Friday, September 26, 2008
James Meredith
Today is quite a historical moment in America. The first black candidate for president will be participating in a debate held at the University of Mississippi where the first black student was enrolled at a southern U.S. university in 1962 after horrible riots and much violence that injured over a hundred people. Times do change for the better in some ways.
I looked up James Meredith's biography because I didn't know what he'd done after those eventful ten days between September 20th and October 1st forty-six years ago. He finally got to attend classes, graduated, earned an MBA and became a stockbroker. Fascinating to discover also that he and the civil rights movement came to a huge parting of the ways, however, because he found it "insulting" and demeaning. I've heard that occasionally before but didn't realize one of the major figures saw it that way. Definitely food for research and thought. After graduating and earning an MBA he became a stockbroker and then moved to Jackson, Mississippi to run a small used-car lot. He still lives there, interestingly enough. I wonder if any of the commentators or either debater will mention him. . . .
I looked up James Meredith's biography because I didn't know what he'd done after those eventful ten days between September 20th and October 1st forty-six years ago. He finally got to attend classes, graduated, earned an MBA and became a stockbroker. Fascinating to discover also that he and the civil rights movement came to a huge parting of the ways, however, because he found it "insulting" and demeaning. I've heard that occasionally before but didn't realize one of the major figures saw it that way. Definitely food for research and thought. After graduating and earning an MBA he became a stockbroker and then moved to Jackson, Mississippi to run a small used-car lot. He still lives there, interestingly enough. I wonder if any of the commentators or either debater will mention him. . . .
Labels: history, reflections
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