James Meredith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Meredith
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Meredith in 2007
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| Born |
James Howard Meredith
June 25, 1933 Kosciusko, Mississippi, U.S.
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| Education | Jackson State University University of Mississippi (BA) Columbia University (LLB) |
| Known for | First black student at the University of Mississippi |
| Spouse(s) |
Mary June Wiggins
(m. 1956; died 1979)Judy Alsobrooks
(m. 1982) |
| Children | 4 |
James Howard Meredith (born June 25, 1933) is an American civil rights activist, writer, and former United States Air Force member. In 1962, he became the first African-American student to attend the University of Mississippi. At that time, the university was only for white students due to segregation laws. His enrollment was a major event in the civil rights movement.
Meredith was inspired by President John F. Kennedy's speech. He wanted to use his rights as a citizen to attend the university. His goal was to make the government enforce civil rights for African Americans. His admission led to a large riot in 1962. Thousands of American servicemen were needed to stop the violence.
In 1966, Meredith planned a solo 220-mile march called the March Against Fear. He walked from Memphis, Tennessee, to Jackson, Mississippi. He wanted to show that racism was still a problem in the South. He also wanted to encourage African Americans to register to vote. This was after the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed. On the second day of the march, he was shot and injured. Other civil rights leaders continued the march for him. When Meredith recovered, he rejoined the march. About 15,000 people marched into Jackson with him. This was the biggest civil rights march in Mississippi's history. During the march, over 4,000 African Americans registered to vote.
The University of Mississippi has celebrated Meredith's brave actions. They held events in 2002 and 2012 to mark the 40th and 50th anniversaries of his enrollment. A statue of him stands on campus to remember his role. The central part of the campus is now a National Historic Landmark because of these events.
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Early Life and Education
James Meredith was born in 1933 in Kosciusko, Mississippi. His parents were Roxie and Moses Meredith. He has African-American, English Canadian, Scottish, and Choctaw heritage. His family called him "J-Boy."
He finished high school in 1951. Then, he joined the United States Air Force. He served in the Air Force from 1951 to 1960. After his military service, Meredith studied at Jackson State University for two years. He earned good grades there.
University of Mississippi Challenge
Fighting for Admission
In 1961, James Meredith decided to apply to the University of Mississippi. He wanted to use his civil rights to attend the state university. At that time, the university only accepted white students. This was due to the state's segregation laws. However, the U.S. Supreme Court had ruled in 1954 that separating public schools by race was against the law.
Meredith wrote on his application that he wanted to be admitted for his country, his race, his family, and himself. He said he felt it was his "Divine Responsibility" to do this. He knew it would be difficult, but he was ready to see it through.
The university denied his admission twice. During this time, Medgar Evers, a leader of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), helped him.
Legal Battle for Rights
In May 1961, Meredith sued the university. He said they rejected him only because of his race. He had a strong record from his military service and his college courses. The case went through many court hearings. Finally, a federal appeals court ruled that Meredith had the right to be admitted. The state of Mississippi appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, but the Supreme Court agreed with the appeals court.
On September 13, 1962, a court ordered the university to register Meredith. But the Governor of Mississippi, Ross Barnett, said no school would be integrated while he was governor. The state tried to pass a law to stop Meredith. They accused him of a fake crime to keep him out. But the federal government stopped these efforts.
Governor Barnett continued to block Meredith's entry. He was found in contempt of court and faced large fines. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy spoke with Governor Barnett. Barnett finally agreed to let Meredith enroll.
Rioting at the University
On September 29, 1962, Governor Barnett gave a speech that made a crowd angry. He encouraged people to block Meredith's entry. President Kennedy sent federal marshals to Mississippi.
On September 30, 1962, Meredith moved into his dorm room. He was with Mississippi Highway Patrol and 500 federal marshals. Outside a building where Meredith was to register, a large crowd of angry students gathered. The crowd grew to 3,000 people. They started throwing bottles and rocks. The marshals used tear gas to control them. More than 300 people were hurt in the riot, and two people were killed.
Meredith's Enrollment
On October 1, 1962, after federal and state forces took control, James Meredith became the first African-American student to enroll at the University of Mississippi. This was a very important moment for civil rights in the United States.
