Expelled in 1956 for Being Black, Autherine Lucy Foster Gets Doctorate at U of Alabama
May 7, 2019
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Autherine Lucy Foster, the first African-American student to attend the University of Alabama, received an honorary doctorate degree Friday from the university where her presence brought mobs of protesters in 1956. The Tuscaloosa News reported that Foster, 89 received the degree during graduation ceremonies. She enrolled at the all-white university in 1956. However, she was expelled three days later after her presence brought protests and threats against her life. Foster received a standing ovation Friday, news outlets report. Before receiving the honor, she remarked on the difference in seeing smiling faces “instead of frowning and displeased at my