Marion Hood is a victim of facing discrimination among his work and academic life.
He is now a successful gynecologist and obstetrician, receiving an apology from one of the top universities in Georgia because he had been rejected for his race.
Back in 1959, he had applied to Emory University in order to study medicine, but his application had been rejected. The university sent him an official apology in 2021.
The admission director at the time, LL Clegg, had told the qualified individual that the university was “not authorized to considered admissions” from a member of his race and even refunded the $5 fee he used for admission.
As of Juneteenth 2021, the university sent him an apology due to the discrimination he faced when he had the same dream as many others. He was turned away because of the color of his skin, while others were privileged to get accepted by the university.
The president of Emory University, Gregory L Fenves, admits that it was the only reason that he was rejected- the fact that he was Black was the sole factor in his admission.
The president adds in a statement that the rejection “vividly shows the systematic injustice of that time and the legacy that Emory is still reckoning with. Throughout American history and Emory history, Dr Hood and so many other talented students were denied access to achieve their dreams to realize their potential”.
Dr Hood is now 83 and had went on to graduate studies before heading to medical school. He attended Loyalty University in Chicago and became an official gynecologist and obstetrician.
He is already retired and has established his own practice during the time of his career. Dr Hood has helped delivered more than 7,000 babies in the medical field.
Now established, he tells sources and the newspaper that the discrimination he faced back then was an “everyday part of life” in his studies and even when practicing medicine.
Albeit the discrimination, he said that “everything worked its way out. There was no reason to dwell on it. I did not expect to get into Emory.” The apology from the university states, “I apologize for the letter you received in 1959 in which you were denied consideration for admission, due to your race. We are deeply sorry this happened and regret that it took Emory more than 60 years to offer you our sincere apologies.”