1965 – Vivian Malone Becomes University of Alabama’s First Black Graduate

On May 30, 1965, Vivian Malone Jones made history by becoming the first African American to graduate from the University of Alabama. Two years earlier, she was famously blocked at the schoolhouse door by Governor George Wallace, who attempted to stop the integration of the university. With federal intervention, Malone and fellow student James Hood enrolled, marking a turning point in the civil rights movement. Her graduation was not just a personal triumph, but a major victory against segregation in higher education. Malone went on to have a distinguished career in public service, including as director of civil rights for the U.S. Department of Justice. Her courage inspired generations of Black students to pursue higher education against all odds. May 30 commemorates the quiet dignity and defiant strength that defined a transformative chapter in American history.