James Meredith, who became the first Black student to enroll at the University of Mississippi in 1962, acknowledges the crowd in Kosciusko, Miss., Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, moments before the unveiling of a Mississippi Department of Archives and History marker recognizing his birthplace and his legacy in the Civil Rights Movement. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
A new historical marker in Kosciusko, Mississippi, pays tribute to James Meredith, the trailblazing figure who courageously fought segregation by integrating the University of Mississippi in 1962.
At 91, Meredith attended the unveiling ceremony Friday, wearing a red Ole Miss baseball cap and seated in the front of a Kosciusko-owned pickup truck. The event drew about 85 attendees, including many of Meredith’s relatives, who braved the cold to honor his legacy.
“Most important day of my life,” Meredith said in a brief interview. “Over half the people here are my relatives. And for relatives to stand out in the cold like they did — that’s something special.”
A Trailblazing Journey
Born in Kosciusko and raised on a nearby farm, Meredith has long resisted being labeled a civil rights leader, despite his pivotal role in desegregating higher education in Mississippi. After graduating high school in St. Petersburg, Florida, in 1951, he served nine years in the Air Force before returning to Mississippi.
He spent two years at Jackson State College, now Jackson State University, before suing to gain admission to the University of Mississippi. In 1962, he became the first Black student to enroll at the university, despite violent riots by a white mob. U.S. marshals ensured his safety throughout his time on campus. Today, about 10% of Ole Miss students are Black, a testament to the lasting impact of his courage.
“He’s a man whose courage profoundly altered the course of history,” Kosciusko Mayor Tim Kyle said during the ceremony.
Honoring a Legacy
The new historical marker is located a short walk from the brick home where Meredith’s parents and siblings lived while he was enrolled at Ole Miss. It marks a spot where U.S. marshals parked during his family visits in 1962 and 1963.
Created in collaboration with Florida State University professor Davis Houck, his students, and the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, the marker also notes Meredith’s 1966 “March Against Fear.” During this march to encourage Black voter registration, Meredith was shot and injured but later resumed the journey with support from other activists.
A Family Celebration
John Meredith, James’ oldest son and city council president in Huntsville, Alabama, reflected on the personal significance of the marker. “I have fond memories of visiting my grandmother, Ms. Roxie, in the brick home in Kosciusko. So all of this is quite the homecoming for me personally, and obviously my father is ecstatic about being honored this way in his hometown,” he said.
The historical marker joins others commemorating James Meredith’s life, including those at Ole Miss, the site of the 1966 shooting in Hernando, Mississippi, and outside the state Capitol.
A Lasting Impact
For James Meredith, the unveiling represents more than recognition. It’s a testament to a lifetime of perseverance and courage. In his words, it was “the most important day” of his life—a day that brought his family, his community, and his legacy together in celebration of the profound mark he left on history.