How Did Marion Sweatt Fail

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On February 26, 1946, Heman Marion Sweatt attempted to register as a law student at the University of Texas (UT) Law School. Sweatt was accompanied by a delegation from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) which included: R.A Hester, Lulu White, and Dr. B. E. Howell. The group was met by President T. S. Painter and other university officials. Painter tried to explain to Sweatt that there was nothing available to him except out-of-state scholarships, Hester “replied that this provision was inadequate and unsatisfactory.” After further statements by Hester and Sweatt, Painter decided to hold the applications until he received a response from the Texas Attorney General, Grover Sellers. In a letter to the Attorney General, Painter states that “Sweatt was "duly qualified...except for the fact that he is a …show more content…
For the next four years Sweatt would be involved in a legal suite against Painter and UT that would eventually be decided by the United States Supreme Court. Sweatt’s won his case and enabled him to register as a law student in 1951. However, he only lasted as a student for three semesters, why did this prominent student fail to achieve his goal of becoming a lawyer? This research paper discusses the reasons for Sweatt failed attempt, by discussing the history of Texas segregation laws, NAACP involvement, and Sweatt’s personal background. The paper ends the discussion on the significant changes that occurred following the Supreme Court decision, both for himself, UT, and future Texas

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