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Alabama State University

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Alabama State University

Alabama State University (Alabama State, 'Bama State, or ASU) is a public Historically Black University (HBCU) in Montgomery, Alabama, United States. Founded in 1867 during the Reconstruction era, it was one of about 180 "normal schools" established by state governments in the 19th century to train teachers for the rapidly growing public common schools. It was one of 23 established to train African Americans to teach in segregated schools. ASU is a member-school of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. Alabama State's athletic teams, known as the Hornets, compete in NCAA Division I as members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).

Infobox

Former name
Lincoln Normal School of Marion (1867–1887)Normal School for Colored Students (1887–1929)State Teachers College (1929–1948)Alabama State College for Negroes (1948–1954)Alabama State College (1954–1969)
Type
Public historically black university
Established
1867; 158 years ago (1867)
Academic affiliations
TMCF
Endowment
$125 million (2024)
President
Quinton T. Ross Jr.
Provost
Carl Pettis
Students
5,475
Undergraduates
5,116
Location
Montgomery, Alabama, United States
Campus
Urban, 172-acres
Newspaper
The Hornet Tribune
Colors
Black and Old gold
Nickname
Hornets and Lady Hornets
Sporting affiliations
NCAA Division I FCS – SWAC
Website
www.alasu.edu

Tables

Undergraduate demographics as of Fall 2023[20] · Student life
Black
Black
Race and ethnicity
Black
Total
91%
International student
International student
Race and ethnicity
International student
Total
2%
Unknown
Unknown
Race and ethnicity
Unknown
Total
2%
White
White
Race and ethnicity
White
Total
2%
Hispanic
Hispanic
Race and ethnicity
Hispanic
Total
1%
Two or more races
Two or more races
Race and ethnicity
Two or more races
Total
1%
Economic diversity
Economic diversity
Race and ethnicity
Economic diversity
Low-income
Low-income
Race and ethnicity
Low-income
Total
71%
Affluent
Affluent
Race and ethnicity
Affluent
Total
29%
Race and ethnicity
Total
Black
91%
International student
2%
Unknown
2%
White
2%
Hispanic
1%
Two or more races
1%
Economic diversity
Low-income
71%
Affluent
29%
· Notable alumni
2 Chainz
2 Chainz
Name
2 Chainz
Notability
American rapper, played basketball for two seasons while attending
Ralph Abernathy
Ralph Abernathy
Name
Ralph Abernathy
Class year
1950
Notability
civil rights leader and minister
Reggie Barlow
Reggie Barlow
Name
Reggie Barlow
Class year
1996
Notability
former professional football wide receiver and current head football coach of the DC Defenders
Brad Baxter
Brad Baxter
Name
Brad Baxter
Notability
former football running back who played 6 seasons in the NFL for the New York Jets (1989–1995)
Clarence Carter
Clarence Carter
Name
Clarence Carter
Class year
1960
Notability
soul singer and musician, best known for his hits "Strokin'", "Patches", and "Snatching It Back"
London "Deelishis" Charles
London "Deelishis" Charles
Name
London "Deelishis" Charles
Notability
winner of reality show Flavor of Love 2
Michael Coe
Michael Coe
Name
Michael Coe
Class year
2007
Notability
NFL defensive back
James Daniel
James Daniel
Name
James Daniel
Class year
1974
Notability
tight ends coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers
Steven Daniel
Steven Daniel
Name
Steven Daniel
Class year
1993
Notability
actor and comedian
Thomas Figures
Thomas Figures
Name
Thomas Figures
Class year
1966
Notability
first African American assistant district attorney and assistant United States Attorney
