Three Years in Mississippi

James Meredith

• Publisher: University Press of Mississippi
• Year: 2019
• Topic: History
• eBook ISBN:
  9781496821027
• Subtopic: North American History
• Index: History

On October 1, 1962, James Meredith was the first African American student to enroll at the University of Mississippi. Preceded by violent rioting resulting in two deaths and a lengthy court battle that made it all the way to the Supreme Court, his admission was a pivotal moment in civil rights history. Citing his "divine responsibility" to end white supremacy, Meredith risked everything to attend Ole Miss. In doing so, he paved the way for integration across the country. Originally published in 1966, more than ten years after the Supreme Court ended segregation in public schools in Brown v. Board of Education, Meredith describes his intense struggle to attend an all-white university and break down long-held race barriers in one of the most conservative states in the country. This first-person account offers a glimpse into a crucial point in civil rights history and the determination and courage of a man facing unfathomable odds.Reprinted for the first time, this volume features a new introduction by historian Aram Goudsouzian.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• Introduction to the New Edition
• 1 Return to Mississippi: August 1960
• 2 The First Quarter at Jackson State College: September–December 1960
• 3 The Application to the University of Mississippi: January–May 1961
• 4 Strategy to Survive: January–May 1961
• 5 The Trial: June 1961–June 1962
• 6 The Courts Decide: June–September 1962
• 7 The Last Days before Admission: September 1962
• 8 Two Days: September 30–October 1, 1962
• 9 The First Three Months: October–December 1962
• 10 The Decision: January 1963
• 11 The Second Semester: February–May 1963
• 12 Spring and Summer: June–August 1963
• 13 The Graduation and Exit: August 18, 1963
• Index