09/29/2026
On September 29, 1948, George W. McLaurin filed a suit against the University of Oklahoma after being denied admission to its graduate program in education solely because of his race.
Although McLaurin was allowed to attend the program, it was on a segregated basis. The fight continued until 1950, when the Supreme Court ruled that the university's segregation policy was unconstitutional because it violated his 14th Amendment right to equal protection under the law.
This case helped lay the groundwork for the fight for equal access to education in the United States.