Fred Gray
Fred Gray
Name
Fred Gray
Notability
attorney who represented Rosa Parks during the Montgomery bus boycott
Erskine Hawkins
Erskine Hawkins
Name
Erskine Hawkins
Notability
jazz musician, composer of "Tuxedo Junction"
Dorothy E. Hayes
Dorothy E. Hayes
Name
Dorothy E. Hayes
Notability
early Black graphic designer, educator, and curator
Tarvaris Jackson
Tarvaris Jackson
Name
Tarvaris Jackson
Class year
2006
Notability
professional football player, quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks
Terren Jones
Terren Jones
Name
Terren Jones
Class year
2012
Notability
NFL offensive lineman
Lil Yachty
Lil Yachty
Name
Lil Yachty
Notability
vocalist
Kevin Loder
Kevin Loder
Name
Kevin Loder
Class year
1981
Notability
former NBA player for the Kansas City Kings and San Diego Clippers
Manny Martin
Manny Martin
Name
Manny Martin
Notability
former NFL defensive back for the Buffalo Bills during the 1990s
Tangi Miller
Tangi Miller
Name
Tangi Miller
Class year
1993
Notability
actress with The WB's Felicity
Travis Pearson
Travis Pearson
Name
Travis Pearson
Notability
former Arena Football League player
Eddie Robinson
Eddie Robinson
Name
Eddie Robinson
Notability
former linebacker, who played 11 seasons in the NFL for the Houston Oilers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, and the Buffalo Bills; started for the Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV
Quinton Ross
Quinton Ross
Name
Quinton Ross
Notability
member of the Alabama Senate, representing the 26th District
Eugene Sawyer
Eugene Sawyer
Name
Eugene Sawyer
Class year
1956
Notability
politician and businessman, Mayor of Chicago 1987–1989
Dr. Fred Shuttlesworth
Dr. Fred Shuttlesworth
Name
Dr. Fred Shuttlesworth
Notability
civil rights leader and minister, co-founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Council
Rickey Smiley
Rickey Smiley
Name
Rickey Smiley
Class year
1992
Notability
comedian and actor
Felix Stallings, Jr.
Felix Stallings, Jr.
Name
Felix Stallings, Jr.
Notability
electronica artist, producer, and DJ Felix da housecat
Jessie Tompkins
Jessie Tompkins
Name
Jessie Tompkins
Class year
1998
Notability
former nationally ranking athlete in track and field; head coach for the East Montgomery Track Club; first African America student to challenge the State of Alabama’s White-only, race-based scholarships
Fred Wesley
Fred Wesley
Name
Fred Wesley
Notability
jazz and funk trombonist, best known for his work with James Brown in the 1960s and 1970s
Jesse White
Jesse White
Name
Jesse White
Notability
37th Secretary of State of Illinois
Doug Williams
Doug Williams
Name
Doug Williams
Class year
1995
Notability
comedian and actor
Marcus Winn
Marcus Winn
Name
Marcus Winn
Notability
former linebacker for the Edmonton Eskimos and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League
Name
Class year
Notability
Reference(s)
2 Chainz
American rapper, played basketball for two seasons while attending
Ralph Abernathy
1950
civil rights leader and minister
Reggie Barlow
1996
former professional football wide receiver and current head football coach of the DC Defenders
Brad Baxter
former football running back who played 6 seasons in the NFL for the New York Jets (1989–1995)
Clarence Carter
1960
soul singer and musician, best known for his hits "Strokin , "Patches", and "Snatching It Back"
London "Deelishis" Charles
winner of reality show Flavor of Love 2
Michael Coe
2007
NFL defensive back
James Daniel
1974
tight ends coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers
Steven Daniel
1993
actor and comedian
Thomas Figures
1966
