Rosetta Henderson attended Alabama State University in Montgomery with her sister's financial support and with money she earned working in the college's library.
She majored in chemistry (after a slight detour into biology, which ended abruptly with a jar of worms).
While in college, Henderson joined the Delta Sigma Theta sorority and the debate team. The Alabama State debate team regularly won against all-White teams, including Tulane University’s Glendy Burke Literary and Debating Society and Emory University’s Barkley Forum. She competed against legendary debater Barbara Jordan of Texas Southern University, who became the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Congress from the South.
In this clip, she talks about her participation on the debate team in college and debating future U.S. Congresswoman Jordan.
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