Analysis Of James Meredith Annihilating The Walls Of Segregation

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James Meredith Annihilating the Walls of Segregation The early 1960s, a time that was on the brink of revolutionizing the United States, as Americans thought they knew it. This was a time of great inequality and segregation amongst White-Americans and African-Americans. The fight for equality and rights for Americans was at the height. One university, the University Mississippi also known as Ole Miss, strong rooted in the traditional heritage of the “Old South” the University was very strict they have never admitted an African American student until 1962, James Meredith. James Meredith’s admission to the University of Mississippi served as a catalyst not only for himself in life, but for the African American community and furthering prosperity …show more content…

Even with the Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Broad that segregation by race was in fact unconstitutional. Going against the segregation laws of the state of Mississippi and the denial of Governor Ross Barnett. James Meredith wrote a letter to the United States Justice Department asking for the power and influence of the federal government they should use their positions to insure the full rights of citizenship for the people (Doc. 1). Defying the odds and overcoming the adversity to becoming a student at the University. The troubles would only get worse from here in Oxford, Mississippi. Following his enrollment, a huge outrage of the student body and state officials came forth immediately. A few weeks before the arrival of James Meredith, Governor Ross Barnett made a declaration to the people of Mississippi and the University. In this declaration he stated “Paid propagandists are continually hammering away at us in the hope that they can succeed in bringing about a division among us.” Barnett is claiming that the government’s efforts to integrate races in the schools and other areas, were only going to divide the country even more, and ruin the founding constitution of the country. Barnett goes on to say “I have made my position in this matter crystal clear. I have said in every county in Mississippi that no school in …show more content…

Shortly after his arrival on the campus, being escorted by the U.S. Marshals and the National Guard for his safety. A riot breaks out on the campus in front of the Lyceum building. A mob mixed with Mississippi residents, students and other white supremacy activist break out into was with the National Guardsman and other University officials. James Meredith is unharmed and is kept hidden in a dormitory on campus. In October following the riot of Meredith’s arrival, a group of students who resented James Meredith called “The Rebel Underground” (Doc. 3). This was a private memo calling for students with the same feelings toward the situation at hand. The issue stated “We will never accept integration at this or any other institution. We propose to resist by every means from now on.” They also gave a warning the National Guard and Government forces of integration “We have only begun to fight” (Doc. 3). This went to show the ongoing hate and racism was much significant not just in the south but on the campus at the University of

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