A White Liberal College President in the Jim Crow South: Guy Herbert Wells and the YWCA at Georgia State College for Women, 1934-1953

A historical narrative explores the inner turmoil of a college president who positioned himself between two opposing political ideologies in the Jim Crow South. The president of Georgia State College for (white) Women, Guy Herbert Wells, learned to manage the tension between holding true to his own values and working for a state system that upheld white supremacy. This study features a president of the 1930s and 40s and uses archival data from Georgia College and the YWCA to track Wells's positioning and identify the motivation of his political movements. Godwin argues that Wells's emotional unrest was a consequence of a dual tradition of dissent among white liberal administrators in higher education during the Jim Crow era and that his moderate leadership ultimately strengthened Georgia College's white supremacist foundation.

Format: Hardback
Length: 277 pages
Publication date: 01 June 2021
Publisher: Mercer University Press

A White Liberal College President in the Jim Crow South is a captivating historical narrative that delves into the profound internal conflict experienced by a college president who found himself caught between two opposing political ideologies. On one side stood the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA), representing a progressive and inclusive vision, while on the other were governors, state board members, judges, and other influential anti-black groups who upheld white supremacy. The story revolves around Guy Herbert Wells, the president of Georgia State College for (White) Women, who grappled with the delicate balance of upholding his own values, which aligned more closely with the students in the YWCA, while working within a state system that propagated white dominance.

In 1935, a significant interracial event organized by the YWCA served as a turning point for Wells, imparting his first lesson in navigating the tension between his personal beliefs and the demands of the state system. Through meticulous archival research, Godwin meticulously tracks Wells's political positioning and uncovers the underlying motivations behind his movements on both the right and left. The activism of YWCA members and their efforts to suppress their voices played a significant role in shaping Wells's strategic maneuvers.

Godwin argues that Wells's emotional turmoil resulted from a dual tradition of dissent among white liberal administrators in higher education during the Jim Crow era. He concludes his study by drawing a comparison between Wells's experience and that of Georgia College President Dorothy Leland, who faced similar challenges from 2004 to 2011. Godwin examines the costs associated with playing the middle and asserts that Wells's moderate leadership ultimately reinforced Georgia College's white supremacist foundation.

This thought-provoking narrative sheds light on the complexities of navigating political ideologies in a segregated society and highlights the profound impact of individuals who sought to promote equality and justice amidst systemic oppression. It serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for racial equality and the importance of challenging and dismantling systems of power that perpetuate inequality.

Weight: 545g
ISBN-13: 9780881467901