1 00:00:00,870 --> 00:00:02,263 [DRAMATIC MUSIC] 2 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:07,000 Downloaded from YTS.MX 3 00:00:02,306 --> 00:00:04,787 Narrator: SEGREGATED MID-CENTURY AMERICA. 4 00:00:07,442 --> 00:00:10,053 MISSISSIPPI ITS EPICENTER. 5 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:13,000 Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX 6 00:00:10,097 --> 00:00:13,839 Barnett: FRIENDS, I'M A MISSISSIPPI SEGREGATIONIST 7 00:00:13,883 --> 00:00:17,147 AND I AM PROUD OF IT. 8 00:00:17,191 --> 00:00:19,758 Narrator: A LAND STEEPED IN RACIST VIOLENCE. 9 00:00:22,326 --> 00:00:24,676 FROM THIS CONTEXT EMERGES ONE MAN 10 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:28,158 WHO WOULD RISK HIS LIFE TO FIGHT FOR HIS BELIEFS. 11 00:00:28,202 --> 00:00:31,292 James Meredith: I HAD ENGAGED IN A WAR 12 00:00:31,335 --> 00:00:34,860 AGAINST THE SYSTEM OF WHITE SUPREMACY. 13 00:00:34,904 --> 00:00:37,515 Williams: THERE WAS NO GUARANTEEIN SEPTEMBER OF '62 14 00:00:37,559 --> 00:00:40,040 THAT MEREDITH WAS GONNA COME OUT OF THIS ALIVE. 15 00:00:41,215 --> 00:00:42,912 Narrator: TO ACHIEVE HIS ENDS, 16 00:00:42,955 --> 00:00:45,436 HE WILL TRIGGER THE LARGEST DOMESTIC MOBILIZATION 17 00:00:45,480 --> 00:00:47,917 OF U.S. TROOPS SINCE THE CIVIL WAR. 18 00:00:50,702 --> 00:00:52,791 Reporter: THE SITUATION IS BAD. 19 00:00:52,835 --> 00:00:56,317 THE MARSHALS ARE STILL FIRING TEARGAS SHELLS 20 00:00:56,360 --> 00:00:58,536 AND EXPLODING ALL OVER THE PLACE. 21 00:00:59,929 --> 00:01:01,757 Schieffer: I STARTED HEARINGTHUDS AGAINST 22 00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:03,411 THE SIDE OF THE TRUCK 23 00:01:03,454 --> 00:01:04,716 AND IT TURNED OUT THAT THEY WERE 24 00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:06,892 THROWING ROCKS, MOLOTOV COCKTAILS. 25 00:01:09,852 --> 00:01:11,810 Narrator: A LARGELY FORGOTTEN HERO 26 00:01:11,854 --> 00:01:14,335 WHO SINGLE HANDEDLY INSTIGATES 27 00:01:14,378 --> 00:01:16,598 SOME OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT VICTORIES 28 00:01:16,641 --> 00:01:18,078 OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. 29 00:01:19,818 --> 00:01:21,951 YET HE IS A COMPLEX MAN. 30 00:01:22,908 --> 00:01:26,129 James Meredith: IT HAD ALWAYS BEEN MY BELIEF THAT MY JOB 31 00:01:26,173 --> 00:01:29,045 WAS TO RESTRUCTURE THE WORLD, 32 00:01:29,089 --> 00:01:33,441 BECAUSE I DIDN'T LIKE NOTHING, INCLUDING MOST OF THE TIME, 33 00:01:33,484 --> 00:01:35,921 I DIDN'T LIKE JAMES MEREDITH. 34 00:01:37,532 --> 00:01:39,186 Judy Meredith: WHAT I THOUGHT ABOUT WAS 35 00:01:39,229 --> 00:01:42,232 "WHAT A BRAVE MAN, OR EITHER HE'S CRAZY AS HECK". 36 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:48,412 Narrator: A CIVIL RIGHTS ICON WHO REJECTS THE TERM. 37 00:01:48,456 --> 00:01:53,156 James Meredith: CIVIL RIGHTS IS AN INSULT TO CITIZENSHIP. 38 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:57,378 EVERY CITIZEN IN THE UNITED STATES 39 00:01:57,421 --> 00:02:01,251 IS ENTITLED TO EVERY ONE OF THOSE RIGHTS. 40 00:02:01,295 --> 00:02:02,774 Narrator: THROUGHOUT IT ALL, 41 00:02:02,818 --> 00:02:04,559 HE MARCHES TO THE BEAT OF HIS OWN DRUM. 42 00:02:05,821 --> 00:02:08,040 SOMETIMES CONTROVERSIAL. 43 00:02:08,084 --> 00:02:12,349 Wright: HE'S A LONER, HE DOESN'TCARE WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT HIM. 44 00:02:12,393 --> 00:02:17,180 James Meredith: I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT MY JOB WAS 45 00:02:17,224 --> 00:02:21,445 TO LEAD THE PEOPLE TO EQUALITY. 46 00:02:25,536 --> 00:02:28,104 Narrator: THIS IS THE STORY OF JAMES MEREDITH, 47 00:02:29,540 --> 00:02:30,889 AN AMERICAN ORIGINAL. 