first African American assistant district attorney and assistant United States Attorney
Fred Gray
attorney who represented Rosa Parks during the Montgomery bus boycott
Erskine Hawkins
jazz musician, composer of "Tuxedo Junction"
Dorothy E. Hayes
early Black graphic designer, educator, and curator
Tarvaris Jackson
2006
professional football player, quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks
Terren Jones
2012
NFL offensive lineman
Lil Yachty
vocalist
Kevin Loder
1981
former NBA player for the Kansas City Kings and San Diego Clippers
Manny Martin
former NFL defensive back for the Buffalo Bills during the 1990s
Tangi Miller
1993
actress with The WB's Felicity
Travis Pearson
former Arena Football League player
Eddie Robinson
former linebacker, who played 11 seasons in the NFL for the Houston Oilers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, and the Buffalo Bills; started for the Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV
Quinton Ross
member of the Alabama Senate, representing the 26th District
Eugene Sawyer
1956
politician and businessman, Mayor of Chicago 1987–1989
Dr. Fred Shuttlesworth
civil rights leader and minister, co-founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Council
Rickey Smiley
1992
comedian and actor
Felix Stallings, Jr.
electronica artist, producer, and DJ Felix da housecat
Troy Stubbs
Member of the Alabama House of Representatives
Jessie Tompkins
1998
former nationally ranking athlete in track and field; head coach for the East Montgomery Track Club; first African America student to challenge the State of Alabama’s White-only, race-based scholarships
Fred Wesley
jazz and funk trombonist, best known for his work with James Brown in the 1960s and 1970s
Jesse White
37th Secretary of State of Illinois
Doug Williams
1995
comedian and actor
Marcus Winn
former linebacker for the Edmonton Eskimos and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League
· Notable alumni › Notable faculty
Harold Franklin
Harold Franklin
Name
Harold Franklin
Notability
First black student at Auburn University
Alvin Holmes
Alvin Holmes
Name
Alvin Holmes
Notability
alumnus and member of the Alabama State Legislature, representing the 78th District (Montgomery)
Jo Ann Robinson
Jo Ann Robinson
Name
Jo Ann Robinson
Notability
leader in the Montgomery, Alabama Women's Political Council and the Montgomery bus boycott
Tonea Stewart
Tonea Stewart
Name
Tonea Stewart
Department
Theatre
Notability
actress, playwright, and Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts
Josephine Turpin Washington
Josephine Turpin Washington
Name
Josephine Turpin Washington
Department
Mathematics
Notability
1886 Howard University alumnus, early writer on civil rights topics
Sheyann Webb-Christburg
Sheyann Webb-Christburg
Name
Sheyann Webb-Christburg
Department
Social Studies
Notability
notable civil rights activist, author of Selma Lord Selma! and Dr. Martin Luther King's proclaimed "smallest freedom fighter"
Name
Department
Notability
Reference
Harold Franklin
First black student at Auburn University
Alvin Holmes
alumnus and member of the Alabama State Legislature, representing the 78th District (Montgomery)
Jo Ann Robinson
leader in the Montgomery, Alabama Women's Political Council and the Montgomery bus boycott
Tonea Stewart
Theatre
actress, playwright, and Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts
Josephine Turpin Washington
Mathematics
1886 Howard University alumnus, early writer on civil rights topics
Sheyann Webb-Christburg
Social Studies
notable civil rights activist, author of Selma Lord Selma! and Dr. Martin Luther King's proclaimed "smallest freedom fighter"

