African-American activist and businessman James Meredith was born June 25, 1933, in Kosciusko, Mississippi. While attending Jackson State College, he attempted to become the first black person to be admitted to the University of Mississippi. Twice rejected in 1961, Meredith filed a complaint with the district court on May 31, 1961. Meredith's allegation of denied admission because of his color was rejected. However, on appeal, the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court reversed this ruling. By a 2-to-1 decision, the judges decided that that Mississippi was maintaining a policy of educational segregation.Meredith's admission to the University of Mississippi was opposed by state officials and students. Consequently, Attorney General Robert Kennedy sent federal marshals to protect Meredith from threats of being lynched. Riots followed Kennedy's decision; 160 marshals were wounded (28 by gunfire) and two bystanders were killed. Despite all of this, Meredith continued to study at the University of Mississippi and graduated in 1964. Meredith's account of his experience at the university, Three Years in Mississippi, was published in 1966.
On June 5, 1966, Meredith started a solitary March Against Fear from Memphis to Jackson to protest against racism; he was shot by a sniper. Soon, other civil rights campaigners—including Martin Luther King, Jr., Stokely Carmichael, and Floyd McKissick—continued the march in Meredith's name. When the marchers got to Greenwood, Mississippi, Carmichael made his famous "Black Power" speech. After hospital treatment, Meredith rejoined the March as they arrived in Jackson, Mississippi.
After leaving the University of Mississippi as a student, Meredith continued his education at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria and at Columbia University. Meredith ceased being a civil rights activist in the late 1960s and found employment as a stockbroker. Meredith joined the Republican Party and made several attempts to be elected to Congress. He became increasingly conservative, opposing economic sanctions against South Africa; he helped make the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., a national holiday.
In 1997, Meredith presented his papers to the University of Mississippi, where they are maintained by the Special Collections branch of the J.D. Williams Library.
Reference:
The Department of English,
University of Mississippi