Logan Reid
James Howard Meredith, born on June 25, 1933, is an American civil rights activist, writer, political adviser, and United States Air Force veteran. In 1966, he began a solo march from Memphis, Tennessee, to Jackson, Mississippi, to encourage African Americans to vote and to challenge the culture of fear perpetuated by white supremacists in the state. Shortly into his march, he was shot in the neck, head, and back. Meredith survived the shooting and was visited in the hospital by several prominent civil rights figures, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of visit | June 1966 |
| Who visited | Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other prominent civil rights figures |
| Reason for hospitalisation | Shot by a sniper during the March Against Fear |
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What You'll Learn
James Meredith's 1966 March Against Fear
In 1966, civil rights activist James Meredith, the first Black student to enrol at the University of Mississippi, organised a solo march from Memphis, Tennessee, to Jackson, Mississippi. The "March Against Fear" was intended to encourage African Americans in Mississippi to register to vote and challenge the culture of fear perpetuated by white supremacists in the state.
On June 6, 1966, the second day of his march, Meredith was shot and wounded by Aubrey James Norvell, a white sniper. Norvell stepped out of a wooded area next to the road, shouted, "I only want Meredith", and shot Meredith three times with a shotgun. Meredith was quickly taken to a hospital in Memphis to recover from his injuries.
During his hospital stay, Meredith was visited by several prominent civil rights leaders, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Bernard Lee, Stokely Carmichael, and Willie Ricks. These leaders, along with various civil rights organisations, vowed to continue the march in Meredith's name and to complete the journey to Jackson. The state committed to protecting the marchers. The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP), the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), and the Medical Committee for Human Rights (MCHR) all participated in the march. The Deacons for Defense and Justice from Louisiana provided armed protection.
After his release from the hospital, Meredith rejoined the march on June 25, the day before it arrived in Jackson. By that time, the number of marchers had grown to more than 15,000 participants, making it the largest civil rights protest in Mississippi history. On June 26, the marchers entered Jackson, with Meredith and other leaders at the front of the crowd. During the march, more than 4,000 African Americans registered to vote, and the event catalysed continued community organising and political participation.
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The University of Mississippi's first African-American student
James Howard Meredith, born on June 25, 1933, in Kosciusko, Mississippi, became the first African-American student at the University of Mississippi in 1962. Raised on his family's farm in Attala County, he joined the U.S. Air Force after graduating high school in 1951 and served until 1960. During his military service, he spent three years at the Tachikawa Air Base in Japan, where his son John Howard was born.
Upon returning to Mississippi, Meredith enrolled at Jackson State College, an all-Black school, in 1960. Inspired by President John F. Kennedy's inaugural address, he sought admission to the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) in January 1961. However, the state took various measures to prevent his enrollment due to racial segregation. Despite the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in September 1962 that Meredith should be admitted, Mississippi officials, including Governor Ross Barnett, refused to comply. This led to campus riots and a stand-off between federal marshals and a mob of angry whites, resulting in two deaths and numerous injuries.
Finally, on October 1, 1962, under the protection of federal marshals, James Meredith became the first African-American student to integrate the University of Mississippi. This event marked a significant flashpoint in the civil rights movement, with 31,000 American servicemen required to quell the violence, the largest invocation of the Insurrection Act of 1807.
Meredith's integration sparked further activism and a commitment to challenging racial injustice. In 1966, he organized a solo 220-mile "March Against Fear" from Memphis, Tennessee, to Jackson, Mississippi, to encourage African Americans to register to vote and confront the fear perpetuated by white supremacists. Unfortunately, during the march, he was shot by a white gunman, Aubrey Norvell, and hospitalized with wounds to his neck, head, and back. While recovering in the hospital, he received visits from prominent civil rights figures, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The shooting incident and subsequent march by civil rights leaders mobilized a significant number of African Americans to register to vote.
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Meredith's shooting by Aubrey Norvell
On June 5, 1966, James Howard Meredith, an American civil rights activist, set out on a solo 220-mile March Against Fear from Memphis, Tennessee, to Jackson, Mississippi. His goal was to highlight continuing racism in the South and encourage African Americans to register to vote, challenging the culture of fear perpetuated by white supremacists in the state.
On June 6, 1966, just south of Hernando, Mississippi, Aubrey Norvell, a white salesman, ambushed Meredith from the woods and shot him in the neck, head, and back. Norvell had shouted a warning to bystanders to disperse before opening fire. Meredith, who was wearing a helmet and carried a walking stick, suffered wounds but survived the attack.
