Hattiesburg, Mississippi – On Thursday morning, the City of Hattiesburg joined the Mississippi Department of Transportation, Southern District Transportation Commissioner Tom King and Senator Juan Barnett to dedicate the “Clyde Kennard Memorial Highway.”
This stretch of Highway 49 begins at the intersection of Hardy Street and extends one mile north. This is the result of a legislative effort that took place during the 2021 Session of the Mississippi Legislature through Senate Bill 2481, with an amendment steered by Sen. Barnett of the 34th District and supported by Senators Joey Fillingane, Chris Johnson and John Polk.
The bill reads:
“SECTION(1) The segment of U.S. Highway 49 in Forrest County beginning at its intersection with Hardy Street in Hattiesburg and extending one (1) mile north is designated as the ‘Clyde Kennard Memorial Highway.'”
The bill passed both the Senate and the House, as amended, and was approved by the governor in March.
Kennard, a pioneer for Civil Rights, was the first African-American student to apply for admission to The University of Southern Mississippi. He was denied not once, but twice in 1955 and 1959. In 1960, He was wrongfully convicted for stealing and sentenced to seven years in prison. He was diagnosed with cancer in 1962 and denied treatment until the NAACP and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. demanded his release. He died in 1963. Later, further investigations showed that Kennard had been framed, and years later in May 2006, the Forrest County Circuit Court exonerated him.
The dedication ceremony featured an invocation and benediction by Reverend Reginald Woullard with Shady Grove Baptist Church. It also featured special remarks by King, Mayor Toby Barker, Sen. Barnett and Dr. Eddie Holloway.
Excerpts from remarks include:
“Redemption acknowledges the wrong and the collective failure of humanity. Redemption doesn’t undo the injustice; but, it can repent for it; it can work to correct it; it can bend that arc of the moral universe – as Theodore Parker and Martin Luther King, Jr. said – a little more toward justice,” said Barker. “When we experience redemption, we tell the story of the wrong that was committed, so that it does not happen again. This marker today does that, flanking the very campus where he was denied his opportunity to continue his education.”
“Even on days like today – it still saddens me that men like Mr. Kennard, Mr. Vernon Dahmer, and Dr. Martin Luther King, to name a few, had their lives stolen from them while only trying to be judged by the content of their character and not by the color of their skin. But even in death, they still gave life,” said Sen. Barnett. “Because of their efforts – others like myself can still say, ‘Here I am,’ can gain acceptance into any university in this country, become elected officials and be judges, doctors, lawyers and more. As we place this marker along this highway, Mr. Kennard – we salute you… for not only fighting in a foreign war but to come home and continue the fight so that days like today could be possible.”
“Oftentimes we don’t like history, but we do the best we can to amend it. And in many cases, we do what we can following the reflection of the insights gained. And then we find a greater reason to determine what really matters,” said Dr. Eddie Holloway.
Two signs were installed this week by MDOT along the stretch of Highway 49 as designated.
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