A Historic Name Change to Honor Autherine Lucy
On February 11, 2022, the University of Alabama officially renamed its education building Autherine Lucy Hall to honor the first Black student to attend the university. This recognition came 66 years after Lucy made history on February 3, 1956, by attending her first class, only to be forced out by violent racist mobs and a university administration that caved to pressure.
A few weeks after the historic renaming, Autherine Lucy Foster passed away at the age of 92. Her legacy, however, continues to inspire generations, with the university holding multiple events and dedications in her name.
A Trailblazer in Education: The Fight for Admission
Born on October 5, 1929, in Shiloh, Alabama, Autherine Lucy grew up as the youngest of 10 children in a sharecropping family. She pursued education with determination, graduating from Miles College with a degree in English. In 1952, she and her friend Pollie Myers applied to the University of Alabama, unaware that race was assumed to be white on applications.
When the university discovered they were Black, it began to backtrack. With the support of Thurgood Marshall and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the two women challenged the university on grounds of racial discrimination. A court order on June 29, 1955, forced UA to admit Lucy, but her friend was rejected due to pregnancy before marriage, an excuse to bar her entry.
Facing Racist Mobs and Expulsion
Lucy entered the university on February 3, 1956, escorted by school officials as angry crowds hurled racist threats. Just three days later, riots erupted on campus, with mobs throwing eggs, bricks, and shouting violent slurs. The university responded not by protecting Lucy, but by suspending and later expelling her under the pretense of “safety.”
The events at UA occurred in the wake of the Montgomery bus boycott and the lynching of Emmett Till, marking a turbulent time in the fight for civil rights. Though Lucy fought for reinstatement, the university chose expulsion instead. She left the school but remained an icon in the struggle for educational equality.
A Long Road Back: Redemption and Recognition
It wasn’t until 1988 that the University of Alabama overturned her expulsion. In 1989, Lucy re-enrolled in the graduate education program, attending classes alongside her daughter, Grazia Foster. In 1992, both mother and daughter graduated together, a moment of poetic justice decades in the making.
The university continued to honor her contributions:
- 1992: UA established the Autherine Lucy Fellowship and unveiled her portrait.
- 2010: The Autherine Lucy Clock Tower was erected in Malone-Hood Plaza.
- 2017: A commemorative marker was placed outside the education building.
- 2019: Lucy was awarded an honorary doctorate by UA.
- 2022: The education building was officially renamed Autherine Lucy Hall.
Final Public Appearance and Her Message of Love
On February 25, 2022, Autherine Lucy made her last public appearance at the dedication of her namesake building. She emphasized love over bitterness, stating:
“If I am a master teacher, what I hope I’m teaching you is that love will take care of everything in our world. It does not depend on what color we are.”
Legacy and Impact on Civil Rights
Autherine Lucy’s courage paved the way for other Black students, including Vivian Malone Jones and James Hood, who successfully integrated UA in 1963. Her fight was part of the larger civil rights movement, setting a precedent that helped dismantle segregation in education.
Lucy’s story is a reminder of the sacrifices made for equal rights. She endured humiliation, threats, and expulsion but ultimately saw her name honored by the very institution that once rejected her.
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