48 00:02:42,553 --> 00:02:43,902 Williams: THE WORD THAT 49 00:02:43,946 --> 00:02:46,340 IMMEDIATELY COMES TO MIND IS REBEL. 50 00:02:46,383 --> 00:02:48,472 Judy Meredith: IT TOOK ME ABOUT 20 YEARS TO UNDERSTAND 51 00:02:48,516 --> 00:02:52,389 WHAT THE HECK JAMES WAS TALKING ABOUT MOST TIMES. 52 00:02:52,433 --> 00:02:53,869 Doyle: HE MAKES YOU THINK, 53 00:02:53,912 --> 00:02:56,915 HE MAKES YOU SCRAMBLE YOUR ASSUMPTIONS 54 00:02:56,959 --> 00:02:58,352 WHEN IT COMES TO AMERICAN HISTORY 55 00:02:58,395 --> 00:03:00,310 AND WHEN IT COMES TO RACE. 56 00:03:00,354 --> 00:03:03,008 Narrator: HE WAS BORN IN KOSCIUSKO, MISSISSIPPI. 57 00:03:04,662 --> 00:03:08,057 THE FAMILY FARM IS PIVOTAL IN SHAPING HIS OUTLOOK. 58 00:03:08,100 --> 00:03:10,842 James Meredith: MY FATHER WAS GOING TO SELL THE FARM 59 00:03:10,886 --> 00:03:14,281 AND HE WANTED TO GIVE ME FIRST CHANCE TO BUY IT. 60 00:03:14,324 --> 00:03:17,066 THERE WAS REALLY NOTHING TO CONSIDER. 61 00:03:19,242 --> 00:03:21,505 UNLIKE WHICH IS GENERALLY THOUGHT, 62 00:03:21,549 --> 00:03:24,247 I WAS BORN IN PRIVILEGE. 63 00:03:24,291 --> 00:03:27,511 MY FAMILY OWNED LOTS OF LAND. 64 00:03:27,555 --> 00:03:32,560 I WAS BORN IN 1933 IN THE HEART OF THE AMERICAN DEPRESSION. 65 00:03:33,691 --> 00:03:38,130 BUT WE DIDN'T LIVE LIKE POOR PEOPLE. 66 00:03:38,174 --> 00:03:39,915 Hazel Meredith: BECAUSE OF THE WAY WE GREW UP, 67 00:03:39,958 --> 00:03:42,047 WE DIDN'T GROW UP THINKING WE WERE INFERIOR 68 00:03:42,091 --> 00:03:43,440 TO ANYBODY OR ANYTHING. 69 00:03:47,227 --> 00:03:48,793 Narrator: ACROSS THE SOUTH, 70 00:03:48,837 --> 00:03:52,797 WHITE SUPREMACY KEPT MOST BLACKS DISENFRANCHISED. 71 00:03:54,582 --> 00:03:57,019 NOWHERE IS SEGREGATION MORE BRUTALLY 72 00:03:57,062 --> 00:03:59,282 ENFORCED THAN IN MISSISSIPPI. 73 00:04:00,196 --> 00:04:02,154 James Meredith: YOU SEE, THE OTHER THING THAT WAS SIGNIFICANT 74 00:04:02,198 --> 00:04:05,767 ABOUT MY GROWING UP WAS THE ISOLATION. 75 00:04:05,810 --> 00:04:08,465 I SPENT MOST OF MY TIME JUST ROAMING 76 00:04:08,509 --> 00:04:13,514 MY FATHER'S 84-ACRE FARM, TOTALLY BY MYSELF. 77 00:04:14,254 --> 00:04:16,299 AS A MATTER OF FACT, I WAS 15 YEARS OLD 78 00:04:16,343 --> 00:04:18,780 BEFORE I KNEW THAT BLACK WAS SUPPOSED 79 00:04:18,823 --> 00:04:21,391 TO BE AT THE BOTTOM END OF THE DEAL. 80 00:04:22,958 --> 00:04:25,787 WE VISITED OUR RELATIVES IN DETROIT. 81 00:04:25,830 --> 00:04:29,269 AND WE CAME BACK ON THE TRAIN. 82 00:04:29,312 --> 00:04:32,881 AND WHEN WE GOT TO MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, 83 00:04:32,924 --> 00:04:34,926 THE CONDUCTOR TOLD ME AND MY BROTHER 84 00:04:34,970 --> 00:04:37,277 WE HAD TO MOVE TO THE BLACK CAR. 85 00:04:38,321 --> 00:04:40,192 AND I HAD TO STAND ALL THE WAY 86 00:04:40,236 --> 00:04:44,196 FROM MEMPHIS TO DURANT, MISSISSIPPI 87 00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:47,374 AND I CRIED ALL THE WAY. 88 00:04:47,417 --> 00:04:50,594 AND I PROMISED GOD THAT I WAS GONNA SPEND 89 00:04:50,638 --> 00:04:54,468 THE REST OF MY LIFE TRYING TO CHANGE THAT. 90 00:04:54,511 --> 00:04:56,818 Doyle: HE HAD BEEN RAISED BY A FATHER 91 00:04:56,861 --> 00:04:59,386 WHO WAS LIKE A BIBLICAL CHARACTER 92 00:04:59,429 --> 00:05:01,736 OF STRENGTH AND BRILLIANCE 93 00:05:01,779 --> 00:05:04,304 AND THAT FATHER SAID TO JAMES MEREDITH, 94 00:05:04,347 --> 00:05:09,004 "YOU ARE THE CHOSEN ONE, YOU ARE GONNA CHANGE HISTORY". 95 00:05:14,966 --> 00:05:17,317 Narrator: IN 1950, MEREDITH ENLISTS 96 00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:19,362 IN THE NEWLY INTEGRATED AIR FORCE. 97 00:05:20,537 --> 00:05:23,366 AS JAMES SERVES, THE FIGHT FOR BLACK EQUALITY 98 00:05:23,410 --> 00:05:27,631 IS HEATING UP AND EDUCATION IS THE PRIMARY BATTLEGROUND. 