She initially attended Xavier University , one of the city’s historically Black institutions, before transferring to Boston University, where King was pursuing a divinity degree . While traveling home, Morial and other Black passengers were forced to move to the baggage car once their train crossed the Mason-Dixon line.
“The barricade that kept us out of schools, jobs , restaurants , hotels, and even restrooms would have to be dismantled brick by brick, law by law,” she wrote.
That same year, she attempted to integrate Tulane and Loyola universities by enrolling in summer classes. Despite attending classes for nearly a week at Tulane, she was eventually denied enrollment due to her race. At Loyola, she was informed that “by state law, Negroes cannot attend the same school as whites.”
As mayor, Ernest Morial faced intense opposition, and Sybil often shielded their children from racist threats , answering the phone to intercept hateful calls. During his first term, when the 1979 police strike led to the cancellation of Mardi Gras, the National Guard was stationed at their home to protect the family.
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