Auburn University unveiled a historical marker in commemoration of Auburn University’s desegregation in 1964 and in honor of Harold Franklin, the first African American student to attend the University.
On Thursday, the University held the public dedication ceremony on the Mary Martin Greenspace for the 50th anniversary of integration and the installation of the marker, which the Board of Trustees approved in February 2015.
According to Bob Dumas of the Auburn University Board of Trustees, the Planning Committee for the 50th Anniversary of Integration at Auburn University worked with the Alabama Historical Association to approve the marker near the Ralph Brown Draughon Library, where Franklin registered for classes on Jan. 4, 1964.
Franklin said his act was a small incident within the efforts others had also made to “make things right for America.”
“It has been 50 years or so, and I am honored that I can make a contribution to Auburn University; Auburn, Alabama; Lee County; and the Unites States as a whole,” Franklin said. “I only hope that … those of us who have grown up will somehow influence young people to take advantage of the educational process.”
Sae’Breon Stiles, Harold Franklin Society president and senior in psychology, spoke on the historical impact of Franklin’s achievement.
“Today is about triumph,” Stiles said. “It is not ours alone but about all those people, black and white, who helped to open wider doors to this institution and subsequently to the state.”
Though Franklin didn’t complete his undergraduate degree at Auburn University, he returned to Auburn in 2001 to receive an Honorary Doctorate of Arts.
Constance Relihan, assistant provost for Undergraduate Studies and director of University College, said Auburn continues its commitment to making the University more inclusive and diverse.
“As we work to create and sustain a diverse academic community, we continue to work to help Auburn University take further steps toward reaching it’s utmost potential,” Relihan said.
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