99 00:05:28,589 --> 00:05:32,593 IN 1957, NINE BLACK STUDENTS ATTEMPTED TO ENROLL 100 00:05:32,636 --> 00:05:35,683 IN THE CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL IN LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS. 101 00:05:36,771 --> 00:05:40,775 PRESIDENT EISENHOWER, UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE NAACP, 102 00:05:40,818 --> 00:05:43,299 MOBILIZES FEDERAL TROOPS TO ENFORCE 103 00:05:43,343 --> 00:05:45,214 THEIR RIGHT TO ATTEND THE SCHOOL. 104 00:05:46,998 --> 00:05:49,218 JAMES NOW STATIONED IN JAPAN, 105 00:05:49,261 --> 00:05:52,656 FOLLOWS THE STORY CLOSELY AND WITH INTEREST. 106 00:05:53,614 --> 00:05:56,399 Doyle: HE SAW WHAT HAPPENED IN LITTLE ROCK IN 1957 107 00:05:56,443 --> 00:05:59,576 AND THAT WAS AMERICAN COMBAT TROOPS 108 00:05:59,620 --> 00:06:03,537 DELIVERING JUSTICE FOR AMERICAN SCHOOL CHILDREN. 109 00:06:04,712 --> 00:06:06,148 Narrator: WHEN MEREDITH LEAVES 110 00:06:06,191 --> 00:06:09,020 THE RAPIDLY INTEGRATING WORLD OF THE MILITARY, 111 00:06:09,064 --> 00:06:12,372 HE RETURNES TO A MISSISSIPPI STILL MIRED IN INEQUALITY. 112 00:06:13,677 --> 00:06:16,288 HE MAKES A DECISION THAT WOULD CHANGE HISTORY. 113 00:06:17,594 --> 00:06:22,294 James Meredith: I CAME BACK WITH THE PLAN TO FORCE 114 00:06:22,338 --> 00:06:24,688 THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INTO A POSITION 115 00:06:24,732 --> 00:06:27,735 WHERE THEY HAD TO USE THE MILITARY MIGHT 116 00:06:27,778 --> 00:06:32,609 TO SUPPORT MY RIGHTS OF CITIZENSHIP. 117 00:06:32,653 --> 00:06:34,655 Narrator: NO BLACK STUDENT HAD ATTENDED 118 00:06:34,698 --> 00:06:38,789 THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI IN ITS 113 YEAR HISTORY. 119 00:06:39,747 --> 00:06:41,139 Reporter: JAMES, WHY DO YOU WANT TO ENTER 120 00:06:41,183 --> 00:06:43,098 THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI? 121 00:06:43,141 --> 00:06:46,449 James Meredith: I THINK THAT EVERY CITIZEN SHOULD HAVE 122 00:06:46,493 --> 00:06:50,845 AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE EDUCATION IN HIS OWN STATE. 123 00:06:53,891 --> 00:06:54,805 Jackson: HE TOOK THE SYSTEM ON. 124 00:06:54,849 --> 00:06:55,676 HE TOOK IT ON. 125 00:06:57,895 --> 00:07:00,724 WHEN YOU THINK OF THAT, ITHINK ABOUT A GUY WHO WAS BOLD, 126 00:07:02,334 --> 00:07:07,122 COURAGEOUS, SMART, MARCHED TO THE BEAT OF HIS OWN DRUM. 127 00:07:07,165 --> 00:07:08,558 Gilliam: THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI, 128 00:07:08,602 --> 00:07:11,866 IT WAS THE SYMBOL OF WHITE SUPREMACY. 129 00:07:12,823 --> 00:07:15,826 THE THOUGHT AT THAT POINT OF A BLACK PERSON 130 00:07:15,870 --> 00:07:18,481 ENROLLING AND ATTENDING THAT SCHOOL 131 00:07:18,525 --> 00:07:23,486 WAS BEYOND THE IMAGINATION OF SO MANY PEOPLE. 132 00:07:25,009 --> 00:07:26,707 Narrator: JAMES SAW AN OPPORTUNITY 133 00:07:26,750 --> 00:07:30,537 IN RECENTLY ELECTED PRESIDENT JOHN KENNEDY. 134 00:07:30,580 --> 00:07:34,628 James Meredith: JOHN KENNEDY WAS A SENATOR FROM MASSACHUSETTS 135 00:07:34,671 --> 00:07:37,761 THAT HAD NEVER EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT THE BLACK ISSUE, 136 00:07:37,805 --> 00:07:41,939 BUT HE KNEW THE POLITICAL POWER OF THE BLACK WHITE ISSUE. 137 00:07:44,202 --> 00:07:47,902 THE DAY HE GOT INAUGURATED, THE NEXT DAY, 138 00:07:47,945 --> 00:07:49,947 I DROPPED MY LETTER IN THE MAIL. 139 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:54,778 Narrator: OLE MISS SENDS AN ENCOURAGING RESPONSE 140 00:07:54,822 --> 00:07:56,432 AND JAMES REPLIES. 