The University of Alabama Renames Hall Honoring a KKK Member, and Then Renames It Again

The board of trustees of the University of Alabama voted to change the name of Graves Hall, named after former Alabama Governor Bibb Graves. Considered a moderate on racial issues in Alabama at that time, Bibbs had served as Grand Cyclops of the Montgomery Klavern of the Ku Klux Klan.

Originally, the hall was to be renamed Lucy-Graves Hall. In 1956, Autherine Lucy was the first Black student to enroll at the University of Alabama. Angry protests by White students ensued. Foster was suspended three days later “for her own safety” and she was later expelled. It would be another seven years before another Black student enrolled at the university.

The renaming of the hall was met with protests. An editorial in the student newspaper on campus argued that “combining Lucy’s and Graves’ names conflates two legacies — one the university should embrace, and another it needs to shed. Attempting to commemorate them as equals is unjust.”

The trustees then decided to rename the building Autherine Lucy Hall.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Get the JBHE Weekly Bulletin

Receive our weekly email newsletter delivered to your inbox

Latest News

Graduate Enrollment Surges at Winston-Salem State University

In fall 2024, Winston-Salem State University enrolled 244 new graduate students, an increase of 31.2 percent from the prior year. The HBCU now enrolls nearly 600 graduate students.

Two Black Women College Presidents Announce Their Retirements

Gilda Barbino, president of Olin College of Engineering, and Soraya Coley, president of Cal Poly, Pomona, have announced their plans to retire at the end of this academic year. Both Dr. Barbino and Dr. Coley are the first woman presidents of their institutions.

Norfolk State University to Construct a $118 Million STEM Facility

As part of an ongoing $90 million fundraising campaign, Norfolk State University has announced plans to establish a 131,000-square-foot STEM building to advance its research capabilities and science academic programming.

Two Black Men Selected for Academic Appointments at Universities

The faculty members with new appointments are Christopher Small at Florida State University and Dwight McBride at Washington University in St. Louis.

Featured Jobs