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 was the initial reaction of the University of Alabama when Lucy and Meyers applied?

• They were immediately rejected.

• They were initially admitted.

• They were given scholarships.

• They were asked to reapply.

Who assisted Lucy and Meyers in their legal battle against the University of Alabama?

• Malcolm X

• Thurgood Marshall

• Rosa Parks

• Martin Luther King Jr.

What was the reason given by the University of Alabama for excluding Meyers?

• She was not a resident of Alabama.

• She became pregnant before marriage.

• She was involved in a protest.

• She failed her entrance exams.

How did the University of Alabama respond to the mob's actions against Lucy?

• They provided security for Lucy.

• They expelled the mob leaders.

• They suspended Lucy for her safety.

• They closed the university temporarily.

What significant event took place at the University of Alabama in 2017?

• A scholarship was established in Lucy's name.

• The university was renamed after Lucy.

• A plaque was unveiled to honor Lucy's courage.

• Lucy received an honorary degree.