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Calvin Dwayne Straughter 1982-2012

Calvin Dwayne Straughter. Here is a man that could make you love him and hate him in the same moment. Here is a man that made my college years so full of life and learning, but also made me want to strangle him on a consistent basis. Every time I’d ask him why he would say or do things when he knew it made me mad he’d just say “Because I’m testing you to see how far I can push our friendship. If I push you hard but you stick around I will know you are a true friend.” The crazy thing is that Calvin couldn’t be pushed back, not often anyway.

He was, however, always up for a heated discussion. I’ve heard that Calvin was a much angrier person before I met him in 2002, but the only anger I ever saw from Calvin was to better the human race. He got angry about things that a lot of people still push under the rug and ignore. I always valued that in Calvin and it took me a long time to be able to stand up and defend others like he did. Most people that didn’t know him just thought he was an “angry black man,” but it wasn’t just about race. He wanted equality for all. When Jewell was having discussions about protecting people regardless of sexual orientation Calvin was one of the loudest (and we all know he was loud) supporters of this protection on campus. I will never forget how Calvin wanted everyone to feel wanted and loved. Calvin chose the first Unity t-shirt quote by Audre Lorde “Your silence will not protect you.” Calvin encapsulated every part of this quote and taught me to try as I might be as impactful as he was.

Now, I knew bits and pieces about Black History when I met Calvin, but I would not be the advocate I am today for promoting the history of African Americans that I am without him. From my first Unity meeting where I fully found out how sheltered I had been to discussing “Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together In The Cafeteria?” I started my journey when I met him. He led us, as Unity and as a campus, to greater understanding of what togetherness can feel like. He led our Unity family and wove it into the tight knit group it still is today. William Jewell College was forever changed when Calvin Straughter walked onto its campus and I was forever changed when he first stood up to lead a Unity meeting. William Jewell, for me, was synonymous with Calvin Straughter. My experience wouldn’t have been as full or fun without. That being said it may have been a bit less stressful sometimes, but I’ll take it.

Calvin taught me to stand up and not be afraid to ask the tough questions. He also taught me how to act as silly as possible with too many people watching. I can still remember him giving the backbeat to folks in the cafeteria while they freestyled to things as trivial as food trays and mystery meat. I cherish those silly days in the cafeteria, but I also cherish the days when he was making me work my tail off to put on the first annual Unity Step Show. Man, that still feels like one of the coolest accomplishments I’ve ever been a part of. I never thought I would know what my true passions in life were, but through Unity and the friendships I gained through Unity I found my true passion: love for people, not matter who you are.

Calvin was always still keeping up with me, even as I moved to Japan to start this amazing journey for myself. I had the pleasure of reading an early novel of his that has since been taken away due to stupid computer problems, but I got this glimpse in that moment of the greatness that I am so saddened to say won’t be able to be shared with the world. I cannot imagine the world without Calvin Straughter being a name that everyone on earth knows. How could this be? How am I never going to be able to hear Calvin tell me how he wants to know what life is like or how I’m doing? How can he never be the light that made us all burn so bright? How can he not be here to help those “UNLEARN” what we have so ridiculously been taught by history? How can our leader be gone? I was so excited to feature Calvin in my blog, but I never in a million years imagined it would be a tribute. It was supposed to be during a Pulitzer Prize winning moment. I feel robbed, but I know that the world has truly been robbed because now the whole world doesn’t get the chance to be fully changed and transformed by Calvin Straughter. I’m just thankful, lucky, and blessed that I was able to get that opportunity myself. I love you friend. C Straughter, forever, you crazy punk.