| by laura
beth mitchell
The University of Alabama is celebrating
the 40th anniversary of the first successful enrollment of African-American
students at the university by hosting three days of events to commemorate
the occasion, June 9-11.
On June 11, 1963, Gov. George Wallace stood in the doorway of Foster
Auditorium in an attempt to prevent the entrance of two African-American
students, Vivian Malone
and James Hood,
into the university facility. This summer, university students,
faculty, staff, administration and the Tuscaloosa community will
remember the events of 40 years past and celebrate the two students'
enrollment through the "Opening Doors" program.
Samory Pruitt, planning committee chair for "Opening Doors,"
hopes that the event will help raise awareness of these historic
events as well as honor those who have taken strides toward the
advancement of racial equality in today's society.
"The events being planned seek to salute the courage of those
individuals who took a stand for change and inspire all of us to
do likewise in addressing the critical issues that face our communities
today," Pruitt said.
The highlight of the festivities will take place Tuesday, June 10,
at the Pioneer
Scholarship Dinner at Moody Music Hall. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.,
son of the late U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy Sr., will
present the keynote address to those in attendance. The dinner and
program will include gala events to raise money for scholarships
honoring Jones, Hood and Autherine Lucy Foster, the first African-American
student to attempt enrollment at the university. Attendance is by
reservation only.
The three-day celebration will commence on June 9 with a reception
honoring speakers and invited guests. Current plans also include
a symposium hosted by the College of Communication and Information
Sciences titled "Media
and the Moment" held at the Bryant Conference Center at
9 a.m.
The symposium will begin with a showing of "Crisis," a
documentary about President John F. Kennedy's decision to force
Wallace from his "stand in the schoolhouse door." Following
the documentary, a variety of panelists will engage in a discussion
about the media's coverage of "the stand", and what effect
it had on the nation's perception of the Civil Rights Movement.
The panel will include: Mary Ann Watson, historian; Jim Lipscomb,
who shot "Crisis" at the University of Alabama; Bob Drew,
the documentary producer; Chris McNair, an African-American journalist
present at the "Stand"; Ed Guthman, Robert F. Kennedy
Sr.'s press secretary; Bill Jones, Gov. Wallace's press aide; Bob
Ingram, Montgomery capital correspondent present that day; Gov.
Albert Brewer, former legislature floor leader present with Wallace;
Hank Black, Crimson White editor of 1963; James Hood; Vivian Malone
Jones; and Dave McGlatherly.
John Cochran, an ABC News correspondent and UA
graduate, will moderate the panel.
On June 11, a youth
program will be held at the Ferguson Theatre from 1-2:30 p.m.
followed by the "Opening Doors Symposium: Reflections from
African-American Alumni, 1956-2000" in the theatre from 3-4:30
p.m.
The events of "Opening Doors" will conclude on June 11
at community hosted dinner beginning at 5:30 p.m. on the Quad followed
by a procession to Foster Auditorium where a candlelight vigil will
be held.
«
back
|
