James Meredith

James Meredith was born on June 25, 1933, in Kosciusko, Mississippi. Meredith was the seventh child born to Moses Meredith and Roxy Smith. Meredith grew up on a farm and didn’t encounter racism much as a child. Meredith’s first significant encounter with racism and segregation was when he was still in high school, and was riding the train home from Chicago. He had to give up his seat on a train, and was forced to stand the whole ride home. After that incident he vowed that he would dedicate his life to help get African American’s their rights. After he graduated high school, Meredith joined the United States Army Air Force. He also wanted to go to the all-white University of Mississippi to get a degree in Political science, but he had to go to the black Jackson State College. He also aimed for degrees in economics and law.