Honoring trailblazers: University of Alabama commemorates 60th anniversary of historic integration
The trailblazers who helped integrate the University of Alabama on June 11, 1963 were honored Sunday during a 60th anniversary ceremony. The program was hosted on campus by the University of Alabama's Black Alumni Association as part of a reunion ceremony.
Former Alabama Governor George Wallace stood in front of two doors on the University of Alabama campus to block the admission of two Black people, Vivian Malone and James Hood.
Those two students and others were trailblazers who opened doors for many future Black college students including Sandra Richardson who is a relative of Malone.
The doors are now on display on campus and are part of Richardson's family history.
"Has an extra special meaning to me," she said while standing in front of the doors located inside Foster Auditorium.
Some who attended the program were not University of Alabama alumni but watched the historic events on television.
"As a 10-year-old, I watched like most Americans. I watched the governor stand in these doors declaring the longevity of segregation. Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever and I thank God that he allowed me to be part of the movement that made a liar out of George Wallace," said Ralph Williams.
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Watching those events on TV sparked Williams to be part of change in his own community shortly later.
"I was part of the change of the first African Americans students at the all-white schools in Cordova," Williams said.
He added "and it also reminds me there are those who are in this country, people of power and position who want to roll us back. Gotta still fight. There's still a fight to be fought."