Jimmy Garrett & Jerry Varnado
Jimmy Garrett and Jerry Varnado: Pioneers of Black Student Empowerment
By Skylar Parrish & Wodsander Maxime
In the dynamic and turbulent landscape of 1960s America, two figures stood out as pivotal in the fight for Black student empowerment and institutional change in higher education: Jimmy Garrett and Jerry Varnado. Their work, particularly at San Francisco State University (SFSU), forever altered the course of the university's relationship with its Black students and paved the way for the establishment of Black Studies programs across the country. Their activism was part of a larger struggle for racial justice, civil rights, and self-determination, and their impact continues to be felt today.
Jimmy Garrett: The Architect of Change
Jimmy Garrett was a young intellectual and activist who saw education as a key battlefield in the fight for racial equality. Born in Mississippi and raised in Washington, D.C., Garrett was acutely aware of the systemic racism that permeated American institutions. His early involvement in the civil rights movement laid the groundwork for his later activism in higher education.
Garrett’s arrival at San Francisco State College in the mid-1960s coincided with a period of political upheaval. As a leader of the Black Student Union (BSU), Garrett spearheaded efforts to challenge the university’s Eurocentric curriculum and the lack of Black representation in the faculty and administration. He played a key role in organizing the longest student strike in U.S. history, demanding the creation of a Black Studies department and greater control over curriculum relevant to Black students.
In an interview reflecting on the founding of the BSU, Garrett explained, “Calling ourselves the BSU reflected a growing consciousness of Black identity. It became important as a forthright and intentional political statement.” The decision to name the organization the Black Student Union, rather than the Negro Student Association (NSA), was deeply symbolic, mirroring the shift in Black Americans’ self-perception during the Black Power movement.
Jerry Varnado: A Voice for Justice
Jerry Varnado, a close ally of Garrett and a fellow student at San Francisco State, also played a crucial role in shaping the movement. Like Garrett, Varnado was committed to justice and equality, believing that education was a tool for empowerment. As one of the co-founders of the BSU, Varnado helped lead protests and articulate demands for a more inclusive university environment.
In the same interview, Varnado remarked, “During that period of time, we responded to what was happening outside of the campus, and Black people’s definition of themselves began to evolve. We wanted to call ourselves the BSU... this was about using ‘Black’ to bring different people together and move forward in a political and empowering way.”
Both Garrett and Varnado emphasized the sense of unity and solidarity that emerged within the BSU community. Varnado recalled how Black students and workers would help each other in small but significant ways—whether by slipping extra food to students in the cafeteria or simply greeting each other with a nod and a smile. “By the time [new students] got to the BSU house... they had been nodded at, smiled at, and spoken to so often that they were in shock,” Garrett added.
Legacy of Their Activism
The efforts of Garrett and Varnado were not in vain. In 1969, SFSU became the first university in the United States to establish a Black Studies department, a groundbreaking achievement that inspired other universities to follow suit. Their activism highlighted the need for educational spaces that reflect the experiences and histories of marginalized communities, and their work continues to influence movements for educational reform and racial justice today.
In remembering Jimmy Garrett and Jerry Varnado, we honor their contribution to the Black Power movement and the fight for equitable education. Their legacy serves as a reminder of the power of student activism and the lasting impact that collective action can have on transforming institutions.
References:
https://www.keranews.org/2019-03-21/the-student-strike-that-changed-higher-ed-forever
