The Key to the Door: Experiences of Early African American Students at the University of Virginia

by Maurice Apprey (Editor), Shelli M. Poe (Editor)

The Key to the Door frames and highlights the stories of some of the first black students at the University of Virginia. This inspiring account of resilience and transformation offers a diversity of experiences and perspectives through first-person narratives of black students during the University of Virginia’s era of incremental desegregation. The authors relate what life was like before enrolling, during their time at the University, and after graduation. In addition to these personal accounts, the volume includes a historical overview of African Americans at the University―from its earliest slaves and free black employees, through its first black applicant, student admission, graduate, and faculty appointments, on to its progress and challenges in the twenty-first century. Including essays from graduates of the schools of law, medicine, engineering, and education, The Key to the Door a candid and long-overdue account of African American experiences at the University’ of Virginia.

224 pages, Hardcover

Published April 12, 2017

Reviews

[Tim Jarrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thorough and engrossing history of the integration of the University of Virginia and first person histories of some of the trailblazing African American students. Should be required reading for those interested in Mr. Jefferson’s University and its imperfect embrace of the promise of his preamble to the Declaration of Independence.