By Mia Taylor In the 1960s, the University of Texas at Austin became motivated by a desire to contend alongside the nation’s most reputable universities. In order to do so, it was deemed in a 1957 internal that UT would have to expand its research facilities through a redevelopment of… read more
Can You Find the Impact of Black Educators in Higher Education?
by Alexis Maxie “To Geneva… A fine, black sister, who’s really got it together! Thanks for your help in making “our” dream a reality… THE AFRO AMERICAN PLAYERS, INC.” This “fine, black sister” 1 spoken of was none other than Dr. Geneva Gay. In the 1970s Dr. Gay was appointed… read more
In Memoriam: Julius Whittier, First UT Austin Black Varsity Football Player
Former Texas Longhorn Julius Whittier, a member of three Southwest Conference (SWC) title teams and the Longhorns’ 1970 national title team, died Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2018, at the age of 68. He had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2012. Whittier came to The University of Texas at Austin from San… read more
Coloring the Ivory Tower
The history of segregation in Austin dating to 1928 is critical to understanding the context of The University of Texas at Austin’s efforts to integrate students of color at the graduate level in the 1950s. Austin’s history of social and cultural isolation provides a window into an era in which… read more
Overcoming Isolation in the Early Years of Integration: Exalton Delco and Norcell Haywood
Segregation was a pervasive social, political and economic construction that had been established many years before integration became a university-wide consideration. It was so ingrained in the fabric of the city, that the accommodations of the Ivory Tower of UT could not overcome the stringent practices of life outside the… read more
Mother, Mentor, Mediator – The Contributions of Almetris “Mama” Duren
Almetris Marsh Duren was teaching home economics at Huston-Tillotson College when she got a call from The University of Texas. Would she accept a position as housemother at the dormitory that was being opened for black women attending the university? The year was 1956, the first year that UT admitted… read more
