Dr. James Meredith Speaks at Our Center
November 21, 2000
Civil rights legend Dr. James Meredith (see bio below) visited the Humphrey Job Corps Center November 21, 2000, as part of his Educational Crusade 2000. Speaking to an audience of several hundred students, staff, and community members, Dr. Meredith answered questions about his historic role in the civil rights movement, including his "March Against Fear" in 1966. He spoke passionately about citizenship and the necessity for young people to learn to speak the English language. Pointing to Job Corps students, he declared: "Job Corps isn't your second chance, or your third chance: It's your BEST chance!". After his talk, several copies of his book: "Three Years in Mississippi" were given away.
Center Mental Health Consultant Dr. Jeff Gottlieb gave an ispirational introduction to Dr. Meredith--asking students to imagine being restricted from Job Corps personally by Gov. Jesse Ventura. Dr. Meredith was invited to the Humphrey Center by Richard Howell, Career Development Services System (CDSS) Manager.
About Dr. James Meredith
James Meredith was born in Kosciusko, Mississippi, on June 25, 1933. While attending Jackson State College (1960-62) Meredith attempted to become the first African American to gain admission to the University of Mississippi. Meredith filled out the application, ignoring the question on race as irrelevant. He was duly admitted. But the admission was withdrawn when word got out that James H. Meredith was “darker than expected”. When Ole Miss authorities refused to respond to reason, he reluctantly sued. After a year of appeals, Meredith was victorious when the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court ruled the state could not deny admission to an academically qualified, taxpaying citizen.
Still unwilling to submit, Mississippi Governor Ross Barnett blocked Meredith’s registration in person. Demonstrations ensued and President Kennedy ordered federal marshals to escort Meredith to campus and protect him from threats of being lynched. Before National Guard reinforcements could arrive, however, violence erupted, wounding 160 marshals and killing two student bystanders. Despite this opposition, Meredith successfully graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1964. Meredith's account of this experience at the university, Three Years in Mississippi, was published in 1966.
On June 5, 1966, Meredith started a solitary March Against Fear from Memphis to Jackson to protest racism. Soon after starting his march he was shot by sniper. Civil rights campaigners, including Martin Luther King, Jr., continued the march in Meredith's name until he recovered to join them.
Meredith continued his education at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria (1964-65) and at Columbia University (1966-68). In the late 1960s, Dr. Meredith became a stockbroker, and ran for Congress as a member of the Republican Party. In 1989, he shocked traditionally liberal black leaders by accepting a position in the office of North Carolina Senator Jesse Helms. Despite being criticized for his conservative views, Dr. James Meredith’s vision is keen, and he still stands tall. He continues to work steadily to ensure every American enjoys the rights and upholds the responsibilities of full citizenship.
