When discussing individuals who were a part of significant changes in history, it is common to elevate them to a status that can detach them from being real human beings to us.
One of these important figures who is often so elevated is Audrey Lattimore Gaston Howard, Samford’s first black student, admitted into the Cumberland School of Law in 1967.
Gaston Howard came to Samford during a historic time, which Samford honors in part with its Racial Reconciliation Monument.
Often referred to as a “memorial,” President Beck Taylor’s Chief of Staff, Dr. Michael Morgan, considers this a misnomer, saying, “It is not a ‘memorial;’ this is not over.”
Memorials recognize things from the past, but Morgan said that Samford recognizes the blank, reflective western quarter of the obelisk signifies the unfinished history of racial reconciliation at Samford.
“An interest and willingness to look at our full history, rightly taking pride in our history, but recognizing parts in our history that are painful,” Morgan said when reflecting on the University history.
Gaston Howard’s legacy at Samford carries with it both pride and pain. Despite Gaston Howard paving the way for black students at Samford, Samford was still one of the later institutions in the country to desegregate.
“We were very reluctant, like many institutions, to integrate. As a private Baptist institution, we were not necessarily looking to the state schools for what they were doing on the issue,” said Dr. Christopher Metress, a Samford English professor who has conducted extensive research on the Civil Rights Movement.
According to Metress, Samford was motivated to integrate with the admission of Gaston Howard in 1967 to keep Cumberland’s accreditation as a law school. As Cumberland joined Samford, its integration was necessary to allow it to receive proper accreditation as a law school.
Despite being a part of such a historic and complicated era of history at Samford, Audrey Lattimore Gaston Howard was, in many ways, an average young woman unconcerned with the many political nuances of her own admission to Samford
Rev. Dr. Charles “Chaz” Howard, Gaston Howard’s son and chaplain at the University of Pennsylvania, reflected on his late mother’s humility and her focus on her own academic affairs separate from the larger political context.
“I did not know that my mom was the first black student at Samford until the former president at Samford called me and told me.” Howard said. “It was not something she talked about or bragged about. She was a very humble woman”
Instead of lauding his mother as a champion for Civil Rights, Howard focused on the way Gaston Howard carried herself as a remarkable human being.
“She had a kid. She got married and had a young kid while in law school, which is bananas,” Howard said. “To do all of that while coming home to take care of a toddler is challenging and all the more remarkable. I remain very proud of her.”
Howard recognized, however, that his mother still faced many challenges throughout her time in Birmingham, saying, “I have heard stories from her friends in that chapter of her life regarding the discriminations and indignities that she would face off campus like some places not wanting to serve her or the physical danger she and many black Americans faced around the country.”
Howard closed the interview with two major points: He hopes students will connect with his mother’s story and continue celebrating figures from historically marginalized groups in the current political context.
“People often do not give a lot of thought to the stories behind the names on our buildings.” Said Howard. “I hope students spend a bit of time thinking about their home-away-from-home’s namesake. It’s important to think of my mom as not just some amazing, pioneering rockstar. She was just like any student who lived in her hall. I hope anyone who sees her name on that building can connect with her story.”
At the end of the interview with Howard, he wanted to emphasize something he found important. He noted the fact that his mother, Gaston Howard, really loved the Lord and that in this moment she would have said “‘to God alone be the glory.”’
While Samford reflects on a complicated history, Howard hopes that the university continues to humanize his mother while honoring her legacy. He intends to visit the university again this fall with the completion of Gaston Hall.
“At a moment in our country when there are forces pushing back on celebrating diversity and individuals who have been at the margins of our society, such as black women, I think it is notable and wonderful that the university is choosing to lift up this black woman like this,” said Howard.
Staff Writer
