Space in the Classroom
As black students began to attend NC State in higher numbers during the 1960s and 1970s (although those numbers remained incredibly low until almost the end of the 1970s), they often still faced discrimination in the classroom from their peers and teachers. Black students also frequently felt isolated or unwelcome, and it was not unusual for a black student to be the only person of their race in the room. Interviews with black NC State students often revealed the determination to succeed and overcome the odds among black students during the 1960s and 1970s.
Equal access to educational resources and accompanying academic success was extremely important to the civil rights movement more largely and to the advocacy of black students at NC State. It was in the classroom that students honed skills, gained knowledge, and made connections that would benefit them as they advocated for themselves and others.
As the 1970s progressed, the university became more equal and things got easier, but in the 1960s and early 1970s, black students struggled to succeed against the odds and claim space in the classroom.