141 00:07:56,476 --> 00:07:58,739 James Meredith: I'M VERY PLEASED WITH YOUR LETTER 142 00:07:58,782 --> 00:08:01,306 THAT YOU RECENTLY SENT TO ME. 143 00:08:01,350 --> 00:08:03,744 I SINCERELY HOPE THAT YOUR ATTITUDE 144 00:08:03,787 --> 00:08:05,441 TOWARD ME DOES NOT CHANGE 145 00:08:05,485 --> 00:08:08,357 UPON LEARNING THAT I AM NOT A WHITE APPLICANT. 146 00:08:10,228 --> 00:08:12,492 Narrator: WITHIN DAYS OLE MISS RESPONDS. 147 00:08:14,145 --> 00:08:16,539 JAMES WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO REGISTER. 148 00:08:19,673 --> 00:08:22,414 HE KNOWS HIS CAMPAIGN WOULD END UP IN THE COURTS. 149 00:08:23,328 --> 00:08:26,027 FOR THAT HE WILL NEED LEGAL SUPPORT. 150 00:08:26,897 --> 00:08:31,772 James Meredith: IT WAS MEDGAR EVERS THAT FIRST SUGGESTED 151 00:08:31,815 --> 00:08:35,036 THAT I CONTACT THE NAACP 152 00:08:35,079 --> 00:08:39,431 OF WHICH HE WAS THE TOP PERSON IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI. 153 00:08:39,475 --> 00:08:44,480 HE PUT ME IN TOUCH WITH THE NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE FUND. 154 00:08:46,482 --> 00:08:50,094 Narrator: IN 1954, THE LEGAL DEFENSE FUND HAD WON 155 00:08:50,138 --> 00:08:53,445 THE CASE OF BROWN VERSUS BOARD OF EDUCATION 156 00:08:53,489 --> 00:08:54,969 WHICH EXPLICITLY OUTLAWED 157 00:08:55,012 --> 00:08:57,972 RACIAL SEGREGATION IN PUBLIC EDUCATION. 158 00:09:00,191 --> 00:09:03,194 FOR 16 MONTHS ATTORNEY CONSTANCE BAKER MOTLEY 159 00:09:03,238 --> 00:09:04,718 PUSHES MEREDITH'S CASE. 160 00:09:06,415 --> 00:09:09,113 IN SEPTEMBER 1962, THE SUPREME COURT 161 00:09:09,157 --> 00:09:12,552 RULES THAT OLE MISS MUST ADMIT JAMES MEREDITH. 162 00:09:13,814 --> 00:09:17,774 James Meredith: I HAD ENGAGED IN A WAR AGAINST 163 00:09:18,732 --> 00:09:23,301 THE ORGANIZED POWER OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI. 164 00:09:24,607 --> 00:09:26,130 Narrator: AND MEREDITH'S WAR IS ABOUT 165 00:09:26,174 --> 00:09:29,481 TO ENTER A NEW, FAR MORE DANGEROUS PHASE. 166 00:09:30,657 --> 00:09:31,527 Angry Student: GO HOME NIGGER. 167 00:09:33,007 --> 00:09:34,269 GO HOME NIGGER! 168 00:09:38,360 --> 00:09:40,797 Narrator: SEPTEMBER 1962. 169 00:09:40,841 --> 00:09:44,105 THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI IS ON HIGH ALERT. 170 00:09:46,281 --> 00:09:48,805 JAMES MEREDITH HAS CHOSEN TO FIGHT HIS BATTLE 171 00:09:48,849 --> 00:09:51,721 FOR BLACK EQUALITY BY CHALLENGING OLE MISS 172 00:09:51,765 --> 00:09:55,333 TO ENROLL HIM AS IT'S FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENT. 173 00:09:56,900 --> 00:09:58,902 BUT THE FORCES OPPOSING HIM 174 00:09:58,946 --> 00:10:02,079 STRETCHED FAR BEYOND THE UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION, 175 00:10:02,950 --> 00:10:06,518 ALL THE WAY TO THE STATE'S GOVERNOR, ROSS BARNETT. 176 00:10:07,911 --> 00:10:10,479 Barnett Jr.: MY FATHER WAS BORNWAY OUT IN THE COUNTRY 177 00:10:10,522 --> 00:10:14,657 IN CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI, 1898. 178 00:10:15,136 --> 00:10:16,790 HE WAS BORN, AS HE SAID, 179 00:10:16,833 --> 00:10:20,271 60 MILES FROM A RAILROAD AND 60 MILES FROM A BANK. 180 00:10:20,315 --> 00:10:22,273 THEN HE WENT TO LAW SCHOOL AT OLE MISS. 181 00:10:23,231 --> 00:10:25,233 MY FATHER LIKED BLACK FOLKS, 182 00:10:25,276 --> 00:10:29,106 BUT HE BELIEVED THAT THE LORD MADE WHITE FOLKS, 183 00:10:29,150 --> 00:10:32,849 BLACK FOLKS, YELLOW FOLKS, RED FOLKS, WHATEVER, 184 00:10:34,198 --> 00:10:36,287 AND THAT WAS AN INTENTION OF THE LORD. 185 00:10:36,331 --> 00:10:38,115 Narrator: AND BARNETT HAD RUN FOR GOVERNOR 186 00:10:38,159 --> 00:10:40,901 ON AN EXPLICITLY RACIST PLATFORM. 187 00:10:42,163 --> 00:10:46,167 Barnett: FRIENDS, I'M A MISSISSIPPI SEGREGATIONIST 188 00:10:46,210 --> 00:10:48,212 AND I AM PROUD OF IT. 189 00:10:48,256 --> 00:10:51,041 Doyle: ROSS BARNETT WAS AFRAID OF BEING KILLED POLITICALLY 190 00:10:51,085 --> 00:10:53,174 THE MOMENT THAT THE SUN ROSE 191 00:10:53,217 --> 00:10:55,480 ON THE DAY THAT MEREDITH GOES TO SCHOOL. 