James
Howard
Meredith
By
Sophia Gluba
Elementary Grade 6
Who is James Meredith?
• James Meredith was an
American Civil Rights
Movement activist.
• He played a role to
integrate the University
of Mississippi.
His Early Life
• James Meredith was born
in Kosciusko, Mississippi
on June 25th, 1933.
• He was raised on a farm
with nine brothers and
sisters.
• He was in the U.S.
military from 1955-1960.
First Run in with Racism
• His first run in with racism was when he was on
a train going home from a trip.
• He was ordered to give up his seat.
• He had to move to the crowded “black section”
of the train.
• He stood during the whole trip home because
of overcrowding.
University of Mississippi
• He was admitted to the
University of Mississippi.
• The admission was
withdrawn when they
discovered his race.
• The District Court ruled that
he should not be accepted to
Ole’ Miss.
• The Supreme Court ruled in
his favor.
• He registered for classes in
1962.
Trying to enter the School
• Governor Ross tried to physically
block James Meredith from entering
the school.
• President John F. Kennedy sent:
– Military Police
– Troops from the Mississippi National
Guard
– Officials from the U.S. Border Controls
– And 500 U.S. Marshalls
to the University of Mississippi.
Education
• He received a degree in political science at he
University of Mississippi in 1963.
• He obtained a Masters Degree in Economics at
the University of Ibadan in Nigeria.
• He also wrote a book titled:
Three Years in Mississippi.
He was shot!
• June 6th, 1966 James
Meredith was shot while
participating in the “March
Against Fear”.
• He was shot by a sniper.
• He was taken to the hospital
where he recovered.
His Legacy
• James Meredith
integrated Ole’ Miss.
• He is an important civil
rights figure.
• He has inspired many
people by his courage
and determination.
Quotes
“My answer to the racial problem in America is
not to deal with it at all. The founding fathers
dealt with it when they made the constitution.”
“He vowed then
that he would
dedicate his life
ensuring equal
treatment for
African
Americans.”
References
www.history.com/this-day-in-history-james-meredith-shot
www.usmarshals.gov/history/miss/02.htm
www.brainyquote.com/quote/authors/j/james_meredith.html
www.biography.com/people/james-meredith-9406314
Picture References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:James_Meredith_Portrait.png
http://that1kid.wikispaces.com/James+Meredith
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:James_Meredith_OleMiss.jpg
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=mississippi62
http://www.npr.org/2012/10/01/161573289/integrating-ole-miss-a-transformative-deadly-riot
About Sophia Gluba
• This presentation was done by Sophia Gluba.
• Sophia Gluba did this as a school assignment
in Grade 6, Davenport, Iowa.