An attorney and former Los Angeles mayoral candidate, Sanders became the first Rhodes scholar from Whittier College on Dec. 15, 1962. He was only the second Black student in the history of the entire program, which selects talented students from around the world to study at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.
Sanders said he owes his career trajectory to attending Whittier during the Civil Rights Movement. With Los Angeles hosting the Democratic National Convention in 1960, the Lakers basketball team moving to California, and Whittier hosting exchange students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities, change was in the air.
“I formed my solid intention to go to law school and to become a political activist and lawyer at Whittier College,” he said. “That environment spawned that intention that held up through my post-college experiences. It began at Whittier.”
His journey will come full circle as Sanders returns to his alma mater as the keynote speaker for its 122nd Commencement.
In addition to studying political science, Sanders was student body president and an All-American football player while at Whittier. During his three years as a wide receiver on the varsity team, he caught 93 passes for 1,703 yards and scored 21 touchdowns.
After attending Yale Law School, he returned to Whittier to serve on the board of trustees. The experience of being a young Black man on the board was formative.
“It’s human to learn how to address and converse with people at a level that respects their position in life, and that’s something I never forgot,” Sanders said. “I’m thankful to my family and to Whittier College for not fostering that sense of superiority that so many colleges do.”
Born in Watts in 1942 as the youngest of four children, Sanders always wanted to go to a small liberal arts college. The Quaker values and spirit of the community supported Sanders, a member of the Lancer Society, and he cherishes the memories made on campus. He also values the soft skills and interpersonal skills he picked up at the College and applied as a Rhoades scholar.
“Hundreds of Black American students, student-athletes, men and women, have gotten the Rhodes Scholarship since me and have done really well,” Sanders said. “The diversity did not sacrifice the quality.”
Whittier also taught Sanders how to navigate a world that wasn’t necessarily built for students from a range of socioeconomic backgrounds. His advice to other students in his shoes is to be confident.
“Take it. Own it,” Sanders said. “Don’t be shy about stepping up, especially if everybody in the room says ‘We want to hear what Stan has to say.’ You can’t say ‘No, I’m not qualified to deal with that.’ And I never did. … The most important thing an individual can do is to aim high. It doesn’t really matter whether you think you can make it. Aim to do it and reorganize your life to achieve that goal at a higher level. The outcome will be much better than if you settle for something less.”
In addition to speaking at Commencement, Sanders will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, Whittier College’s highest honor, reserved for individuals with outstanding convictions, ambitions, values, and accomplishments, and exceptional moral fiber.
“We are honored to welcome J. Stanley Sanders ’63 to address the Class of 2025 at Whittier College,” said President Kristine Dillon ’73. “As we celebrate the accomplishments and aspirations of our graduating seniors, I know his thoughtful perspective and deep commitment to justice will resonate powerfully and reflect the values we hold dear as Poets.”
For more details about the Commencement, visit Whittier.edu/commencement.
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