CR186
1967 James Meredith Shooting
Press Photo
James Howard Meredith was born in Kosciusko, Mississippi, on June 25th, 1933. He was raised on a farm with 9 brothers and sisters. One day, while riding on a train with one of his brothers, Meredith was ordered to give up his seat and stand for the rest of his trip. On that day he vowed to dedicate his life to ensuring equal treatment for African Americans. Meredith became a writer, Air Force Veteran, activist, and the first student to integrate the University of Mississippi in 1962.
Meredith was initially accepted into the University of Missippi in 1961, but admission was revoked once the school became aware of his race. Because of the Brown v. Board of Education ruling of 1954, this was against the law. Meredith filed a case that made its way all the way up to the U.S Supreme Court, which ruled in his favor and Meredith was able to enroll the following year. Rioting erupted as Meredith arrived on campus to register for classes and, as a result, President John F. Kennedy had to dispatch military police, the Mississippi National Guard, and the U.S Border control to keep the peace. Meredith graduated with a degree in political science from the University of Mississippi and then went on to earn a masters degree in economics from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria and a law degree from Columbia University in 1968.
Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Meredith and https://www.biography.com/activist/james-meredith
Meredith was initially accepted into the University of Missippi in 1961, but admission was revoked once the school became aware of his race. Because of the Brown v. Board of Education ruling of 1954, this was against the law. Meredith filed a case that made its way all the way up to the U.S Supreme Court, which ruled in his favor and Meredith was able to enroll the following year. Rioting erupted as Meredith arrived on campus to register for classes and, as a result, President John F. Kennedy had to dispatch military police, the Mississippi National Guard, and the U.S Border control to keep the peace. Meredith graduated with a degree in political science from the University of Mississippi and then went on to earn a masters degree in economics from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria and a law degree from Columbia University in 1968.
Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Meredith and https://www.biography.com/activist/james-meredith
