Alabama Student Who Defied Segregation Dies

James Hood was one of two to stand up to George Wallace in 1963
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jan 18, 2013 5:51 PM CST
Alabama Student Who Defied Segregation Dies
In this June 11, 1963, file photo, Vivian Malone and James Hood stand in the doorway of Foster Auditoriumistered at the University of Alabama.   (Uncredited)

One of the first black students who enrolled at the University of Alabama a half-century ago in defiance of racial segregation has died. James Hood of Gadsden was 70. Then-Alabama Gov. George Wallace made his infamous "stand in the schoolhouse door" in a failed effort to prevent Hood and Vivian Malone from registering for classes at the university in 1963.

Hood and Malone were accompanied by Deputy US Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach when they were confronted by Wallace as they attempted to enter the university's Foster Auditorium to register for classes and pay fees. Wallace backed down later that day, and Hood and Malone registered for classes. (More James Hood stories.)

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