Education

In 1948, George McLaurin made history as the first Black student admitted to the University of Oklahoma—but not without resistance. In a time when segregation was deeply rooted in American society, McLaurin was forced to sit apart from his white classmates, confined to a separate desk in the corner of the classroom, away from his peers. He was deliberately isolated, a stark reminder of the racial injustices that plagued the United States. Yet, despite these challenges, McLaurin refused to let discrimination define his experience. Instead, he used his time at the university to prove a point: intelligence, dedication, and perseverance would always triumph over prejudice. The Struggle for Admission Before McLaurin could even set foot on campus, he had to fight for his right to be t...