New Desegregation Marker on Auburn’s Campus Advances Equality

On Thursday Nov. 11, Auburn University held a ceremony for the revealing and dedication of a desegregation marker honoring the late Harold A. Franklin, who was the first Black student to enroll at Auburn nearly 57 years ago. This prestigious honor comes two months after Franklin’s passing, he was 88.

Speakers at the dedication event included Franklin’s son, Harold Franklin Jr., Auburn University President Jay Gogue, an Auburn Board of Trustees member and 1990 graduate Elizabeth Huntley, and Kenneth Kelly, CEO of First Independence Bank of Detroit.

Franklin entered Auburn as the university’s first African American student on Jan. 4, 1964. He was enrolled in Graduate School and soon left Auburn in 1965. Franklin was not allowed to defend his thesis at Auburn, which is why he continued his education elsewhere.

Because of discriminatory obstacles he faced, such as the consistent denial of his thesis, he transferred to the University of Denver where he was able to effectively defend his thesis and was granted a master’s degree in international studies. After receiving his degree Franklin pursued a successful 27-year career as an educator in higher education.

Franklin taught history at Alabama State University, North Carolina A&T State University, Tuskegee Institute and Talladega College before retiring in 1992. After many decades of continuing his education and teaching at several universities across the South, he returned to Auburn.

In 2001, Auburn awarded Franklin with an honorary Doctor of Arts. After being allowed to defend his thesis on Feb. 19, 2020, and succeeding, he participated in commencement activities and walked across the stage to receive his diploma for a master’s degree in history.

This desegregation marker indicates the extraordinary changes that have occurred over the past few decades to end discrimination on campus and contribute to celebration of a man who had a large influence on the advances of equality at Auburn University.

The marker, which is located outside the Ralph Brown Draughon Library where Franklin first registered for classes, says, “Dr. Franklin’s bold journey is the epitome of a spirit that is not afraid. His story continues to move our hearts, stimulate our minds, and inspire our lives.”