Story at a glance
- The University of Alabama’s board of trustee’s voted Thursday to add the name of its first Black student to an academic building currently named for a former governor and KKK officer.
- Graves Hall will be renamed Lucy-Graves Hall in honor of Autherine Lucy Foster, who enrolled at the university in 1956.
- She was the only Black student to attend the school before Vivian Malone and James Hood enrolled in 1963.
The University of Alabama’s board of trustees voted Thursday to add the name of its first Black student to an academic building currently named for former governor and Ku Klux Klan officer Bibb Graves.
Graves Hall will be renamed Lucy-Graves Hall in honor of Autherine Lucy Foster, who enrolled at the university in 1956, The Crimson White reported. Foster attended classes at the university for three days –at times hiding out protestors in Graves Hall — before she was suspended due to riots over her presence.
She was the only Black student to attend the school before Vivian Malone and James Hood enrolled in 1963. Foster re-enrolled in 1988 and graduated with a master’s degree in 1992.
The Crimson White reported that the name change was brought about by the efforts of a building names working group formed in 2020. A petition to change the building’s name was posted on Change.org the same year.
Chair of the building naming group, Trustee Emeritus Judge John England Jr., reportedly told Foster’s story before the board and detailed the complex history of Bibb Graves, who renounced his Klan membership in 1928.
“On the one hand, Gov. Graves is regarded by historians as one of, if not the most, progressive and effective governors in the history of the state of Alabama,” England said. “Some say he did more to directly benefit African American Alabamians than any other governor through his many reforms.”
“Unfortunately, that same Gov. Graves was associated with the Ku Klux Klan,” England said. “Not just associated with the Ku Klux Klan, but a Grand Cyclops. It’s hard for me to even say those words.”
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The board decided to leave Graves’ name on the building, citing historical arguments that Graves association with the Klan was merely part of a larger political strategy.
“We also considered the contributions made and we decided, after much wrestling with it, should this man’s initial and temporary political association with such an organization outweigh the tremendous progress and positive impact achieved? We’re talking about during a time when Alabama was rigidly segregated.”
Changing America has reached out to the university for comment.
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