While James Meredith was not the first African American to apply and be denied admission to the University of Mississippi, his fate would be much different than the four before him. With the assistance of the NAACP, Meredith was eventually admitted to the University of Mississippi, becoming its first black student.
James Meredith Applies to the University of Mississippi
Meredith applied for admission to the University of Mississippi on January 31, 1961. At the time of his application, he was a student at Jackson State College, an all-black school. On February 4, 1961, Meredith received a telegram denying his admission. On February 7, Meredith sent a letter to the Department of Justice requesting assistance. In the meantime, Meredith wrote the university numerous times requesting the consideration of his application for the summer session.
Meredith Sues the University of Mississippi
Finally, on May 31, 1961 the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund filed suit in the U.S. District Court. The suit alleged that Meredith was refused admission to the university based solely upon his race. After numerous legal battles and appeals, the United States Supreme Court handed down its decision on September 10, 1962. The Court upheld Meredith’s right to admission at the University of Mississippi.
Meredith Attempts to Register
Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling, enforcing it would not be easy. Mississippi governor Ross Barnett vowed publicly to block Meredith’s admission. Barnett was appointed registrar of the university and used his position to block Meredith’s registration. In an additional attempt to prevent Meredith’s registration, the Mississippi legislature passed a law that prohibited any person who was convicted of a state crime from admission to a state school. This law was clearly targeted at Meredith, who had been convicted of false voter registration.In spite of the efforts to block Meredith’s registration, on September 30, a deal to allow Meredith to register was made between Attorney General Robert Kennedy and Barnett. Meredith was secretly escorted onto campus. Deputy federal marshals, U.S. border patrolmen, and federal prison guards, were stationed on and around the campus to protect him. A mob of more than two thousand converged upon the campus. Those standing guard were assaulted throughout the night with guns, bricks, Molotov cocktails, and bottles. Tear gas was used to try and control the crowd. Federal troops arrived and the mob retreated. In the end, two were dead, 28 marshals had been shot, and 160 were injured.
Meredith Registers at the University of Mississippi
On the morning of October 1, 1962, James Meredith registered at the University of Mississippi. Meredith went on to finish his education at the university and graduated in 1964. In 1966, he published the book, Three Years in Mississippi, which was about his experiences at the university.
