Stepping Forward: The Fight for College Integration

Lucy and Polly Anne Meyers, two black students, faced significant challenges in their pursuit of education at the University of Alabama in 1952. Despite being initially admitted, they were denied entry due to their race. With the help of Thurgood Marshall and the NAACP, they sued the university and won. However, the university found reasons to exclude them, including Meyers' pregnancy and Lucy's supposed harm to the university's reputation. Lucy faced hostility and threats from white students, leading to her suspension. Although they didn't achieve their educational goals, their courage paved the way for racial integration in U.S. colleges. In 2017, the University of Alabama honored Lucy's bravery with a plaque.

What challenges did Lucy and Polly Anne Meyers face when they applied to the University of Alabama?

How did the University of Alabama respond to Lucy and Polly Anne Meyers' admission?

What role did Thurgood Marshall and the NAACP play in the story of Lucy and Polly Anne Meyers?

Describe the events that occurred when Lucy arrived for her first class.

What impact did the actions of Lucy and Polly Anne Meyers have on US colleges?