192 00:10:55,524 --> 00:10:58,745 HE WAS DESPERATELY TRYING TO SALVAGE HIS OWN CAREER. 193 00:10:58,788 --> 00:11:00,834 Narrator: DAYS AFTER THE SUPREME COURT 194 00:11:00,877 --> 00:11:02,531 DECISION IN MEREDITH'S FAVOR, 195 00:11:02,574 --> 00:11:04,576 BARNETT DRAWS A LINE IN THE SAND. 196 00:11:05,752 --> 00:11:08,450 Barnett: I HAVE SAID IN EVERY COUNTY IN MISSISSIPPI 197 00:11:08,493 --> 00:11:11,627 THAT NO SCHOOL IN OUR STATE WILL 198 00:11:11,671 --> 00:11:14,586 BE INTEGRATED WHILE I AM YOUR GOVERNOR. 199 00:11:14,630 --> 00:11:16,240 Narrator: THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI 200 00:11:16,284 --> 00:11:19,766 IS NOW IN OPEN REBELLION AGAINST THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. 201 00:11:19,809 --> 00:11:22,682 BOTH SIDES KNOW THE FACE OFF COULD LEAD TO BLOODSHED 202 00:11:23,552 --> 00:11:26,598 AND AT THE MIDDLE OF IT ALL IS JAMES MEREDITH. 203 00:11:28,339 --> 00:11:29,776 Williams: I THINK THERE WERE THOSE WITHIN 204 00:11:29,819 --> 00:11:32,126 THE CIVIL RIGHTS COMMUNITY WHO UNDERSTOOD 205 00:11:32,169 --> 00:11:34,171 HOW SIGNIFICANT THIS MOMENT WAS. 206 00:11:34,215 --> 00:11:35,651 I THINK THERE WERE OTHERS WHO UNDERSTOOD 207 00:11:35,695 --> 00:11:37,914 HOW DANGEROUS THIS UNDERTAKING WAS. 208 00:11:37,958 --> 00:11:40,308 THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE IN SEPTEMBER OF '62 209 00:11:40,351 --> 00:11:42,571 THAT MEREDITH WAS GONNA COME OUT OF THIS ALIVE. 210 00:11:42,614 --> 00:11:47,141 James Meredith: I EXPECTED TO BE KILLED. 211 00:11:47,184 --> 00:11:49,143 Narrator: ON SEPTEMBER THE 20TH, 212 00:11:49,186 --> 00:11:51,754 MEREDITH ARRIVED AT OLE MISS. 213 00:11:51,798 --> 00:11:53,974 James Meredith: ALL THE STUDENTS WERE OUT THERE. 214 00:11:54,017 --> 00:11:56,541 THEY WERE CUSSING AND ALL OF THAT. 215 00:12:02,722 --> 00:12:06,116 James Meredith: FIRST, HE ASKED WHICH ONE IS JAMES MEREDITH 216 00:12:07,422 --> 00:12:10,730 AND I WAS THE ONLY BLACK ANYWHERE ON THE CAMPUS. 217 00:12:11,818 --> 00:12:14,298 Narrator: BARNETT REFUSES TO ADMIT MEREDITH. 218 00:12:15,517 --> 00:12:17,606 Barnett Jr.: HE WAS DOING EVERYTHING HE COULD LEGALLY 219 00:12:17,649 --> 00:12:22,654 AND SOME MAY SAY ILLEGALLY TO KEEP MEREDITH OUT OF OLE MISS. 220 00:12:23,830 --> 00:12:25,614 Narrator: MEREDITH'S LEGAL TEAM OBTAINS 221 00:12:25,657 --> 00:12:27,485 A COURT ORDER PROHIBITING BARNETT 222 00:12:27,529 --> 00:12:30,488 FROM BLOCKING MEREDITH'S ATTEMPT TO REGISTER. 223 00:12:30,532 --> 00:12:31,968 Reporter: MISS MOTLEY, 224 00:12:32,012 --> 00:12:33,578 WHAT'S GONNA BE THE PROCEDURE FOR TOMORROW? 225 00:12:33,622 --> 00:12:35,580 Motley: WELL, MR MEREDITH IS GONNA GO OVER 226 00:12:35,624 --> 00:12:37,713 TO JACKSON AND REGISTER. 227 00:12:37,757 --> 00:12:39,541 Reporter: DO YOU EXPECT THAT THE BOARD WILL COMPLY? 228 00:12:39,584 --> 00:12:41,891 Motley: THEY TOLD THE COURT THEY WOULD. 229 00:12:41,935 --> 00:12:43,806 Reporter: DO YOU ANTICIPATE ANY DIFFICULTIES TOMORROW? 230 00:12:43,850 --> 00:12:44,851 Motley: NO, I DON'T. 231 00:12:45,634 --> 00:12:47,114 Narrator: ON SEPTEMBER 25TH, 232 00:12:47,157 --> 00:12:48,811 MEREDITH TRIES AGAIN, 233 00:12:48,855 --> 00:12:51,422 THIS TIME AT THE STATE OFFICE IN JACKSON. 234 00:12:51,466 --> 00:12:52,902 Reporter: JAMES MEREDITH HAS JUST ARRIVED 235 00:12:52,946 --> 00:12:55,644 IN THE CUSTODY OF FEDERAL OFFICIALS. 236 00:12:55,687 --> 00:12:57,037 AND APPARENTLY MAKING HIS WAY UP 237 00:12:57,080 --> 00:12:58,995 TO THE 10TH FLOOR TO REGISTER. 