A dream deferred will become a dream fulfilled on Friday, April 16th, 2021, at 1:00 pm as the Joseph Vaughn Plaza and statue unveiling of Joseph Vaughn, ’68, cum laude, will be officially dedicated by President Elizabeth Davis and the Furman University Community, in front of the James B. Duke Library.
The dream began in 2019 with Furman alum Adare Smith, ’20, who helped organize the initial celebration of Joseph Vaughn, the first African American undergraduate student at Furman. These actions, along with recommendations from Furman’s Task Force on Slavery and Justice, resulted in an annual observance in Vaughn’s honor. January 29th will always and forever be Joseph Vaughn Day.
The Joseph Vaughn statue was created by sculptor Steven Whyte. In his proposal for the Furman commission, Whyte wrote that he had become frustrated by the lack of diversity in subjects chosen for public works of art. “For more than a decade, I have been purposely seeking out projects focused on diversity and social justice”.
Inside the James B. Duke Library, to the right of the exit, is a photo of James Vaughn and the proclamation from the City of Greenville and Mayor Knox White declaring January 29 “Joseph Vaughn Day”.
A small group of Vaughn’s family and friends have been invited to attend the unveiling. Students, faculty and staff are also encouraged to attend, following COVID-19 protocols of masks and social distancing. More information about the Joseph Vaughn Statue Unveiling event, including an opportunity to view it via a livestream, is available.