Did Deshaun Watson and DeAndre Hopkins Know Of Slave-Owning John Calhoun Before Clemson Commitment?
Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson and Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins called on Clemson to rename the Calhoun Honors College on Monday.
The former Tigers stars both tweeted a petition that seeks to rename the College named after former Vice President and South Carolina Senator John C. Calhoun. Hopkins also called for the removal of references to Calhoun on all university buildings and signs.
“Clemson University should not honor slave owner John C. Calhoun in any way. His name should be removed from all University property and programming,” Watson wrote on Twitter. “I am joining the students, faculty & DeAndre to restart this petition to rename the Calhoun Honors College.”
Part of me starts to wonder, though. Were DeAndre Hopkins and Deshaun Watson aware of this before committing to Clemson?
If so, why did they go through with it?
Deshaun Watson
✔@deshaunwatson
Clemson University should not honor slave owner John C. Calhoun in any way. His name should be removed from all University property and programming. I am joining the students, faculty & DeAndre to restart this petition to rename the Calhoun Honors College.http://tinyurl.com/calhounpetition
Sign the Petition
Rename the Calhoun Honors College at Clemson University
change.org
Deandre Hopkins
✔@DeAndreHopkins
Clemson University still honors the name of slave owner John C. Calhoun on its buildings, signs, and in the name of its honors program. I am joining the voices of the students and faculty to restarted this petition to rename the Calhoun Honors College. http://tinyurl.com/calhounpetition
Hopkins detailed his opposition to Calhoun’s name on Clemson buildings in an Instagram post on Monday.
“Clemson University still honors the name of well known slave owner and pro-slavery politician John C. Calhoun on its buildings, signs, and in the name of its honors program,” Hopkins wrote. “I felt this oppressive figure during my time at Clemson and purposely do not mention the University’s name before NFL games because of it.”
Hopkins caught 206 passes for 3,020 yards in three seasons at Clemson from 2010-12, hauling in 18 touchdowns in his junior season. Watson went 33–5 with the Tigers from 2014-16, winning a National Championship with Clemson in 2016.
Watson and Hopkins spent three seasons together with the Texans from 2017-19 before Hopkins was traded to the Cardinals in March.
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