I’ve been blessed, and I hope I’ve been worthy.”

For more: www.uvastories.org

UVA's Bicentennial Stories initiative from WTJU 91.1 FM tells our collective story. It helps us understand our shared history and make meaning in the University today. And as we look ahead, these stories help us shape the future of the University and our role in a democratic society.

John Merchant, 1958 UVa Law School Graduate

Merchant: “I can’t prove it, but I really don’t think all the professors were fair with me.

Yeah, I had some bad times.”

Narrator: Back in 1958, John Merchant was the first African-American to graduate from the UVa Law School.

Merchant: “I’ll site one example. The guy who finished number seven in my class, we were walking back from one of the final exams and we were discussing what we wrote up as answers. And on each question, our thinking about the issue was exactly the same.

“He got a 4.0 in the exam. I got a 1.5. But I had made a deal with myself: as long as my grade was sufficient to allow me to get the diploma, I would not complain. So I didn’t.”

For more: www.uvastories.org

UVA's Bicentennial Stories initiative from WTJU 91.1 FM tells our collective story. It helps us understand our shared history and make meaning in the University today. And as we look ahead, these stories help us shape the future of the University and our role in a democratic society.

John Merchant, 1958 UVa Law School Graduate

Merchant: “I can’t prove it, but I really don’t think all the professors were fair with me.

Yeah, I had some bad times.”

Narrator: Back in 1958, John Merchant was the first African-American to graduate from the UVa Law School.

Merchant: “I’ll site one example. The guy who finished number seven in my class, we were walking back from one of the final exams and we were discussing what we wrote up as answers. And on each question, our thinking about the issue was exactly the same.

“He got a 4.0 in the exam. I got a 1.5. But I had made a deal with myself: as long as my grade was sufficient to allow me to get the diploma, I would not complain. So I didn’t.”

For more: www.uvastories.org

UVA's Bicentennial Stories initiative from WTJU 91.1 FM tells our collective story. It helps us understand our shared history and make meaning in the University today. And as we look ahead, these stories help us shape the future of the University and our role in a democratic society.

John Merchant, 1958 UVa Law School Graduate

Merchant: “It’s a bitch to be alone. I just turned 85.”

Narrator: Back in 1958, John Merchant was the first African American to graduate from the UVa Law School.

Merchant: “Quite honestly, being the first wasn’t that big a deal to me. I just wanted to get the hell out of Dodge.”

Interviewer: “You were the only African-American student in the law school?”

Merchant: “I was the only one here for the entire three years.

“One of the first things I saw on one of the dormitories was the confederate flag. I said, ‘Oh, damn, what the hell am I doing here?’

“And then I was given a room. I’m waiting for my roommate. Never got a roommate. Never! Nobody to talk to. I mean, nobody to vent to, nobody to say ‘Let’s go to dinner.’ It was tough.”

For more: www.uvastories.org

UVA's Bicentennial Stories initiative from WTJU 91.1 FM tells our collective story. It helps us understand our shared history and make meaning in the University today. And as we look ahead, these stories help us shape the future of the University and our role in a democratic society.

John Merchant, 1958 UVa Law School Graduate

Merchant: “It’s a bitch to be alone. I just turned 85.”

Narrator: Back in 1958, John Merchant was the first African American to graduate from the UVa Law School.

Merchant: “Quite honestly, being the first wasn’t that big a deal to me. I just wanted to get the hell out of Dodge.”

Interviewer: “You were the only African-American student in the law school?”

Merchant: “I was the only one here for the entire three years.

“One of the first things I saw on one of the dormitories was the confederate flag. I said, ‘Oh, damn, what the hell am I doing here?’

“And then I was given a room. I’m waiting for my roommate. Never got a roommate. Never! Nobody to talk to. I mean, nobody to vent to, nobody to say ‘Let’s go to dinner.’ It was tough.”

For more: www.uvastories.org

UVA's Bicentennial Stories initiative from WTJU 91.1 FM tells our collective story. It helps us understand our shared history and make meaning in the University today. And as we look ahead, these stories help us shape the future of the University and our role in a democratic society.

John Merchant, 1958 UVa Law School Graduate

Merchant: “During intramural basketball, I’d get beat up pretty good. I was a little guy, and it just got rough.”

Narrator: Back in 1958, John Merchant was the first African American to graduate form the UVa Law School.

Merchant: “George Velases was in my class. He was the Far Eastern Air Force Judo Wrestling Champion. George came to me and said, ‘Look, I’ll join the team and if they beat you up, I’ll get even. I’ll replace you, I’ve got five fouls.’ Because you didn’t mess with George.

“And that’s what he did. Really unbelievable. To have somebody be a friend and offer a level of normalcy and humanity really made a big difference.”

For more: www.uvastories.org

UVA's Bicentennial Stories initiative from WTJU 91.1 FM tells our collective story. It helps us understand our shared history and make meaning in the University today. And as we look ahead, these stories help us shape the future of the University and our role in a democratic society.

John Merchant, 1958 UVa Law School Graduate

Merchant: “During intramural basketball, I’d get beat up pretty good. I was a little guy, and it just got rough.”

Narrator: Back in 1958, John Merchant was the first African American to graduate form the UVa Law School.

Merchant: “George Velases was in my class. He was the Far Eastern Air Force Judo Wrestling Champion. George came to me and said, ‘Look, I’ll join the team and if they beat you up, I’ll get even. I’ll replace you, I’ve got five fouls.’ Because you didn’t mess with George.

“And that’s what he did. Really unbelievable. To have somebody be a friend and offer a level of normalcy and humanity really made a big difference.”

For more: www.uvastories.org

UVA's Bicentennial Stories initiative from WTJU 91.1 FM tells our collective story. It helps us understand our shared history and make meaning in the University today. And as we look ahead, these stories help us shape the future of the University and our role in a democratic society.

John Casteen, Professor and Former UVa President 1990-2010

“I’ve had students come in and say, I have to go home, I’m not good enough for this place. You have to talk through that kind of question with them.

“Often have students come in and say, My world is falling apart, I can’t stay. Sometimes they can’t. But by and large they’re not able to think both sides of that question when they’re in an extreme emotional state.

“You don’t, I think, ever deny the validity of their emotions. But it’s not an odd thing in the semester to have two or three who need to understand that others have lived through this crisis, or have felt this emotion, or have believed in this cause. And that we have other available colleagues who can help them think through the very personal parts of that.”

For more: www.uvastories.org

UVA's Bicentennial Stories initiative from WTJU 91.1 FM tells our collective story. It helps us understand our shared history and make meaning in the University today. And as we look ahead, these stories help us shape the future of the University and our role in a democratic society.

John Casteen, Professor and Former UVa President 1990-2010

“I’ve had students come in and say, I have to go home, I’m not good enough for this place. You have to talk through that kind of question with them.

“Often have students come in and say, My world is falling apart, I can’t stay. Sometimes they can’t. But by and large they’re not able to think both sides of that question when they’re in an extreme emotional state.

“You don’t, I think, ever deny the validity of their emotions. But it’s not an odd thing in the semester to have two or three who need to understand that others have lived through this crisis, or have felt this emotion, or have believed in this cause. And that we have other available colleagues who can help them think through the very personal parts of that.”

For more: www.uvastories.org