Have you ever wondered why our beloved alma mater sports a "Pirate" as its mascot?  Well, as a seasoned, professional librarian, I conducted some research and found no  justification as to why one of the top Historically Black Universities (HBCUs) in the United States that includes noted alumni Booker T. Washington and the mother of Dr. Martin Luther King,Jr. (Alberta Williams King),is affiliated with a Pirate.  Thieving pirates were romanticized in literature and the media as daring raiders and pillagers.

Several of the big ten PWIs (Predominantly White Institutions) have discarded mascots that were demeaning to Native Americans and African Americans.

Now it is our turn to select a symbol that is a vivid reflection of Hampton University’s enduring excellence.

Join me in petitioning for the replacement of the demeaning Pirate mascot. 

Hampton Hugs ❤️,

Elaine B. Johnson 

Class of 1971

Hampton University