Ralph Kennedy Frasier, the last surviving member of a trio of African American students who desegregated the undergraduate student body at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the 1950s, passed away at the age of 85. Along with his older brother LeRoy and John Lewis Brandon, Frasier successfully fought against Jim Crow laws to attend the university in 1955. Despite facing initial denial of their enrollment applications, a federal court ruling allowed them to be admitted, a decision that was later affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court. The trio became plaintiffs as their families were insulated from financial retribution due to their parents’ employment with a Black-owned insurance company.
After their legal victory, the experience on campus was still challenging for the three students. Frasier recalled that certain areas on campus, such as the golf course and the Carolina Inn, were off-limits to them. They also faced segregation at football games and had to live on their own floor in a section of a dormitory. Despite the difficulties, the brothers studied for three years at Chapel Hill before pursuing other opportunities. Ralph Frasier later obtained a law degree from North Carolina Central University and had a successful career in legal services and banking in Columbus.
In 2010, UNC-Chapel Hill honored Frasier and his fellow pioneers for their groundbreaking efforts towards racial desegregation. Scholarships were named in their honor, and relationships with the university improved over the years. However, recent actions by the UNC-Chapel Hill trustee board to recommend diverting funds from diversity programs have been seen as a setback by Frasier’s son, Ralph Frasier Jr. He expressed disappointment at the decision and called it a step backwards in time. The Board of Governors for the UNC system will soon decide on potential changes to the diversity policy across the 17 campuses in North Carolina.
Throughout his life, Frasier continued to be involved in promoting racial change and diversity in the Columbus business community. He also served on committees that helped appoint Black jurists to the federal bench. Frasier’s survivors include his wife of 42 years, Jeannine Marie Quick-Frasier, six children, 14 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Despite the challenges he faced during his time at UNC-Chapel Hill, Frasier’s legacy as a trailblazer for racial equality and desegregation will continue to inspire future generations.
