Lovett - US - 105

Caroline and Janie

Page history last edited by Caroline 1 yr ago

Integration of Ole Miss

Victory over discrimation

A lonely victory, but everyone reacted

Caroline and Janie

The Real Story

James Meredith made history in 1962 as the first black to enroll in the University of Mississippi, also known as Ole’ Miss. His movement caused state officials and local anti-integration mobs to riot. This led to US Federal troops to come to the protection of James Meredith and his supporters. His application to the college was rejected twice. The plight of Meredith’s education became everyone’s topic of conversations as the movement became radicalized in the 1970’s. On September 10,1962, he went to the university. NAACP made it to court on his behalf, but they got rejected. NAACP tried again and the US Supreme Court reversed the decision and Meredith was allowed to go to college. Ten days after the Supreme Court ruling, Meredith wanted to go to class, but Ross Barnett, the governor of Mississippi stopped him. President John F. Kennedy did not like this. He sent in 500 troops to keep the riots down. That wouldn’t stop the over-ruling whites to make it their way. President Kennedy sent in an extra 1600 troops to help protect the students. Later, he had to send in 2000 troops. Eventually, James Meredith was the first black American to go to Ole’ Miss.

Who was James Meredith?

James Meredith was born in Kosciusko, Mississippi on June 25, 1933. He served in the U.S. airforce for nine years from 1951 through 1960, including a tour of duty in Japan. Meredith also attended Jackson State College for two years.

What happened during the riots?

On September 30, 1962, riots broke out at the University of Mississippi. About 3,000 individuals were there to fight the U.S. marshalls; those people included students, local citizens, and Klan groups from Florida to Texas. They threw bricks, sticks, bottles, homemade bombs and set cars on fire to riot against intigration at Ole Miss. Two people were killed, 60 marshalls were injured, at least 300 wouned white men, and about 200 arrests in this riot.

Merideth was taken from all this violence safely to a men's dormitory in which he had fallen asleep and slept throw the whole "battle."

Why did James Meredith decide to apply for college at the University of Mississippi?

In James Meredith's letter to Thurgood Marshall, Meredith says the reason why he applied for college at Ole Miss, a college for all-whites was, "for my country, my race, my family and myself"

What were the conciquences?

Mainly the conciquences are that other schools accepted black students. Some examples are that Clemson College accepted a negro named Harvey Gnatt. This was very good because this is the "last state in which no Negro had attended with whites in this century." Also Ten blacks enrolled Tulane even though court rules "not obliged to admit them." In the University of Georgia graduated one Negro and six were still attending. Because of the Integration of the University was possible more schools in the north and south have started applying blacks.

Who:

James Meredith, mobs/rioters, Governer Barnett

What:

The integration of Mississippi University

Where:

Ole Miss in Oxford, Mississippi

When:

The process was from 1961 through 1963

Why: To enforce desegragation in colleges and provide equal education

Important Dates/Timeline

1961

James Meredith requests for an applacation at Ole Miss- On January 21, James Meredith sent a letter to the University of Mississippi asking for an applacation for admission to their school and any other catalogs or information that might be helpful.

Meredith recieves letter from Ole Miss Registrer- On January 26, 1961, Meredith recieved a letter from Robert B. Ellis saying that the university was pleased he was interested in the college and a application form was inside.

Meredith sent a letter to Thurgood Marshall- on January 9, 1961, Meredith sent a letter asking for leagle assistance to Thurgood Marshall. In his letter, James stated his acheivements and the reasons why he was attending the University of Mississippi.

Meredith submits his application- On January 31, 1961, James Meredith submits his application for admission for the University of Mississippi.

Meredith's letter to Robert B. Ellis - In this letter to Robert B. Ellis, sent on January 31, James Meredith reveals to the University and Registrer that he is not White, but Negro, and expects the situation not to change just because of his race.

Registrar's telegram to Meredith- On February 4, 1961, Meredith recieves a telegram from Ole Miss' registrar, Robert B. Ellis, stating that his application was turned in too late and that Meredith should not show up for further registation for the second semester.

Application rejected- On May 25, James Meredith's application in bluntly rejected by the university.

Case taken to court- the NAACP and Meredith takes the case to court on May 31.

1962

Injunction from Judge Mize- On September 13, Judge Mize orders the University of Mississippi to let Meredith attend their college. Also Governer Barnett states that, "We will not surrender to the evil and illeagle forces of tyranny.

Restraining order- On September 25, the Fifth Circut Court of Appeals orders Governer Barnett to not interfere with Meredith's attendance at Ole Miss, yet Barnett tries to block James Meredith from registering for the second time.

Riots Form- On September 30, riots occur on the Ole Miss campus. Many mobs and Klan members cause the riot because of James Meredith integrating the school.

Meredith Registers- On October 1st, at 9:00 am, James Meredith was fully registered to attend Ole Miss.

1963

Letter to John Kennedy- On September 5, 1963, A letter from James Meredith to John Kennedy saying that he has

graduated and has become the first African American to graduate from University of Mississippi.

Timeline Meredith attending Ole Miss with escorts

timeline

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http://www.jfklibrary.org/meredith/chronfr.html http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:James_Meredith_OleMiss.jpg http://www.saf.org/LawReviews/Kates1.html

Our Flag

The confederate battle flag should not be on our state flag. This is because the confederates lost the Civil War, and we wouldn't want a sin of defeat on our state flag. Also, a reason why the confederates suceeded from the Union was because they wanted to preserve slavery, and the present-day Georia does not believe that slavery is right. The Georgia state flag was chaned after the Brown v Board of Education court case, because Brown v. Board ruled that segreation was illeagle in public schools. Georia still thouht that blacks were not equal to whites, so as a sort of threat or sign that they were capable of seceeding, Georgia put their confederate flag on our state flag.

references:

To find where this event occured look at our google map:

|http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&channel=s&mid=1203630847

#1 Reterence Libary of Black America Chronology p.29 and p.34

#2 Quiet Progress in the South Life Feb. 8, 1963 p.4 "Life"

#3 9 Feb. 2008 <http://www.jfklibrary.org/meredith/home.html

#4. "Meredith, James."Compton's by Britannica. 2008. Encyclopaedia Britannica Online School Edition

7 Feb. 2008 <http://school.eb.com/all/comtons/article-9312474>

#5. 13 Feb. 2008 <http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3812/is_200211/ai_n9114878