"SCHOOLHOUSE" WOMEN
Past Efforts
Framing Memory of Black Women
Memory & Performance
Women's Sports at UA
Women at UA Today

"Pioneers" - of what?

Kimberly Richardson assessed the "Pioneers" section of the university's 40th Anniversary website and found its  profiles of key women lacking. She suggested the following revisions:
  • Autherine Lucy (Foster)  became the first African-American student to enroll at UA in 1956.  After she graduated from Miles College in 1952, she enrolled at the University as a graduate student in library science. However, before  graduating from Miles College, her brief stay at The University of  Alabama’s campus involved three days of horrible demonstrations. Foster  was suspended and later expelled by the UA Board of Trustees. Foster did  end up attending UA years later though.
  • Vivian Malone (Jones)  was one of the two students whose enrollment Alabama Governor George C.  Wallace attempted to block by positioning himself in the doorway of  Foster Auditorium. In 1965, she became the first African-American  student to graduate from the University, receiving a bachelor of arts in  business management. Jones’s success was a huge milestone for  African-Americans, giving them hope and a platform to stand on. 
  • Sarah Healy: Even though not African American, was extremely  influential during this  time and deserves to be recognized.  She was the Universities dean of  women from 1954-1971, and was instrumental in protecting Lucy. She  provided her own car to escort Lucy on campus in an attempt to shield  her from physical harm during Foster’s brief time at the University.  Several years later, Healy also played an important role in the  successful desegregation of the University of Alabama, facilitating the  enrollment of Jones and James Hood. She offered unwavering support to  Jones during her course of study at the University.

Whose experiences?

Ashanti Richardson  (no relation to Kimberly) scrutinized the 50th Anniversary website and realized, near mid-semester, than the page titled "Black Experience at UA" was 1) primarily enrollment data and other statistical measures and 2) out of date, including links to the 40th Anniversary website.

Ashanti researched the "black experience" in higher education today, at a range of universities including Alabama, and made suggestions for how the 50th anniversary site could better showcase the voices and experiences of its black students today.

Many of her suggestions were implemented on the site; by the end of the semester a new page appeared, complete with a "Submit Your Story" function for current UA students, faculty, staff, or alumni to contribute to the site. Note the disclaimer on this page -- whose experiences or which experiences get shared in high-profile moments of public memory?
Vivian Jones walks to Burke Hall during the standoff with Gov Wallace
Vivian Malone (Jones) being escorted to Burke Hall on June 11, 1063