James Meredith Research Paper

The September 1962 riot at the University of Mississippi in Oxford is an unusual and revealing moment in the history of whites and civil rights in the state. James Meredith was a Civil Rights activist and wanted to attend an all white college called “University of Mississippi”. He was also the first African American to attend Ole Miss and graduate. James Meredith grew up on a farm, and was born on June 25, 1933, in Kosciusko, MS. He was the seventh of the thirteen children. He had nine siblings living with him. As he grew older he helped his father with his younger siblings and on the farm with crops. On his way home from Chicago, James and his brother were forced to move to the back of the train to a colored-car. He attended Gibbs High School after graduating he joined the U.S. Air Force from 1951 to 1960. When he returned home he attended Jackson State College and then applied for admission to the University of Mississippi in 1961 (www.biography.com).

He was tried for false voters registration, and was fined a one year sentence or $100. Meredith made his first attempt to register, but was blocked by Governor Ross Barnett. Barnett was told not to interfere with his registration even though he is head Registrar. Fifth Court Circuit finds out that Meredith was rejected because of his race, and instantly says no one could be denied for their race (www.microsites.jfklibrary.org). Later on U.S. Marshals escorted him on campus, and caused a huge riot. The riot killed two men, 175 injuries, and 212 arrests. Kennedy had to send at least 30,000 army troops to Oxford, and the next day Meredith walked across campus to register. Mississippi whites increasingly saw the effort to save segregation as pointless. The Ole Miss riot is one of the most significant events in national history of civil rights