The Red and Black

Issue date: 9/18/07 Section: Variety

Media Credit: JOSH D. WEISS Mary Frances Early, the first black graduate student at the University, admires a copy of the portrait just unveiled to the left of her. A special program was held Monday in The Chapel to mark the beginning of Diversity Days 2007. [Click to enlarge]

Amid riots, GBI investigations and general disapproval, Charlayne Hunter, Hamilton Holmes and Mary Early broke racial barriers as the first blacks to enroll at the University in 1961.

Now, 17 percent of the student population listing themselves as non-caucasian at the University have three people to thank for their acceptance letters.

For Early, diversity at the University has been 46 years in the making.

The three former students were honored Monday at the unveiling of their portraits in the Holmes-Hunter Academic building.

"I feel deeply grateful to share this honor with the first two (black) students to enter UGA," Early said.

The portraits were mounted inside the left entrance to the building, a testament to the risks they took and the doors they opened for countless others after them.

Formatted in a "then and now" style, the portraits combined photos from when they first applied to the University with modern-day portraits.

"Many people come in and out of the building and don't know who they are named after," said Cheryl Dozier, provost of Institutional Diversity.

The unveiling, which was preceded by diversity speeches from students and faculty, serves as a kick-off to a week of events known as "Diversity Days."

The series is targeted at evaluating and celebrating the diversity on campus.

Early was the first black graduate student to successfully enroll at the University and graduate with a degree.

She graduated from Turner High School, the alma mater of Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes, as well.

"When I saw the newscast that documented Charlayne and Hamilton being brought back to Atlanta after the riot, I determined then and there to transfer my studies to UGA," Early said.

The University delayed her acceptance for four months.

"They did everything possible to prevent my entering - even an insulting investigative report by the GBI," she said.

The investigative report, now housed in the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, included extensive background checks into her family.

Despite all the difficulties, Early graduated in 1962 with a master's degree in music education.

"I knew that it was important to open the doors for graduate students," she said. "I didn't, however, think about what the consequences would be years later. I only hoped that more African-American students would seize the opportunity to attend UGA."

Arnett Mace, senior vice-president for Academic Affairs, announced at the unveiling that minority enrollment for the incoming freshman class was 20 percent.

Though it is quite the improvement from just three students, Early said this should only be the beginning.

"UGA has made great strides, but it can do much more in terms of encouraging and attracting more minorities," she said.

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