University of Mississippi
![]() October 1, 1962. James Meredith has become the first African-American student at the University of Mississippi. Sadly, his reception was anything but welcoming.
"The town of Oxford erupted. It took some 30,000 U.S. troops, federal marshals and national guardsmen to get James Meredith to class after a violent campus uprising. Two people were killed and more than 300 injured. Some historians say the integration of Ole Miss was the last battle of the Civil War" (Elliot). On the tragic situation, James Meredith succinctly summed up the event: "This is not a happy occasion" (BBC). The 1962 Ole Miss riots marked an important battle in the civil rights movement, and James Meredith's successful enrollment - despite heavy opposition - highlights one of the key steps in progressing towards a new age of racial equality, towards eliminating the haunting legacy of slavery in education. Education is just one facet of the inequalities that persist as a result of slavery. It exists as a sign that although America has grown as a nation, equality has still not been achieved. |
The Civil Rights Monument was dedicated October 1, 2006, to commemorate the efforts of James Meredith and others who strove to create educational opportunities for all citizens in the South.*
*information from: http://www.olemiss.edu/tours/lmsections-civilrights.html University of Mississippi, University Circle, University, MS near Ole Miss Dr, Oxford, MS
(662) 915-7211 · olemiss.edu |