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Article: Desegregation pioneers honored at UF Constitution Day program.
- Article from:
- Florida Bar News
- Article date:
- October 1, 2008
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2008 Florida Bar. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Fifty years ago one man changed the course of history for higher education in the state of Florida. African-American, academically eligible, and eager to start his instruction, Virgil Hawkins was denied admission to the University of Florida College of Law based solely on his race.
With the legal assistance of a future justice of the United States, Thurgood Marshall, it took nine years, five Florida Supreme Court, and four U.S. Supreme Court rulings before Hawkins broke the color barrier for students at the University of Florida. As a result, more than 12,000 African-Americans have since earned degrees at the University of Florida.
[ILLUSTRATION ...