238 00:13:00,475 --> 00:13:01,519 Reporter: HERE HE COMES NOW, 239 00:13:01,563 --> 00:13:04,218 PATROL ASKING US ALL TO BACK UP 240 00:13:04,261 --> 00:13:06,089 Officer: JUST BACK UP, EVERYBODY PLEASE. 241 00:13:06,133 --> 00:13:09,136 Barnett: TO JAMES H. MEREDITH. 242 00:13:09,179 --> 00:13:11,399 APPLICANT FOR ADMISSION AS A STUDENT 243 00:13:11,442 --> 00:13:13,053 AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI. 244 00:13:14,881 --> 00:13:17,144 I, ROSS R. BARNETT, 245 00:13:17,187 --> 00:13:20,712 GOVERNOR OF THE GREAT AND SOVEREIGN STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, 246 00:13:22,018 --> 00:13:26,936 INTERPOSE THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THIS STATE AND DO HEREBY, 247 00:13:27,197 --> 00:13:31,288 NOW AND FINALLY DENY YOU ADMISSION 248 00:13:31,332 --> 00:13:33,334 TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI. 249 00:13:37,381 --> 00:13:41,081 Doyle: AGAIN HE HAS TO ENDURE THIS RIDICULOUS DANCE 250 00:13:41,124 --> 00:13:44,214 WHERE THE STATE SAYS, "NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO REGISTER YOU." 251 00:13:44,258 --> 00:13:45,302 Narrator: PRESIDENT KENNEDY 252 00:13:45,346 --> 00:13:46,869 ATTEMPTS TO REASON WITH BARNETT. 253 00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:06,280 Narrator: WHILE BARNETT STALLS, 254 00:14:06,323 --> 00:14:08,935 WHITE SUPREMACISTS POUR INTO OXFORD. 255 00:14:10,501 --> 00:14:11,938 Reporter: YOU MUST BE AWARE THAT YOUR VERY LIFE 256 00:14:11,981 --> 00:14:15,028 MAY BE AT STAKE WHEN YOU WALK ON TO THAT CAMPUS? 257 00:14:15,071 --> 00:14:18,683 James Meredith: WELL, EVERYONE'S LIFE IS AT STAKE AT ALL TIMES. 258 00:14:25,168 --> 00:14:26,343 Narrator: PRESIDENT KENNEDY CANNOT 259 00:14:26,387 --> 00:14:29,477 ALLOW BARNETT TO DEFY THE SUPREME COURT. 260 00:14:48,670 --> 00:14:51,760 Narrator: THAT WEEKEND, AS KENNEDY PONDERS HIS OPTIONS, 261 00:14:51,803 --> 00:14:54,676 BARNETT JOINS THOUSANDS OF OLE MISS STUDENTS 262 00:14:54,719 --> 00:14:56,983 AT A FOOTBALL GAME AGAINST KENTUCKY. 263 00:14:58,810 --> 00:15:01,378 STANDING AT THE 50-YARD LINE AT HALF TIME, 264 00:15:01,422 --> 00:15:03,903 BARNETT REMAINS DEFIANT. 265 00:15:03,946 --> 00:15:05,121 Barnett: I LOVE MISSISSIPPI. 266 00:15:07,950 --> 00:15:09,430 I LOVE HER PEOPLE, 267 00:15:11,214 --> 00:15:14,043 I LOVE AND I RESPECT OUR HERITAGE. 268 00:15:17,438 --> 00:15:19,179 Narrator: THE NEXT DAY, 269 00:15:19,222 --> 00:15:23,618 THOUSANDS OF US TROOPS MOBILIZE FOR A SHOWDOWN IN OXFORD. 270 00:15:24,575 --> 00:15:26,490 James Meredith: THAT WAS MY ONLY CONCERN 271 00:15:26,534 --> 00:15:29,972 WAS WHAT THE UNITED STATES MILITARY WAS GONNA DO. 272 00:15:30,016 --> 00:15:34,063 AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND HIS ADVISORS 273 00:15:34,107 --> 00:15:37,849 WERE THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT DETERMINED THAT. 274 00:15:37,893 --> 00:15:40,504 AND THOSE WERE THE ONLY PEOPLE I EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT. 275 00:15:43,943 --> 00:15:46,206 Narrator: MEREDITH'S CONFRONTATION WITH BARNETT 276 00:15:46,249 --> 00:15:48,295 HAS BECOME A CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS 277 00:15:49,252 --> 00:15:51,080 AND IT IS ABOUT TO ESCALATE FURTHER. 278 00:15:56,520 --> 00:16:00,133 Narrator: BY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER THE 30TH 1962, 279 00:16:00,176 --> 00:16:03,701 JAMES MEREDITH'S ONE MAN CAMPAIGN TO INTEGRATE OLE MISS 280 00:16:03,745 --> 00:16:07,705 HAS DRAWN THOUSANDS OF WHITE SUPREMACISTS TO CAMPUS. 281 00:16:10,491 --> 00:16:12,101 Reporter: SEVERAL HUNDRED FEDERAL MARSHALS 282 00:16:12,145 --> 00:16:16,279 FLY INTO OXFORD ARMED WITH TEAR GAS AND SIDEARMS. 