Alabama Students Protest Race Discrimination

University of Alabama demonstration against segregationist legacy at the school. George Wallace blocked entry of African American students 50 years ago., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Alabama students protest race discrimination

Thu Sep 19, 2013 5:10AM GMT
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Hundreds of students from University of Alabama along with faculty members took to the streets in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on Wednesday, protesting against Governor George Wallace’s 1963 attempt to block the enrollment of black students.

The protestors demanded an end to segregation in the university’s fraternities and sororities, according to the New York Times.

Tracey Gholston, a black woman who is pursuing a doctorate in American literature at Alabama, said Wallace’s legacy continued to permeate the university, which has nearly 35,000 students, about 12 percent of them black, and 45 percent from out of state.

“It shows a thread. It’s not just something that was resolved 50 years ago,” said Gholston, who has a master’s degree from the university. “You can’t say, ‘We’re integrated. We’re fine.’ We’re not fine.”

Last week, The Crimson White, the campus newspaper, published the account of a member of the university’s Alpha Gamma Delta chapter.

Melanie Gotz, a student, said the sorority had bowed to alumnae influence and considered race when it evaluated potential new members earlier this year.

The newspaper said racial biases in Alabama’s Greek system have been an open secret for decades. The paper added that the problem is not an issue unique to Alabama.

Gotz’s said that there are many people still feeling systemic discrimination has been tolerated at Alabama.

The university president has ordered changes in the sorority system. Judy Bonner mandated that sororities belonging to a campus association composed of white sororities begin a recruitment process in which new members can be added at any time.

However, protesters hope for a deeper, systemic change at the university.

Caroline Bechtel, a junior, said officials have vowed changes “but there’s been no real action.”