James Meredith

Profession: Civil Rights Activist

Nationality:

Biography: James Meredith is an American civil rights activist, writer, and Air Force veteran. He is most notably recognized for his role in the desegregation of the University of Mississippi, also known as "Ole Miss," in 1962, a pivotal moment in the American civil rights movement.

Meredith, an African American, grew up in Mississippi and served in the United States Air Force from 1951 to 1960. After his military service, he sought to exercise his rights as a citizen by applying to the then-segregated University of Mississippi, intending to challenge the university's policy of racial segregation.

His admission to Ole Miss was vehemently opposed by segregationists, including Mississippi Governor Ross Barnett, who declared that the state would not comply with the federal court order mandating Meredith's admission. The situation escalated into a major conflict between state and federal authorities.

President John F. Kennedy ultimately dispatched federal troops to enforce the court order. Meredith's enrollment on October 1, 1962, was accompanied by rioting on the campus, which resulted in two deaths and numerous injuries. Meredith's enrollment and the events surrounding it were seen as a significant victory for the civil rights movement, symbolizing the federal government's commitment to enforcing desegregation and the rule of law.

Meredith continued to be active in civil rights after his historic enrollment. In 1966, he organized the March Against Fear, a long walk from Memphis, Tennessee, to Jackson, Mississippi, to promote voter registration and challenge the culture of fear among African Americans in the South. During the march, Meredith was shot and wounded, but he recovered and rejoined the march, which was completed with the support of other major civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Stokely Carmichael.

Born: June 25, 1933
Birthplace: Kosciusko, Mississippi, USA
Age: 91 years old

Generation: Silent Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Rooster
Star Sign: Cancer