Carolyn Earline Foster Bivins

Earline's great-grandparents migrated to Tuskegee in search of a better life, traveling in a horse-drawn wagon. They settled down the hill from Butler Chapel AME Zion Church, located at the site where Booker T. Washington first conducted classes in “a shanty.” Her great-grandparents studied diligently at the newly established Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute, acquiring trade skills and contributing to the construction of buildings on the new campus.

Earline's mother performed as the featured soprano soloist at Carnegie Hall in New York City with the famed Tuskegee Institute Choir. As a graduate of Tuskegee Institute, she became an educator, teaching children in rural Macon County. Earline's father, a Navy veteran, was employed as a clerk at the Veteran Administration Hospital in Tuskegee.

Two of her uncles trained as skilled builders, graduating from Tuskegee Institute and later were commissioned by the president to travel to Africa and Indonesia to teach building trades.

Earline described numerous discriminatory situations that her family faced outside the protection of their parallel universe. They were turned away from a “Whites Only” beach, and forced to use “Colored Only” restrooms, dressing rooms, and water fountains. She experienced discriminatory remarks and disrespect in the workplace from White coworkers and audiences.

Earlene, a graduate of Tuskegee University in Home Economics Education, worked as a home economist with the Atlanta Gaslight Company in Atlanta, Georgia. She later was employed by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Auburn University as a county extension agent (4-H, nutrition and health). Earlene broke the color barrier in Escambia County as the first Black county extension agent.

She received a master’s degree from the University of West Alabama. From the Escambia County Extension Office, she delivered health and nutrition education programs to adult and youth audiences through radio, TV, news articles, and community meetings.