McLaurin v. Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
George W. McLaurin played an important role in the fight for equality in higher education. In 1948, McLaurin applied to the University of Oklahoma College of Education to pursue a doctorate degree in education. At first he was not allowed to attend, because Oklahoma laws stated that African American students and white students could not be taught together.
McLaurin had the support of attorneys Amos T. Hall and Thurgood Marshall, and fought for the right to attend the university. When the university finally allowed McLaurin into the program, he had to use a different classroom and was separated from the white students.
In 1950 McLaurin appeared before the United States Supreme Court and argued that was unconstitutional for the university to segregate black students. The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of McLaurin.
McLaurin v. Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education was another major step for African American rights in education.
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