BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY : AFRICAN AMERICAN " JOHN H. CONYERS " OF SOUTH CAROLINA WAS THE FIRST BLACK ADMITTED TO THE UNITED STATES ACADEMY ON 21 SEPTEMBER 1872 : GOES INTO THE " HALL OF BLACK HEROES "

             BLACK   SOCIAL   HISTORY                                                                                                                                                                                                          

John H. Conyers

BLACK              SOCIAL            HISTORY

John Henry Conyers of South Carolina was the first black admitted to the United States Naval Academy on 21 September 1872.^[1]

Conyers was nominated by South Carolina congressman Robert B. Elliott. After his arrival, he was shunned and constantly and brutally harassed.^[2] This included severe, ongoing hazing, including verbal torment, and beatings. His classmates even attempted to drown him.^[2] In the fall of 1872, Conyers was marching when he was kicked and punched by several other Cadets, among them the Academy's boxing champion George Good fellow.^[2][3]

News of the incident and the constant hazing experienced by Conyers leaked to the newspapers, and a three-man board was convened to investigate the attacks. Goodfellow denied any wrongdoing and Conyers claimed he could not identify any of his attackers. The board nonetheless concluded that "His persecutors are left then without any excuse or palliation except the inadmissible one of prejudice." To give Conyers a fair chance at succeeding on his own merits, they believed strong measures should be taken. In the end Goodfellow and two others were dismissed from the Academy.^[2] The abuse continued in more subtle forms however, and Conyers finally resigned in October 1873.^[4]