Kezia Pigford
OXFORD, Miss. – Being part of the “Turn Your Back on Hate” campaign at the University of Mississippi was a defining moment for Kezia Pigford.
Pigford, a native of Hattiesburg who graduated from UM in 2005 with a marketing communications degree, served as president of the Black Student Union during the 2003-04 school year. She was part of the “Turn Your Back on Hate” movement, which was an approach to confronting controversial speakers on campus.
This tactic involved students lining up to protest hateful speakers, but instead of yelling at them or holding signs, students peacefully turned their backs.
“This was the turning point for me,” Pigford said. “I decided BSU was the organization I wanted to be part of. They really were interested in equality and coming together with all members of the Ole Miss student body to make things better.
“Watching how they handled adversity and handled it professionally was inspiring.”
The university’s BSU, founded in 1968, celebrates its 50th anniversary with events throughout the 2017-18 academic year. The group’s golden birthday will culminate with a gala in February 2018.
Throughout the period of celebration, past presidents, former members and current students will be profiled on the BSU website and on the UM website. Special anniversary content on social media can also be found using the hashtag #UMBSU50.
Pigford got involved with the group her sophomore year, and going into her junior year, she was encouraged to run for BSU president. As the group’s leader, she focused on the BSU mission of making sure that everyone always felt welcome.
“The BSU made it known that we were all welcome here and that yes, this present is for you to make it what you want it to be,” Pigford said. “BSU is a place of acceptance and comfort.
“It also pushed me to step out into campus and let me know I didn’t just have to be in BSU and be withdrawn. BSU is the vehicle to show all the possibilities at Ole Miss.”
While serving as president, she found herself thrust into a more active leadership role than most BSU presidents have because that year, the Associated Student Body president was removed from office, leaving a large leadership void on campus. Taking on these roles gave her valuable leadership experience, including becoming better at public speaking, she said.
Jacqueline Certion, coordinator of enrollment and advising for UM’s Foundations for Academic Success Track, worked at the university when Pigford was in school. Pigford considers her a mentor, along with Val Ross, director of the UM Office of Leadership and Advocacy.
Certion, who also served as Pigford’s Sigma Gamma Rho adviser, draws from a Douglas MacArthur quote when remembering her.
“A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions and the compassion to listen to the needs of others,” MacArthur said. “He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent.”
Pigford epitomizes this quote, Certion said.
“Kezia was a passionate leader,” Certion said. “Her ability to connect with diverse populations made her a wonderful asset to every organization in which she served. She led by example, therefore making it easy for those who followed.”
Pigford teaches elementary math and science in Bossier City, Louisiana, which she said she enjoys because she gets to affect the lives of her students, just like she was able to affect the lives of Ole Miss students. She said some of the lessons she learned at UM find their way into her classroom these days.
“It does matter what has happened, but you can’t let it define you,” Pigford said. “You have to channel it and use it. The question is, what are you going to do with what you have now and the opportunities that are there for you in the future.
“I want to help those who are younger than me move forward in a positive direction and know they can overcome any adversity.”