In 1941, the Harvard males’s lacrosse crew drove south for a recreation towards the U.S. Naval Academy. However when the Crimson arrived at Annapolis, Navy crew officers notified the Harvard teaching employees they’d not play the competition if Lucien V. Alexis Jr. ’42 — the crew’s first Black participant — took the sector.
Head coach Dick Snibbe and Alexis’ teammates refused to bench him and determined to forfeit the sport in protest. However the next day, Harvard administration ordered Alexis to journey again to Cambridge and the sport was performed as scheduled.
As newspapers reported on the incident, public outrage was directed at each Harvard and Navy. When Harvard’s lacrosse crew traveled to West Level, New York, every week later to play a recreation towards the U.S. Navy Academy they have been welcomed by a cheering group led by Black cadets. Alexis performed that match.
Habiba Braimah, senior director of the Harvard Basis
“We honor Lucien’s dedication to his crew and establishment, and acknowledge the hardship that Alexis unjustly endured whereas at this establishment.”
This fall, Alexis’ legacy shall be honored when his portrait — painted as a part of the Harvard Basis for Intercultural and Race Relations’ Portraiture Undertaking — is put in within the Gilman Room at Agassiz Theatre.
“We honor Lucien’s dedication to his crew and establishment, and acknowledge the hardship that Alexis unjustly endured whereas at this establishment,” mentioned Habiba Braimah, senior director of the Harvard Basis.
Launched in 2002, the portrait undertaking goals to higher mirror Harvard’s variety on partitions round campus.
Midfielder Fred Asare-Konadu ’24 mentioned Alexis’ story was instantly relatable. “As a lacrosse participant, there have been so many conditions the place I used to be the one African American particular person on a crew or in a room. I used to be in a position to perceive how he might have felt in lots of of those conditions.”
“He needed to make lots of arduous selections for the betterment of his crew,” defender Jaden Jernigan ’25 mentioned. “His fortitude and skill to push via an unlucky state of affairs is one thing I attempt to pull from in my on a regular basis decision-making course of. He has been an enormous affect on me.”
Members of the Harvard Faculty Males’s Lacrosse Crew and their coach.
Niles Singer/Harvard Workers Photographer
Final spring, Frisbie Household Head Coach for Harvard Males’s Lacrosse Gerry Byrne reached out to Asare-Konadu and Jernigan, asking them to assist get the Alexis portrait throughout the end line. From there, the pair have labored with the Harvard Basis to assist increase consciousness of Alexis’ story.
Stephen E. Coit
“I noticed a way of complexity in his face. This portrait is about coping with change and being in the midst of it.”
“In any group, your id is the end result of tales that you simply proceed to share,” Asare-Konadu mentioned. “I believe Coach Byrne does an outstanding job of speaking about our historical past. Realizing that Lucien’s story shall be introduced again into these conversations is vital for the tradition we’re persevering with to instill.”
“The significance of illustration in portraiture can’t be overstated, because it serves as a visible narrative of our shared historical past, values, and contributions,” Braimah mentioned. “Via these portraits, we honor the legacies of those who have made important contributions to Harvard and spotlight the significance of illustration in making a extra equitable and various atmosphere.”
Artist Stephen E. Coit ’71 spoke on the unveiling of the portrait final month. “My objective is to to not give my impressions of individuals, my objective is to offer their impressions, so they convey to you what they need to say. I noticed a way of complexity in his face. This portrait is about coping with change and being in the midst of it.”
Asare-Konadu and Jernigan say they hope extra folks throughout the athletics program and the broader campus group can study from Alexis’ sacrifices.
“I believe it should assist foster progress,” Jernigan mentioned. “Not solely between teammates, however throughout lacrosse and totally different sports activities. I believe it’s an incredible factor to share, and I’m glad we’re part of it.”
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