Ole Miss probes racist gestures by off-campus neighbors
University officials called the incident hurtful after a student recorded two women making monkey noises and gestures near her apartment.
By Amina Howard ·
Ole Miss officials announced an investigation into an alleged racist incident involving off-campus neighbors on Friday. The university stated that the actions taken by the two women were hurtful and unacceptable.
The incident occurred at an off-campus apartment in Oxford, Mississippi. A Black student reviewed footage from her doorbell camera and saw two women walking past her property. The student identified the women as her upstairs neighbors. Video shows the pair making monkey gestures and producing monkey sounds as they walked by.
The student reported prior minor disputes with the neighbors, citing issues with noise and general living arrangements. She stated that the specific gestures and sounds went beyond typical neighbor disagreements. The university has not released the identities of the students involved in the preliminary report.
National data from the FBI indicates that racial bias remains a leading factor in hate crimes. In 2025, there were 10,881 hate crime incidents recorded. Of those victims, 55.6 percent were targeted because of their race. From 2015 to 2024, crimes against Black people accounted for approximately 32 percent of all hate crimes. A 2025 survey of college students found that 70 percent reported facing discrimination at their institutions.
Mississippi has a documented history of racial violence and voter suppression. The state ranked first in lynchings from 1877 to 1950. Between 1882 and 1970, more than 500 people were lynched in the state. Black registered voters in Mississippi declined from 60,167 in 1867 to 8,615 by 1892. Historical records cite poll taxes and literacy tests as primary tools for this decline.
A caller to the Majic 102.1 radio show said his family would remain in their current housing. He stated that the family must deal with these societal issues and let the school determine the appropriate punishment. The caller emphasized that the school should handle the disciplinary process.