References

  1. The percentage of students who received an income-based federal Pell grant intended for low-income students.
  2. The percentage of students who are a part of the American middle class at the bare minimum.
  3. ABC News
    https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/alabama-state-university-receives-wall-street-firms-historic/story?id=110341374
  4. The Encyclopedia of Alabama
    http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-1612
  5. Thehornetribuneonline.com
    https://asuhornettribune.com/
  6. Ogren, Christen (2005) The American State Normal School: 'An Instrument of Great Good Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 1-5, 213-2
    https://books.google.com/books?id=mUDHAAAAQBAJ&dq=OGREN+Christine&pg=PP1
  7. Alasu.edu
    https://www.alasu.edu/about-asu/about-asu
  8. The Alabama Historical Quarterly
    https://archive.org/stream/alabamahistorica3619mont#page/142/mode/2up/search/campus
  9. "ASU gets record $24.7 million federal grant to prep MPS students for higher education"
    https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/news/2021/10/06/alabama-state-university-federal-grant-24-7-million-dollars-help-mps-students-with-college-prep/6022772001/
  10. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/10/29/mackenzie-scott-alabama-state-university-donation/86960403007/
    https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/10/29/mackenzie-scott-alabama-state-university-donation/86960403007/
  11. "President George N. Card"
    https://cdm17283.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/founders/id/59/
  12. Alabama Review
    https://muse.jhu.edu/article/763189
  13. "Trenholm, Harper Councill"
    https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/encyclopedia/trenholm-harper-councill
  14. "President Levi Watkins, Sr. Collection - President Levi Watkins Collection | Alabama State University - Library"
    https://alasu.pastperfectonline.com/archive/644A006D-76D7-4850-86C5-381558545450
  15. "W.E.B. DuBois Honors Program : Alabama State University"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20151211020333/http://www.alasu.edu/academics/colleges--departments/university-college/honors-program/index.aspx
  16. "Programs | Alabama State University"
    https://www.alasu.edu/cstem/math-computer-science/programs
  17. Uab.edu
    https://web.archive.org/web/20181013093225/http://www.uab.edu/2015compliancecertification/IMAGES/SOURCEDD17.PDF?id=dd41c7e8-bbf7-e311-b111-86539cf2d30e
  18. alasu.edu
    https://web.archive.org/web/20150810224701/http://www.alasu.edu/about-asu/accreditation/index.aspx
  19. Alasu.edu
    https://www.alasu.edu/academics/research-centers
  20. Lib.alasu.edu
    http://www.lib.alasu.edu/natctr/
  21. "Our Campus | Alabama State University"
    https://www.alasu.edu/about-asu/our-campus
  22. College Scorecard
    https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?100724-Alabama-State-University
  23. "Enrollment Maps | Alabama State University"
    https://www.alasu.edu/administration/enrollment-maps
  24. "Alabama State University Colors | NCAA Colors"
    https://usteamcolors.com/alabama-state-university-colors/
  25. "Mighty Marching Hornets Band Appears in New Movie : Alabama State University"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20160701145545/http://www.alasu.edu/news/news-details/index.aspx?nid=2868
  26. "BAND BIO of the Mighty Marching Hornets Band Boosters, Alabama State University"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20150716030457/http://www.mightymarchinghornetsbandboosters.com/Band%20Bio.htm
  27. Al.com
    http://www.al.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2013/08/watch_robin_thickes_new_video.html
  28. NBC News
    https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/beyonc-s-homecoming-netflix-ode-black-culture-hbcu-greatness-ncna996116
  29. Wsfa.com
    https://www.wsfa.com/story/21632789/honeybeez-history
  30. Mongomeryadvertiser.com
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  31. "Nationwide ASU Honey Beez Snapchat Docuseries Debuts April 25! | Alabama State University"
    https://www.alasu.edu/nationwide-asu-honey-beez-snapchat-docuseries-debuts-april-25
  32. "Full Student Awards List | College of Motion Picture Arts"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20170202050709/http://film.fsu.edu/about/awards/student-awards-and-honors/full-student-awards-list
  33. YouTube
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfKbCDaPiz4
  34. "Facebook"
    https://www.facebook.com/thomas.wilson.35728466/videos/vb.1684803749/10202862099228578/?type=2&theater
  35. Thehornettribuneonline.com
    https://thehornettribuneonline.com/
  36. Alasu.edu
    https://www.alasu.edu/student-life
  37. AllMusic
    https://www.allmusic.com/artist/clarence-carter-mn0000148477/biography
  38. The Montgomery Advertiser
    https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montgomery-advertiser-miss-hayes-is/161912608/
  39. Stanford Libraries
    https://guides.library.stanford.edu/Black_graphic_design_collections/Hayes
  40. Nfl.com
    http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/1107218
  41. The New York Times
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  42. Troy Stubbs
    https://troystubbs.com/about/
  43. "Double Reverse Scholarship program for whites becomes a test of preferences", by June Kronholtz, The Wall Street Journa
  44. adversity.net
    http://www.adversity.net/cirnews.htm
  45. The Washington Post
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2020/08/30/auburn-university-harold-franklin-racism-masters-degree/
  46. "Alabama State Legislature: Alabama House of Representatives- Alvin Holmes"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20090422165124/http://www.legislature.state.al.us/house/representatives/housebios/hd078.html
  47. "Bio of Stewart, Tonea"
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  48. The Afro-American Press and Its Editors
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