James Hood, one of the first African Americans to enroll at the University of Alabama in 1963, died at the age of 70 on January 17, 2013. He was a civil rights pioneer who confronted racial segregation in Alabama and became famous when Governor George Wallace attempted to block him and fellow student Vivian Malone from entering the then all-white university. This incident, known as the “Stand in the Schoolhouse Door”, was a symbolic and historic moment in the struggle for racial equality in the United States.
The Stand in the Schoolhouse Door
On June 11, 1963, Hood and Malone arrived at the University of Alabama to pay their fees and register for classes, accompanied by Deputy Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach and a small team of federal marshals. They were met by Wallace and his state troopers, who stood in front of the Foster Auditorium, the main entrance to the university. Wallace intended to keep his promise of upholding segregation in the state and stopping “integration at the schoolhouse door”, according to BBC News.
Katzenbach demanded that Wallace step aside and allow Hood and Malone to enter the university, by order of the state court. Wallace refused and delivered a speech in front of the media crews, claiming that the federal government was oppressing the rights and sovereignty of the state. Katzenbach then called upon President John F. Kennedy to intervene and force Wallace to comply with the law.
President Kennedy federalized the Alabama National Guard later that day, which put them under his command, rather than the governor’s. Guardsmen escorted Hood and Malone back to the auditorium, where Wallace moved aside at the request of General Henry Graham. Hood and Malone then entered the building through another door and became the first black students to enroll at the University of Alabama.
Hood’s Education and Career
Hood only attended the university for two months, as he felt overwhelmed by the pressure and hostility he faced. He later said that he left to “avoid a complete mental and physical breakdown”. He moved to Michigan, where he completed his bachelor’s degree at Wayne State University and his master’s degree at Michigan State University. He then moved to Wisconsin, where he worked at the Madison Area Technical College for 26 years. He retired in 2002 as chairman of public safety services in charge of police and fire training, according to Wikipedia.
Hood returned to the University of Alabama in 1995 to pursue his doctorate degree in interdisciplinary studies. He received his Ph.D. in 1997, becoming the first person to earn a doctorate from the university he had once been barred from. Wallace, who had undergone a political and personal transformation and had apologized for his actions in 1963, planned to give Hood his degree, but poor health prevented him from attending the ceremony. Hood attended Wallace’s funeral in 1998, imploring others to forgive Wallace as he had.
Hood’s Legacy and Impact
Hood was a courageous and inspiring figure who challenged the system of racial discrimination and injustice in the South. He paved the way for other black students to access higher education and opportunities. He also showed grace and forgiveness towards his former adversary, Wallace, and sought reconciliation and healing. He was honored by the University of Alabama with a plaque commemorating his role in the desegregation of the university. He was also featured in several documentaries and books about the civil rights movement.
Hood died at his home in Gadsden, Alabama, the city where he was born. He had been in declining health for the last few months, and his body finally could not continue to support life. He was survived by his three children and several grandchildren. He was remembered as a hero and a trailblazer who made history and changed the course of the nation.
