Autherine Lucy Foster, the first Black student, enrolled at the University of Alabama, has died. She passed away on March 2 at the age of 92.
Foster was the first Black student enrolled at the all-white school in 1956. She received her teaching certificate from Selma University before earning a bachelor’s degree from Miles College in 1952.
After applying to the University of Alabama for graduate school and being accepted, she was later rejected when the school learned her race. She sued the school for racial discrimination with the help of the NAACP and won three years later.
Foster began classes but was subjected to death threats and hostile crowds throwing debris at her while spewing racial slurs. The school expelled Foster, an education graduate student, after three days due to riots. She left the state discouraged and moved to Texas before getting married.
Foster returned to the University of Alabama in 1988, along with her daughter, Grazia, and earned a master’s degree in education in 1992. The university honored Foster with an honorary doctorate in 2019.
The University of Alabama dedicated the same building where she attended classes in the 1950s to Dr. Foster less than one week before she died on February 25. Dr. Foster spoke of love at the dedication ceremony.
“If I am a master teacher, what I hope I am teaching you is that love will take care of everything in our world, don’t you think,” said Foster. “It’s not your color. It’s not how bright you are. It’s how you feel about those that you deal with.”
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President Dr. Stuart R. Bell acknowledged Foster’s passing on Twitter.
“The UA community is deeply saddened by the passing of our friend, Dr. Autherine Lucy Foster,” said UA President Dr. Stuart R. Bell. “While we mourn the loss of a legend who embodied love, integrity and a spirit of determination,
[1/3] pic.twitter.com/6j7NmsktwQ
— The Univ. of Alabama (@UofAlabama) March 2, 2022
as one who broke barriers, reminded us of the respect due to every individual and lived a life of strength in steadfast service to her students and community.”
A look back on Dr. Foster’s legacy at UA: https://t.co/ZOVcPtcpNu[3/3]
— The Univ. of Alabama (@UofAlabama) March 2, 2022
Lucy-Graves Hall will now be called Autherine Lucy Hall. Her family requested that her maiden name be used because Lucy was her name when she first attended the university. The trailblazer also has a scholarship in her name and the campus clocktower.
“My response to fear is: do it anyway. Let nothing stop you. You have to push forward.”
Our condolences to the family.
