Save the Date: Precursors to Discuss UT’s Story of Integration on Feb. 24

By Jessica Sinn • February 19, 2016

Heman Marion Sweatt applied for admission to The University of Texas Law School in 1946, but was denied admission on the basis of race. Mr. Sweatt, with the help and assistance of the NAACP, brought legal action against the university. In the landmark case, Sweatt v. Painter, The United States Supreme Court ruled that separate law school facilities could not provide a legal education equal to that available at The University of Texas Law School, one of the nation’s ranking law schools.

image of heman sweatt — The symposium is named after Heman Marion Sweatt, the first African American admitted into the UT School of Law after the Supreme Court ruled in the landmark case of Sweatt v. Painter in 1950.

In celebration of Black History Month and the Heman Sweatt Symposium’s 30th anniversary, the DDCE presents a conversation on race and gender at UT Austin titled “EnGENDERing Power on the 40 Acres: The Integration story at UT.” The event will take place on Feb. 24, 6:30 p.m. at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, Bass Lecture Hall.

Speakers include three Precursors who helped pave the way for women of color at UT: Sheryl Griffin Bozemen (’65), Judith Jenkins (’69) and Judge Harriet Murphy (’69). The Precursors are a group of African American alumni who were among the first Black students to attend and integrate UT Austin more than 40 years ago.

The conversation will be moderated by Longhorn Network analyst and former UT Women’s Basketball champion Fran Harris (’82).

RSVP at rsvp-ddce@austin.utexas.edu