283 00:16:16,323 --> 00:16:18,020 Narrator: THE MARSHALS TAKE UP POSITIONS 284 00:16:18,064 --> 00:16:20,196 IN FRONT OF THE LYCEUM BUILDING, 285 00:16:20,240 --> 00:16:23,069 WHERE MEREDITH WILL TRY TO REGISTER THE NEXT MORNING. 286 00:16:25,332 --> 00:16:27,812 Wilkie: I DREW THIS THE DAY AFTER THE RIOT. 287 00:16:27,856 --> 00:16:31,816 IT ACCOMPANIED ABOUT A 10-PAGE LETTER I SENT MY MOTHER 288 00:16:31,860 --> 00:16:36,865 WHO HAD GRADUATED FROM OLD MISS IN 1931. 289 00:16:38,780 --> 00:16:42,827 A CROWD OF STUDENTS GATHERED IN THE AREA, 290 00:16:42,871 --> 00:16:46,092 THE CIRCLE RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE LYCEUM BUILDING. 291 00:16:46,962 --> 00:16:49,747 I'D SAY THERE WERE 500 OF US THERE. 292 00:16:49,791 --> 00:16:52,011 IT WAS LARGELY A CURIOUS CROWD. 293 00:16:54,013 --> 00:16:55,840 Schieffer: I HAD JUST GOTTEN OUT OF THE U.S. AIR FORCE. 294 00:16:55,884 --> 00:16:57,190 AND I WENT BACK TO WORK AT THIS 295 00:16:57,233 --> 00:17:00,019 LITTLE RADIO STATION IN FORT WORTH 296 00:17:00,062 --> 00:17:02,499 AND THE STATION SENT ME DOWN 297 00:17:02,543 --> 00:17:05,241 TO OLE MISS TO COVER THIS STORY. 298 00:17:05,285 --> 00:17:09,245 I DROVE ALL NIGHT, GOT INTO OXFORD ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON 299 00:17:09,289 --> 00:17:12,770 AND ALREADY THERE WERE CROWDS FORMING ON THE STREETS. 300 00:17:12,814 --> 00:17:16,339 I STARTED HEARING THUDS AGAINST THE SIDE OF THE TRUCK 301 00:17:16,383 --> 00:17:17,427 AND IT TURNED OUT THAT THEY WERE 302 00:17:17,471 --> 00:17:19,603 THROWING ROCKS AND BEER BOTTLES. 303 00:17:19,647 --> 00:17:21,866 Wilkie: IT BEGAN TO GET A LITTLE BIT UGLY, 304 00:17:21,910 --> 00:17:26,871 THERE WERE A FEW STUDENTS WHO WERE PROVOKING THE SITUATION, 305 00:17:26,915 --> 00:17:30,440 TAUNTING THE MARSHALS, THROWING ROCKS. 306 00:17:30,484 --> 00:17:31,746 Schieffer: THE HIGHWAY PATROL 307 00:17:31,789 --> 00:17:34,357 WHO HAD BEEN THERE, SUDDENLY LEFT. 308 00:17:44,237 --> 00:17:45,890 Wilkie: OUTSIDERS WHO HAD NOT BEEN ABLE 309 00:17:45,934 --> 00:17:47,631 TO GET ONTO THE CAMPUS SUDDENLY 310 00:17:47,675 --> 00:17:51,157 CAME POURING INTO THE CAMPUS WITH THEIR GUNS 311 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:54,247 TO DEFEND THE SOVEREIGNTY OF MISSISSIPPI 312 00:17:54,290 --> 00:17:56,640 OR WHATEVER THEY CLAIMED THEY WERE DOING. 313 00:18:02,820 --> 00:18:06,128 Narrator: THAT EVENING, AS CHAOS CONTINUES ON CAMPUS, 314 00:18:06,172 --> 00:18:08,130 KENNEDY ATTEMPTS TO CALM THE SITUATION. 315 00:18:09,827 --> 00:18:13,483 Kennedy: AMERICANS ARE FREE AND SURE TO DISAGREE WITH THE LAW, 316 00:18:13,527 --> 00:18:15,137 BUT NOT TO DISOBEY IT. 317 00:18:15,181 --> 00:18:17,661 Barnett: EVERY PUBLIC OFFICIAL, INCLUDING MYSELF, 318 00:18:17,705 --> 00:18:21,100 SHOULD BE PREPARED TO MAKE THE CHOICE TONIGHT 319 00:18:21,143 --> 00:18:22,753 WHETHER HE WILL SUBMIT 320 00:18:22,797 --> 00:18:26,105 OR WHETHER HE IS WILLING TO GO TO JAIL. 321 00:18:33,938 --> 00:18:35,462 Schieffer: AS DARK CAME ON, 322 00:18:35,505 --> 00:18:38,465 THEY STARTED THROWING MOLOTOV COCKTAILS AT THE MARSHALS 323 00:18:38,508 --> 00:18:42,033 AND THE MARSHALS WOULD THEN COUNTER WITH TEAR GAS. 324 00:18:43,905 --> 00:18:46,081 Reporter: CHUCK, THE SITUATION IS BAD. 325 00:18:46,125 --> 00:18:49,563 THE MARSHALS ARE STILL FIRING TEARGAS SHELLS 326 00:18:49,606 --> 00:18:52,000 AND EXPLODING ALL OVER THE PLACE. 327 00:18:52,043 --> 00:18:56,918 Meek: THAT WENT ON ALL NIGHT, TEAR GAS, BULLETS. 328 00:18:56,961 --> 00:19:00,574 SO OPPRESSIVE, THE ONLY WAY WE STAYED THE WHOLE NIGHT 329 00:19:00,617 --> 00:19:02,141 IS TO GET ON OUR BELLIES 330 00:19:02,184 --> 00:19:04,012 AND IF YOU GOT DOWN REAL LOW, 331 00:19:04,055 --> 00:19:06,232 THE TEAR GAS WOULD BE ABOVE AND YOU COULD STAY DOWN THERE. 