In retaliation to the court’s decision, the Board of Regents suspended any submissions to all Georgia State colleges and universities, and in turn, added lengthy requirements to the application process. They included personality tests, character assessments and age requirements. With the new regulations, Hunt and the other students that were a part of the case were never admitted to Georgia State.
Hunt later received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Dallas, then two Master’s degrees, one from the University of Texas at Arlington and North Texas State University. She retired to Dallas, Tx., and she passed away in 2005.
As a result of her bravery and courage as a lead plaintiff in the court battle in Georgia, Barbara Hunt received a “Wall of Tolerance” award from civil rights leader Rosa Parks on Feb 17, 2003. In March 2012, the Atlanta City Council issued an official proclamation in memory of Barbara Pace Hunt and her fight for equality. She and the other students paved the way for further legislation of school desegregation in Georgia schools.
(Photo: AP)
Little Known Black History Fact: Barbara Pace Hunt was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
