James Howard Meredith is a Civil Rights activist, writer, political adviser, who became the first African-American student admitted to the racially segregated University of Mississippi in 1962. His attributes towards Civil Rights includes planning and enacting a solo 220 mile march from Memphis to Jackson Mississippi in 1966. His reasoning for his march was to highlight the racism in the south and to encourage voter registration for blacks due to the passing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. During the second day of his march he was shot by a white man and suffered a number of wounds. As a result of his effort, more people across the country became involved in marches. After he recovered, Meredith rejoined his march along with an estimated 15,000 other marchers, and they entered Jackson on June 26, 1966. Also, during the march, over 4,000 African Americans registered to vote.
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Church Affiliation:Reunification Church
Role in the Movement:James Howard Meredith is a Civil Rights activist, writer, and political adviser.
Birth Place:Jackson, MS
Born Date:June 25, 1933
Deceased Date:
Place Lived as Adult:University, MS; Nigeria; New York City; Jackson, MS
Church Location:Kosciusko, MS