First African American at LSU

A.P. Tureaud Jr. was the first African American student to attend Louisiana State University in 1953. After Tureaud became a student at the University in ’53 did other African Americans soon join? He gave a brief account about his time their as part of the “Story Corps” oral history project. He spoke to his friend Steven Walkly about how racism was still very much present. His peers ignored him pretending he didn’t exist trying to make him believe he didn’t belong. He had no roommates and in fact the students in the rooms on either side of him would take turns banging on the walls and having the radio on excessively loud to purposely disturb him. I’m left to wonder if he was ever approached with friendship while at the University? His professors would even refuse to touch his papers. One of them made it clear that she had not taught anyone of color and that it would be impossible for her to do so. I wonder how he was able to focus any attention towards his education when the environment was nothing less than hostile?
Being completely isolated Tureaud would often visit the University mascot, the tiger. The tiger was kept in a cage around his room and he would often relate with the animal seeing as he believed they were both prisoners. During on of his visits a truck pulled up beside him. A black man got out with his seven year old son. He asked him if he was Tureaud and after he responded yes, he explained that he wanted his son to meet him. He wanted his son to see him because his son needed to know that there was every possibility for him to attend the University. From that moment Tureaud knew that even though he wanted to leave and give up he couldn’t. He wasn’t there for just his education. He had become a symbol of hope. He was a drive for integration and equality.