Michael Thurmond, who is in Georgia's gubernatorial race as a Democrat, and lieutenant governor candidate Richard Wright spoke at Mercer about navigating predominantly white institutions as Black people on Feb. 17.
The panel was part of a series commemorating Black History Month and was hosted by the Mercer University National Council of Negro Women.
Thurmond announced his run for Georgia governor last summer. If elected, he would be the first Democrat to hold the office since 2003 and would replace Gov. Brian Kemp, who has held office since January 2019. Thurmond has served in the Georgia General Assembly, Georgia Division of Family and Children Services and was the Georgia Labor Commissioner for three terms.
Some of the Athens-Clarke County native’s competition includes former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who has held office alongside Kemp since 2023 and has been endorsed by President Donald Trump.
Wright, a certified accountant from Atlanta, is “not a career politician or a political insider,” according to his campaign website. A resident of Fulton County, Wright ran in 2024 to represent District 38 in the Georgia Senate. His website says that his platform is centered on economic growth and “people-first leadership.”
Wright will run against Seth Clark, a former Macon-Bibb county commissioner and State Sen. Joshua McLaurin, a former member of the Georgia House of Representatives. Eleven candidates are seeking the Republican primary nomination.
A dozen students gathered in Godsey Science Center to ask the candidates questions. Both speakers emphasized the importance of building self-confidence. Wright discussed financial literacy and Thurmond explained how to build safe spaces on college campuses.
NCNW executive members organized the panel to create a safe space for Black students while strengthening campus connections. The club has recently held similar panels that discussed Black maternal health, Alzheimer's disease and Black creators.
“We are a club for Black women by Black women,” NCNW President Latoya Bartley ‘26 said.
Wright began his speech by asking students to repeat affirmations like “I am important” and “My views matter.” He then highlighted the importance of financial literacy, urging students to start investing early and to recognize that wealth goes beyond cash. He encouraged students to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset, saying that rewarding skills develop over time and with effort.
“My mother always told me that when I went on any job, whether it was at McDonald's or Coca-Cola, I should learn as much as I could,” Wright said. “Even as a W-2 employee, you're always self-employed.”
He urged students to shop at Black-owned businesses to keep the money circulating in the community and help build wealth.
Thurmond emphasized the importance of Black representation on Mercer’s campus.
“Your presence is making history,” Thurmond said.
Bartley told the story of Sam Oni, the first Black student to attend Mercer University, and the adversities he faced in integrating into the University. Thurmond said Oni's sacrifices should remind students to be confident in their abilities.
He told students to strive for small improvements rather than perfection, adding that he believes undergraduate students face too much pressure to be flawless.
“You don't have to be perfect to be good at what you do,” Thurmond said.
During the question and answer segment of the event, Makayla Hodges ‘29 asked what the pair of candidates plan to do to combat social issues like mass incarceration in Georgia. Wright said he would increase economic investment in communities impacted by high-crime if elected.
“I want to have a tax credit for investing in high-crime areas,” Wright said. He said the plan is modeled after similar systems in Florida.
Thurmond asked students why they believe tension exists between Black undergraduate students in academic settings. Domonique King ‘26 said that some Black students feel pressure to fit into majority white spaces as a way to avoid acknowledging the racial imbalances in class settings.
Thurmond advised Black students to create safe spaces, both inside and outside the classroom, where they can gather, share their struggles and network with one another.
“You can create internal spaces that will help you be healthier, psychologically and physically,” Thurmond said.
Precious Clark '26 is a Law & Public Policy major with a minor in Political Science. She works at the circulation desk in Tarver Library and Auxiliary Services. When she is not writing for The Mercer Cluster, she enjoys reading, drawing and listening to Tame Impala.
