Home > James Meredith

He was born in Kosciusko, Mississippi of Native American ( Choctaw) and African American heritage. Meredith enlisted in the United States Air Force right out of high school and served from 1951 to 1960. He then attended Jackson State College for two years.

In 1962 he became the first black student at the University of Mississippi after being barred from entering on September 20. His enrollment, opposed by Governor Ross BarnettRoss Robert Barnett ( January 22, 1898 November 6, 1987) was the Democratic Governor of the U. state of Mississippi from 1960 to 1964. He actively opposed the integration of the University of Mississippi by James Meredith in 1962. The following year, he a, required federal troops to enforce and led to a violent clash which left two people dead, 48 soldiers injured and 30 U.S. MarshalsThe United States Marshals Service part of the United States Department of Justice, is the United States' oldest federal law enforcement agency. Their mission is to protect the Federal courts and ensure the effective operation of the judicial system. with gun wounds. His actions are regarded as a pivotal moment in the history of civil rightsCivil rights or positive rights are those legal rights retained by citizens and protected by the government. Examples include the right to vote and anti- discrimination laws. Civil rights movements usually want equal protection of the laws for minorities,. He graduated on August 18August 18 is the 230th day of the year (231st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 135 days remaining. Events 293 BC Oldest known Roman temple to Venus founded, institution of Vinalia Rustica begins. 1587 Virginia Dare, granddaughter of Gov, 1963Events January-March January 11 The Whisky A Go-Go night club in Los Angeles, the first disco in the USA, is opened. January 14 George Wallace becomes governor of Alabama. January 22 Elysee treaty between France and Germany January 28 Black student Harvey.

After his time at the University of Mississippi, Meredith continued his education at the University of Ibadan in NigeriaThe Federal Republic of Nigeria is a country in West Africa. It borders on Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, Niger in the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the south. Major cities include the capital Abuja, the former capital Lagos, Abeokuta (1964-65) and at Columbia UniversityColumbia University officially known as Columbia University in the City of New York is a private institution of higher education. It is one of the world's foremost research universities and a member of the Ivy League. Founded in 1754 under a royal charter (1966-68). He received an LL.B ( lawThis article is about law in society. For other possible meanings, see law (disambiguation). Law (a loanword from Danish-Norwegian lov , in politics and jurisprudence, is a set of rules of conduct which mandate or proscribe (or both) specified relationshi degree) from Columbia University in 1968. Meredith ceased being a civil rights activist in the late 1960s and found employment as a stockbroker.

He led a civil rights march, the March Against Fear from Memphis, Tennessee to Jackson, Mississippi in 1966 and was wounded by a sniper on June 6. As an author he wrote a memoir of his days at the University of Mississippi and several self-published books. He was an active Republican and served for several years as a domestic advisor on the staff of archconservative United States Senator Jesse Helms.

Meredith made several attempts to be elected to Congress as a Republican. He became increasingly conservative and in 1988 accused liberal whites of being "the greatest enemy" of African Americans. He also opposed economic sanctions against South Africa and making the birthday of Martin Luther King a national holiday.

In 2002, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of his desegregation of the University of Mississippi, at the age of 69, he was the proprietor of a small used car lot in Jackson, Mississippi. On the celebration activities surrounding the 40th anniversary Meredith said, "It was an embarrassment for me to be there, and for somebody to celebrate it, oh my God."

James Meredith views himself as an individual American citizen who demanded and got the rights properly extended to any American, not as a participant in the US civil rights movement. There is considerable disrespect between James Meredith and the organized Civil Rights Movement. Meredith said recently that "Nothing could be more insulting to me than the concept of civil rights. It means perpetual second-class citizenship for me and my kind".

In a recent interview for CNN, Meredith stated, "I was engaged in a war. I considered myself engaged in a war from Day One. And my objective was to force the federal government – the Kennedy administration at that time – into a position where they would have to use the United States military force to enforce my rights as a citizen."