BILLY SCHUERMAN
James Meredith was escorted to classes by guards on Oct. 1, 1962, when he became the first African American student to be admitted to the University of Mississippi. Two days before, guards on order by President John F. Kennedy protected Meredith from the rioting around him. His enrollment was regarded as a pivotal point in the fight for civil rights.
On Monday, he returned to campus with the Lion TV film crew for a documentary on the importance of his legacy in the South and in Southern education.
“The one thing old people don’t like is help,” Meredith said as he pushed himself up from a chair placed in the middle of Jerry Hollingsworth Field.
Meredith is 86 now, but he still travels the world with his wife and family. He is lively and ready to laugh when he meets new people.
Meredith does not identify himself as a member of the Civil Rights movement, but his legacy on the University of Mississippi and in the South is undeniable.
