James Meredith

James Meredith
Darrell Blakely, Darrell.Blakely@gmail.com · CC BY 3.0 · source
Name	James Meredith
Caption	Meredith in 1966
Birth date	25 June 1933
Birth place	Kosciusko, Mississippi
Education	University of Mississippi (BA), Columbia University (LLB)
Known for	Integrating the University of Mississippi
Spouse	Mary June Wiggins (m. 1956; died 1979), Judy Alsobrooks (m. 1982)

James Meredith. James Meredith is an American civil rights figure and writer, best known for becoming the first African American student to enroll at the University of Mississippi in 1962. His enrollment, enforced by a federal court order and the intervention of the Kennedy administration, was a pivotal moment in the struggle to desegregate higher education in the American South. Meredith's subsequent activism and political career have cemented his legacy as a complex and significant figure in the broader narrative of the Civil Rights Movement.

Early Life and Military Service

James Howard Meredith was born on June 25, 1933, in Kosciusko, Mississippi, to Roxie (Patterson) and Moses Meredith. He was raised on his family's farm, an experience that instilled in him a strong sense of self-reliance. After completing his secondary education, Meredith served in the United States Air Force from 1951 to 1960, achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant. His military service, which included a tour in Japan, exposed him to a world beyond the rigid Jim Crow laws of his home state and reinforced his belief in his rights as an American citizen. Following his honorable discharge, he briefly attended Jackson State College before setting his sights on transferring to the all-white University of Mississippi.

Integration of the University of Mississippi

In 1961, with the legal support of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and attorneys such as Constance Baker Motley, Meredith applied for admission to the University of Mississippi, known as "Ole Miss." His application was rejected twice based on his race. Meredith then filed a lawsuit alleging racial discrimination. In September 1962, the Supreme Court of the United States upheld a ruling by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit that the university had to admit him. The enforcement of this order by the federal government led to a major constitutional crisis. Mississippi Governor Ross Barnett defiantly attempted to block Meredith's registration, proclaiming states' rights in a televised address.

To ensure Meredith's safe enrollment and uphold federal authority, President John F. Kennedy ordered the deployment of U.S. Marshals and, later, federalized Mississippi Army National Guard troops and regular United States Army units. On September 30, 1962, Meredith was secretly brought to campus, which triggered a violent riot by a segregationist mob. The ensuing riot resulted in two deaths, including that of French journalist Paul Guihard, and hundreds of injuries among marshals and soldiers. The next day, October 1, under massive federal protection, James Meredith formally registered and began classes, effectively desegregating the institution. He graduated with a degree in political science in August 1963.

Civil Rights Activism and Marches

Following his graduation, Meredith remained active in the Civil Rights Movement. In June 1966, he embarked on the "March Against Fear," a solo 220-mile walk from Memphis, Tennessee, to Jackson, Mississippi, to encourage African American voter registration and defy the pervasive climate of fear. On the second day of the march, near Hernando, Mississippi, he was shot and wounded by a white segregationist named Aubrey James Norvell. The assassination attempt hospitalized Meredith but galvanized major civil rights organizations. Leaders including Martin Luther King Jr. of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), Stokely Carmichael of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and Floyd McKissick of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) converged to continue the march in his name. The event is historically significant for the first prominent public use of the "Black Power" slogan by Stokely Carmichael.

Political and Academic Career

After recovering, Meredith's path took a more independent and politically conservative turn. He studied law in Nigeria and at Columbia University, earning an LL.B. in 1968. He later became involved in politics, running as a Republican candidate. In 1972, he made an unsuccessful bid for a U.S. House seat in Ohio's 21st district. He also served as a domestic advisor on the staff of the influential Senator Jesse Helms of North Carolina, a noted conservative. Meredith authored several books, including a three-volume account of his life and his perspective on American history. He has been a frequent lecturer, often emphasizing themes of self-sufficiency, constitutional rights, and a critical view of traditional civil rights leadership.

Legacy and Impact on the Movement

James Meredith's legacy is that of a trailblazer whose personal courage forced a direct confrontation between federal authority and state-supported segregation. His integration of Ole Miss was a landmark victory for the enforcement of Brown v. Board of Education and demonstrated the necessity of federal intervention to secure civil rights. While his later conservative views and criticism of movement leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. have made him a controversial figure, his early contribution is undeniable. The March Against Fear and his subsequent shooting were catalysts that helped unify disparate civil rights groups and brought national attention to the issue of voter intimidation in the Deep South. Meredith is often remembered not simply as an activist, but as a symbol of individual defiance against institutional racism, whose actions helped accelerate the momentum that led to landmark victory for the enforcement of Civil Rights Act of 1960 and the Voting Rights Act of Education.

Civil Rights Act.

Category:American civil rights activists Category: American civil rights activists Category:American civil rights activists