The court’s decision didn’t come from a political movement, but from the courage and tenacity of one African American woman from Chickasha who just wanted to become a lawyer, and
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One in 12,174.
One in 12,174.
That’s what George McLaurin became Oct. 14, 1948, when he began classes at OU: drifting alone, one dark face in a sea of 12,173 white ones.
Oct. 14 was a hopeful moment for McLaurin, the first black student at a previously all-white institution.
“This is a happy day in my life,” he told Sooner Magazine. “If things continue the way they have gone today, I think everything is going to be all right.”
McLaurin fought for admission to OU leading up to that day when he first applied earlier in 1948, he was denied based on his race. McLaurin went to court with the issue, and in a Sept. 29, 1948, verdict, he was victorious when a federal court ruled that denying him admission was unconstitutional.
Andy Rieger for The Transcript Feb 28, 2021
Feb 28, 2021
As Black History month comes to a close, it gives me pause to add a few more local tales to the Feb. 14 column that got a bit lengthy.
That column touched on Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher, George McLaurin, Prentice Gaunt and George and Barbara Henderson, all pioneers in Norman race relations.
Etta and Don Johnson integrated the Norman Public School system in the fall of 1956. Etta came first and Don followed.
It happened with little fanfare and none of the controversy that came with school integration in Arkansas.
It helped that both were good students and Don was a gifted athlete. They came from a school in the northeast part of the county.