Savanna Hoffman
Autherine Juanita Lucy and Pollie Myers were the first Black students to be admitted to the University of Alabama in 1956. They had to fight the university in court to have their admission maintained once the university realized they were Black. Lucy was the first African American to attend a white public school or university in Alabama. She was officially admitted, but was barred from all dormitories and dining halls. Her enrollment sparked violent riots, and she was expelled from the university later that year.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the first black students enrolled at the University of Alabama | Autherine Juanita Lucy and Pollie Myers |
| Year of enrollment | 1956 |
| Age | Autherine: 27 years old; Pollie: Unknown |
| Date of birth | Autherine: October 5, 1929; Pollie: Unknown |
| Date of death | Autherine: March 2, 2022; Pollie: Unknown |
| Occupation | Autherine: Activist; Pollie: Civil rights activist |
| Education | Autherine: Selma University, Miles College; Pollie: Miles College |
| Degree | Autherine: BA in English; Pollie: Unknown |
| Graduate program | Autherine: Library science; Pollie: Unknown |
| University | University of Alabama |
| Race | Black |
| Gender | Female |
| Marital status | Autherine: Married; Pollie: Unknown |
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What You'll Learn
- James Hood and Vivian Malone Jones were the first Black students to enrol at the University of Alabama
- James Howard Meredith was the first African-American student to enrol at the University of Mississippi
- The University of Mississippi only admitted white students under the state's culture of racial segregation
- Jones and Hood were granted permission to enrol by a District Court Judge in 1963
- Oberlin Collegiate Institute was the first college to adopt a policy of admitting students without respect to race
James Hood and Vivian Malone Jones were the first Black students to enrol at the University of Alabama
James Hood and Vivian Malone Jones were the first Black students to successfully enrol at the University of Alabama in 1963. Their enrolment came nearly a decade after the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court case, which ruled that school segregation was unconstitutional. Despite this ruling, the University of Alabama continued to deny admission to Black students, citing reasons such as over-enrollment and not meeting academic standards.
Vivian Juanita Malone Jones, born in 1942 in Mobile, Alabama, was the fourth of eight children. Her parents emphasised the importance of education, and Malone Jones attended Central High School, where she was a member of the National Honor Society. She first enrolled in Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, one of the few colleges for Black students in the state. In 1963, she became the first Black student to register for classes at the University of Alabama, despite the attempts of Governor George Wallace to physically block her and Hood from enrolling.
James Alexander Hood, a native of Gadsden, Alabama, was an activist from a young age and was active in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He was persuaded by civil rights leaders to apply for admission to the University of Alabama and was initially denied because of his race. However, with the support of civil rights leaders and a federal judge's order, Hood was able to enrol at the university.
Both Malone Jones and Hood faced significant challenges during their time at the University of Alabama. Malone Jones endured ostracism and hostility from other students due to her race, while Hood left the university after only two months due to the racism he experienced. Despite these difficulties, Malone Jones persevered and became the first Black student to graduate from the University of Alabama in 1965, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management. She went on to have a successful career working for civil rights causes and serving in various federal agencies.
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James Howard Meredith was the first African-American student to enrol at the University of Mississippi
James Howard Meredith, born on June 25, 1933, in Kosciusko, Mississippi, became the first African-American student to enrol at the University of Mississippi in 1962. Growing up on a family farm with nine siblings, Meredith joined the U.S. Air Force after graduating from Gibbs High School in St. Petersburg, Florida, and served from 1951 to 1960. Upon returning to Mississippi in 1960, he enrolled at Jackson State University, a historically black college, before applying to the University of Mississippi.
At the time, the University of Mississippi only admitted white students, despite the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education (1954) that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. Inspired by President John F. Kennedy's inaugural address, Meredith decided to exercise his constitutional rights and apply to the University of Mississippi in 1961. He wrote in his application, "I wanted admission for my country, race, family, and myself."
Meredith's attempt to integrate the university faced strong opposition. Mississippi's governor at the time, Ross Barnett, was a segregationist who actively worked to prevent Meredith's admission. On September 29, 1962, riots broke out on the college campus, with white segregationists from across the country gathering to block Meredith's admission. The riots turned violent, resulting in the deaths of two people and injuries to hundreds more.
Despite the resistance, Meredith persisted, and on October 1, 1962, he became the first African-American student to enrol at the University of Mississippi, accompanied by 500 federal marshals and National Guard troops deployed by President Kennedy. Meredith endured harassment and isolation during his time at the university but graduated on August 18, 1963, with a degree in political science.
Meredith's admission to the University of Mississippi is considered a pivotal moment in the history of civil rights in the United States, marking a significant step towards racial integration and equality in education.
