Autherine Lucy Foster managed to leave a big legacy behind just days before passing away at 92 years old. She was the first Black student to enroll at The #UniversityOfAlabama when it was an all-white school.
She entered rooms where most people that looked like her didn’t exist. Making a statement and ruffling feathers with people bothered by her presence led to her being expelled after only three days of attending the university in 1956.
Her experience for the short time she was there included dealing with hostile groups of people being rude and aggressive towards her every single day. Through those times, she showed great bravery and was later celebrated for playing a part in desegregating the institution.
Foster attended a ceremony on February 25th where she was honored with a building being named after her. She was proclaimed a “master teacher.” During the ceremony, Foster stated, “If I am a master teacher, what I hope I am teaching you is that love will take care of everything in our world, don’t you think.” She added, “It’s not your color. It’s not how bright you are. It’s how you feel about those that you deal with.”
In 2019, Foster was awarded an honorary doctorate by the #UofA, where she had returned and earned her masters degree in education in 1992.
Leaving behind a lesson and legacy, Dr. Foster will be remembered as someone who lived bravely and broke barriers while showcasing the importance of respect for every individual. Rest easy, queen 👑 #BWLM💕
