| Robert Kennedy Jr. and pioneers
speak on importance of 'Opening Doors'
At 2 p.m. Tuesday, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., keynote speaker for the Pioneer Recognition Program planned for 8 p.m. that evening, and pioneers Vivian Malone Jones, James Hood and Autherine Lucy Foster shared their experiences from the past and their perspectives on the present as part of the "Opening Doors" events. In the news conference, Kennedy contended that the "Schoolhouse Door" battle was the last battle Americans fought. Kennedy believes the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1974 finally made America the country the founding fathers had envisioned. "Our country was really not what it was supposed to be from the beginning, which was a true constitutional democracy. The critical focal point was the University of Alabama," Kennedy said. Hood also sees Gov. George Wallace's actions in 1963 as a culmination of events that finally solidified the government's policies regarding race. Wallace represents a politician who sacrificed good ethics in exchange for votes in Hood's view. "We [Jones and Hood] weren't the only people used by George Wallace. The state of Alabama was used by George Wallace," Hood said. Kennedy stressed the importance of remembering the struggles and sacrifices made by those involved in the Civil Rights Movement to achieve voting rights for a population whose current voter turnout is historically low. Opened doors in 1956 or 1963?
In contrast to Kennedy's and Hood's views of the "Stand in the Schoolhouse Door" in 1963, Foster feels her brief enrollment at the university in 1956 marked the first opening of the doors. "The 'Stand' was just a stand," Foster said. Foster said she doesn't know exactly what her role is as the first black female to attend the university, but she knows people place expectations on her to tell about the experience. Foster's experience on campus was less inviting than Jones and Hood's. She was not warmly welcomed at the dorm rooms as the latter were. In fact, she left campus after only three days because of threats of riots and the overwhelming dissent she felt. Jones and Hood spoke about the events that transpired on June 11, 1963 and about what life on campus was like when class began. Although sometimes isolated in the cafeteria, James said dorm life was fairly normal. He even mentioned playing cards with his white dorm mates. Jones said life on campus was pleasant for her, but felt differently when leaving campus because she had to sign out so guards could be alerted and put on duty. Keeping the doors opened: the university's future Jones, Hood and Foster all agree change is still needed to truly bridge the racial gap. Jones, who is on the university president's panel, feels that not enough has been done for minorities because people still feel they are denied privileges based on race. Jones said she will play a role in recruiting minorities to attend the university and encouraging people to seek more open communication about race relations.
Hood noted although the university has done much to promote unity on campus, the university's media relations division has not listed its perspective on diversity anywhere in its literature. Foster said the goals of students should be to finish what they start when attending the university. She also stressed adherence to one's principles and the simple act of showing respect for others. University President Robert E. Witt did concede there was progress to be made and said the title "Opening Doors" was chosen to represent the present state of the university, not the past. "I think the next step we must take as a university is to focus more on the probability of individuals going to school and to systematically strip out of the system any barriers that remain to individuals being able to achieve their full potential," Witt said. "We are very excited Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is speaking at these events since his father, Robert F. Kennedy, was the U.S. Attorney General in 1963 and played a key role in integrating the university," said Cathy Andreen, the university director of media relations, on Monday. Wednesday will mark the end of celebrations for "Opening Doors" with the candlelight vigil ceremony at Foster Auditorium from 8-9:30 p.m. Foster Auditorium is where Wallace, Hood, Jones and others made their mark, pleasant or not, in Alabama civil rights history on June 11, 1963. The vigil is open to the public. Vivian Jones, who walked through Foster Auditorium's doors forty years ago Wednesday, is planning to attend. |
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