Many students bothered Meredith during his time on campus. Some students would bounce basketballs above his room at night. Others would turn their backs when he entered the cafeteria. If he sat at a table, other students would leave. Despite this, he kept going. He graduated on August 18, 1963, with a degree in political science.
Education and Activism
Meredith continued his studies in political science at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria. He came back to the United States in 1965. He then went to law school at Columbia University on a scholarship. He earned his law degree in 1968.
In 1966, Meredith organized and led a solo march called the March Against Fear. It was 220 miles long, from Memphis, Tennessee, to Jackson, Mississippi. He started on June 6, 1966. He wanted to show the ongoing racial problems in Mississippi. He also wanted to encourage African Americans to register and vote. This was important after the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed.
On the second day of the march, Meredith was shot and wounded by a white man. He was quickly taken to a hospital. Other civil rights leaders decided to finish the march for him. More than 10,000 people joined the march from different towns.
Meredith recovered from his injuries. He rejoined the march before it reached Jackson on June 26. About 15,000 marchers entered the city. This was the biggest civil rights march in Mississippi's history. During the march, over 4,000 black Mississippians registered to vote. These events helped African Americans become more involved in politics again.
Political Career
In 1967, while studying in New York, Meredith ran for a Congressional seat in Harlem as a Republican. He later withdrew from the race.
After returning to Mississippi in 1972, Meredith ran for a U.S. Senate seat. He was a Republican. He knew it would be hard to win. He received 21% of the primary vote.
From 1989 to 1991, Meredith worked as an adviser for U.S. Senator Jesse Helms. Some civil rights groups criticized him for working with Helms. Meredith said he applied to many senators and Helms' office was the only one that responded. He also wanted to do research at the Library of Congress.
In 2002, the University of Mississippi celebrated the 40th anniversary of Meredith's historic admission. Meredith said he felt "embarrassed" by the celebration. He said his main goal was to make the federal government enforce his rights as a citizen. He saw his actions as a challenge to white supremacy. In 2003, he was very proud when his son, Joseph Meredith, graduated from the university's business school.
Legacy and Honors
- In 2002, the University of Mississippi honored the 40th anniversary of Meredith's admission with many events.
- In 2006, a statue of him was placed on campus in his honor.
- In 2012, the University celebrated the 50th anniversary of his historic admission. They had many speakers, artists, and lectures.
- That year, Meredith received the Harvard Graduate School of Education 'Medal for Education Impact'. He was also the school's graduation speaker. Meredith said this was the first award he had accepted in 50 years.
Cultural Depictions
In the 2011 TV miniseries The Kennedys, James Meredith was played by actor Matthew G. Brown.
Political Viewpoint
James Meredith is a very independent person. He sees himself as an American citizen who demanded his constitutional rights. He does not always agree with the ideas of the larger Civil Rights Movement. In 2002, he said, "Nothing could be more insulting to me than the concept of civil rights." He meant that he wanted to be seen as an equal citizen, not as someone needing special "civil rights." He believed he was fighting for his rights as any American citizen should have them.
Meredith said he was "engaged in a war" from the start. His goal was to make the federal government use its power to enforce his rights as a citizen.
Personal Life
On March 14, 1956, James Meredith married Mary June Wiggins. She was a high school English teacher. They had three sons: James, John, and Joseph Howard Meredith. Mary June Meredith passed away in December 1979.
In 1982, Meredith married Judy Alsobrooks in Gary, Indiana. She had a son named Kip Naylor from a previous marriage. James and Judy had a daughter named Jessica Howard Meredith. The couple lives in Jackson, Mississippi.
Works
- In 1966, his memoir, Three Years in Mississippi, was published.
- He has also published several of his own books about politics and society.
See also
- List of African-American pioneers in desegregation of higher education
- List of civil rights leaders
- School integration in the United States
Images for kids
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Meredith in 2007
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Meredith in 1962
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U.S. Army trucks with federal agents on the University of Mississippi campus, October 1962.
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Meredith and Judy Alsobrooks in 1982
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Meredith in 2010