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The University of Mississippi only admitted white students under the state's culture of racial segregation
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, had a history of racial segregation. In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Brown v. Board of Education that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. However, the University of Mississippi continued to admit only white students. This changed when James Howard Meredith, an African American civil rights activist, applied to the university in 1961. Inspired by President John F. Kennedy's inaugural address, Meredith wanted to exercise his constitutional rights and put pressure on the Kennedy administration to enforce civil rights for African Americans.
Despite facing fierce resistance and legal battles, Meredith persisted and, with the help of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), he filed a lawsuit against the university, alleging racial discrimination. The case was settled in Meredith's favor by the U.S. Supreme Court in September 1962, and he was finally allowed to enroll at the University of Mississippi. On September 30, 1962, a riot broke out on campus as a mob of angry whites confronted U.S. marshals who were stationed there to protect Meredith. The violence resulted in two deaths, hundreds of injuries, and numerous arrests.
Despite the dangers, Meredith moved into his dorm room, accompanied by Mississippi Highway Patrol and 500 federal marshals. He faced further ostracism and harassment from his fellow students, who would turn their backs on him and bounce basketballs on the floor above his room. Despite the challenges, Meredith persisted and graduated on August 18, 1963, with a degree in political science. He later continued his education at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria and Columbia University Law School, earning an LL.B. (law degree) in 1968.
Meredith's admission to the University of Mississippi was a pivotal moment in the history of civil rights in the United States. It marked the beginning of the integration of the university, and he is honored for his courage and contribution to equal educational opportunities in the South.
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Jones and Hood were granted permission to enrol by a District Court Judge in 1963
In 1963, Vivian Malone Jones and James Hood became the first Black students to enrol at the University of Alabama. This came after two years of deliberation and court proceedings, during which Malone and Hood worked with the Legal Defense Fund to desegregate the university.
The District Court Judge, Harlan Hobart Grooms, ruled that the University of Alabama's practice of denying Black students admission was a violation of the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in the Brown v. Board of Education case. This case had previously deemed the act of educating Black children in schools intentionally separated from white students to be unconstitutional.
Malone and Hood arrived at the University of Alabama's campus in June 1963, accompanied by United States Deputy Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach and a motorcade of federal marshals. They entered the gym and registered as students, with Malone enrolling as a junior. Malone later recalled that this entrance was frightening, as she was concerned about the potential for a repeat of the recent Ole Miss riot, which had seen James Meredith become the first Black student to enrol at the University of Mississippi.
The University of Alabama spent an extra $100,000 on security for Malone and Hood, and the federal government provided marshals and national guardsmen. The university president, Frank Rose, also gave a stern speech to campus security officers after rumours that the Ku Klux Klan wanted to burn a cross on campus.
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Oberlin Collegiate Institute was the first college to adopt a policy of admitting students without respect to race
Oberlin College, founded in 1833 by Presbyterian ministers John Jay Shipherd and Philo P. Stewart, was first known as Oberlin Collegiate Institute. The college was established to promote Christian values and provide education based on religious beliefs. From its inception, Oberlin was co-educational and admitted women students, although they were not admitted to the baccalaureate programme until 1837.
Oberlin College was the first college in America to adopt a policy of admitting students without regard to race. In 1835, two years after its founding, Oberlin's trustees adopted a resolution that read: "Resolved: That the education of the people of color is a matter of great interest and should be encouraged and sustained at the institution." This resolution, which passed by a single vote, represented a radical experiment in the racial integration of higher education in the United States. Oberlin thus became the first predominantly white collegiate institution to admit African American male students.
Oberlin's commitment to the abolition of slavery and social justice made it a welcoming environment for 19th-century black students. It was part of the Underground Railroad, providing refuge for fugitive slaves. Oberlin's role as an educator of African Americans before and after the Civil War was significant. By 1900, Oberlin had produced one-third of all African American college graduates in the United States, including many prominent figures such as Blanche Kelso Bruce, the first Black American to serve a six-year term in the US Senate.
Oberlin's progressive history and commitment to racial equality have continued over the years, with the college producing several notable African American graduates in the 19th and 20th centuries, including scholar William Sanders Scarborough and activists Anna Julia Cooper and Mary Church Terrell.
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Frequently asked questions
Vivian Juanita Malone Jones and James Hood were the first two black students to enroll at the University of Alabama in 1963.
Vivian Malone Jones worked for various federal agencies like the Department of Justice and Environmental Protection Agency, and served as executive director of the Voter Education Project.
James Hood and Vivian Malone Jones were both enrolled in the School of Commerce and Business Administration at the University of Alabama.
James Hood dropped out early during his first year due to the racism he faced. Vivian Malone Jones also faced ostracism and hostility from other students, and was frequently assigned to seats that placed an empty ring of seats around her.
No, James Howard Meredith became the first African-American student admitted to the University of Mississippi in 1962.
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