Norvell, an unemployed hardware clerk from Memphis, was apprehended at the scene of the shooting and later pleaded guilty to assault and battery. He was sentenced to two years in prison but only served 18 months.
Meredith's shooting galvanized the civil rights movement, with leaders of major organizations, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., visiting him in the hospital and vowing to complete the march in his name. Despite the attack, Meredith rejoined the march and, upon entering Jackson on June 26, led an estimated 15,000 marchers in what became the largest civil rights march in Mississippi.
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The mobilisation of civil rights leaders
James Howard Meredith, born on June 25, 1933, is an American civil rights activist, writer, political adviser, and United States Air Force veteran. In 1962, he became the first African-American student admitted to the racially segregated University of Mississippi. This event was a flashpoint in the civil rights movement.
In 1966, four years after his enrollment at the University of Mississippi, Meredith organized a solo 220-mile March Against Fear from Memphis, Tennessee, to Jackson, Mississippi. The march was intended to highlight continuing racism in the South and encourage African Americans in Mississippi to register to vote and challenge the culture of fear perpetuated by white supremacists in the state.
On June 5, 1966, Meredith embarked on the march, equipped with only a helmet and walking stick. Accompanied by a handful of friends and supporters, he was monitored by state police and FBI agents, with reporters and photographers trailing behind. Unfortunately, a few miles south of Hernando, Mississippi, Aubrey Norvell, a white salesman, ambushed Meredith from the woods and shot him in the neck, head, and back.
The shooting of James Meredith mobilized many civil rights leaders to resume the march in his name. During his hospitalization, Meredith was visited by several prominent civil rights figures, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The shooting turned out to be a catalyst for the civil rights movement, as more people from across the country became involved in the march. Despite the attack, Meredith was able to rejoin the march, and when he and other leaders entered Jackson on June 26, they were leading an estimated 15,000 marchers, making it the largest civil rights march in Mississippi. During the march, over 4,000 African Americans registered to vote, and it sparked continued community organizing and additional voter registration.
Meredith's bravery and determination in the face of adversity played a crucial role in advancing the civil rights movement and challenging racial segregation in the United States. His actions inspired others to join the fight for equal rights and justice for all.
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The March Against Fear's completion
In 1966, James Howard Meredith, an American civil rights activist, writer, political adviser, and United States Air Force veteran, began a solo 220-mile march against fear from Memphis, Tennessee, to Jackson, Mississippi. This march, which he called the "March Against Fear," was intended to highlight continuing racism in the South and encourage African Americans in Mississippi to register to vote and challenge the culture of fear perpetuated by white supremacists in the state.
On the second day of the march, Meredith was shot by a white gunman, Aubrey Norvell, who ambushed him from the woods, shooting him in the neck, head, and back. Meredith was hospitalized with non-fatal injuries, and during his recovery, the march continued in his name, with more people from across the country joining.
While in the hospital, Meredith received a visit from several prominent civil rights figures, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. After his treatment, Meredith was able to rejoin the march, and on June 26, he and other leaders entered Jackson, leading an estimated 15,000 marchers in what became the largest civil rights march in Mississippi. During the march, more than 4,000 African Americans registered to vote, and it served as a catalyst for continued community organizing and registration.
Following his recovery and the completion of the march, Meredith continued his activism and public life. He ran for various public offices, including an unsuccessful bid for a seat in the U.S. Senate in 1972. He served as an adviser to Senator Jesse Helms, a conservative who opposed the civil rights movement, a decision that drew criticism. Meredith also continued his writing career, publishing several books on politics and society, including memoirs and books on civil rights and society. He remains a prominent figure in the fight for racial equality and has a statue erected in his honor at the University of Mississippi.
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Frequently asked questions
James Meredith was visited by several prominent civil rights figures, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
James Howard Meredith is an American civil rights activist, writer, political adviser, and United States Air Force veteran.
James Meredith was shot for attempting to encourage African Americans in Mississippi to register to vote and to challenge the culture of fear perpetuated by white supremacists in the state.
The shooting of James Meredith mobilized many civil rights leaders to resume the march, which he was able to rejoin after recovering from his injuries.
Yes, James Meredith was married to Mary June Wiggins, with whom he had three sons: James, John, and Joseph Howard Meredith.
