Autherine Lucy, born 1929 in Shiloh, Alabama, is the first African-American sutdent to enroll at the University of Alabama. In September 1952 she applied to UA and was initially accepted but later her admittance was rescinded when officials realized she was not black. She and the NAACP charged the university with racial discrimination, which took almost three years to resolve.
She attended her first class on Friday, February 3, 1956 but the following Monday, Feb 6, riots broke out across campus. The car, driven by the Dean of Women to shuttle Autherine between classes, was pelted by a mob of over 1000 men. The University suspended her from school for her own safety.
She and the NAACP filed contempt-of-court charges against the trustees and president of the university, against the dean of women for barring her from eating with her fellow students or living in the dormitories, and against four men for participating in the riots.
On Feb 29, the Federal Court in Birmingham ordered Lucy be reinstated and UA must take adequate measures to ensure her safety. UA trustees concocted a technicality and expelled her permantently.
In April 1988, the University of Alabama officially annulled Lucy's expulsion and she was allowed to enroll in the graduate program in Education. She received an M.A. degree in May 1992.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autherine_Lucy
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