1963 – University of Alabama is Desegregated
On this day in 1963, Vivian Malone and James A. Hood registered for classes at the University of Alabama, officially desegregating the school. National Guard troops removed Alabama Governor George Wallace from blocking the doors of the admission’s office and preventing their enrollment. That evening in a televised address, President Kennedy declared civil rights no longer simply a legal issue but a moral issue and soon after submitted the civil rights bill that would be the foundation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
2014 – Ruby Dee Passes Away
Acclaimed actress and author, Ruby Dee passed away on this day in 2014 at 91 years old. She rose to prominence for her work with the American Negro Theater in Harlem, most notabley for her role in Lorraine Hansberry’s play, A Raisin in the Sun. Alongside her husband, Ossie Davis, she was a civil rights activist and fought for Black representation in the arts. Her stellar career spanned stage, television, and film, earning numerous awards and honors.