332 00:19:13,369 --> 00:19:15,197 Schieffer: AND THEN THE WORST THING HAD HAPPENED. 333 00:19:15,241 --> 00:19:18,853 WE HEARD GUNSHOTS AND REALIZED THERE WAS A SNIPER 334 00:19:18,896 --> 00:19:21,464 OR AT LEAST ONE SNIPER, MAYBE TWO, 335 00:19:21,508 --> 00:19:23,814 WHO WERE UP ON THE ROOF OF ONE OF THE DORMS 336 00:19:23,858 --> 00:19:26,077 AND THEY WERE SHOOTING DOWN INTO THE CROWD. 337 00:19:27,905 --> 00:19:29,994 YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHO THEY WERE GOING TO SHOOT AT. 338 00:19:30,038 --> 00:19:33,084 YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHERE THOSE BULLETS WERE GOING. 339 00:19:34,869 --> 00:19:37,088 Gilliam: ONE OF THE PEOPLE THEYHATED MOST WERE JOURNALISTS 340 00:19:37,132 --> 00:19:39,830 WHO WERE COMING BACK AND TELLING 341 00:19:39,874 --> 00:19:43,182 THE OUTSIDE WORLD WHAT THINGS WERE LIKE. 342 00:19:43,225 --> 00:19:44,966 AND AS A BLACK REPORTER, 343 00:19:45,009 --> 00:19:48,665 THERE WOULD BE NO WAY THAT I COULD'VE GOTTEN ON CAMPUS 344 00:19:48,709 --> 00:19:50,537 BECAUSE IT WAS JUST TOO DANGEROUS. 345 00:19:56,282 --> 00:19:58,327 Narrator: AS VIOLENCE ESCALATES, 346 00:19:58,371 --> 00:20:00,242 FEDERAL MARSHALS ESCORT MEREDITH 347 00:20:00,286 --> 00:20:02,984 TO A CAMPUS DORM UNDER HEAVY SECURITY. 348 00:20:08,555 --> 00:20:11,601 IN A FRANTIC BID TO CONTROL THE SITUATION, 349 00:20:11,645 --> 00:20:14,822 PRESIDENT KENNEDY PERSONALLY CALLS GOVERNOR BARNETT. 350 00:20:40,413 --> 00:20:42,545 Williams: THERE IS A DEGREE OF THEATER IN THE NEGOTIATIONS 351 00:20:42,589 --> 00:20:44,460 THAT ARE TAKING PLACE BETWEEN 352 00:20:44,504 --> 00:20:47,071 GOVERNOR BARNETT AND THE KENNEDY ADMINISTRATION. 353 00:20:47,115 --> 00:20:48,551 AND PART OF THAT POLITICAL THEATER 354 00:20:48,595 --> 00:20:51,206 IS PREDICATED ON THE DESIRE OF BOTH CAMPS 355 00:20:51,250 --> 00:20:52,729 TO NOT TO LOSE VOTERS. 356 00:20:59,301 --> 00:21:00,563 Narrator: THE NEXT MORNING, 357 00:21:00,607 --> 00:21:02,696 FEDERAL TROOPS BEGIN TO ENTER OXFORD. 358 00:21:03,610 --> 00:21:06,003 Doyle: THE 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION 359 00:21:06,047 --> 00:21:08,397 WAS DROPPED INTO OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI 360 00:21:08,441 --> 00:21:10,138 THE MORNING OF THE RIOT. 361 00:21:10,181 --> 00:21:12,009 YOU HAD THE 82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION, 362 00:21:12,053 --> 00:21:13,968 YOU HAD THE 2ND INFANTRY DIVISION, 363 00:21:14,011 --> 00:21:16,884 YOU HAD THE 503RD MILITARY POLICE BATTALION, 364 00:21:16,927 --> 00:21:19,669 AND THE 716TH MILITARY POLICE BATTALION 365 00:21:19,713 --> 00:21:23,151 RUSHING IN TO TRY TO SAVE MEREDITH, 366 00:21:23,194 --> 00:21:26,154 SAVE THE TOWN, AND SAVE THE PEOPLE, 367 00:21:26,197 --> 00:21:29,418 THE CITY OF OXFORD FROM BEING BURNED DOWN BASICALLY. 368 00:21:29,462 --> 00:21:32,334 Meek: THERE WERE A LINE OF JEEPS THAT WERE 12-WIDE 369 00:21:32,378 --> 00:21:35,816 ALL THE WAY OVER THE FIELDS TO THE HIGHWAY, 370 00:21:35,859 --> 00:21:37,818 WHICH WAS A LONG WAY. 371 00:21:37,861 --> 00:21:40,647 THEY HAD TAKEN THIS COMMUNITY AND LOCKED IT DOWN. 372 00:21:42,736 --> 00:21:44,912 Doyle: THIS IS THE STORY OF A 29 YEAR-OLD 373 00:21:46,305 --> 00:21:48,611 BLACK AMERICAN MILITARY VETERAN 374 00:21:48,655 --> 00:21:50,831 MANIPULATING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, 375 00:21:50,874 --> 00:21:52,528 THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, 376 00:21:52,572 --> 00:21:55,531 AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI 377 00:21:55,575 --> 00:21:58,578 INTO A CRISIS THAT IN THE END 378 00:21:58,621 --> 00:22:02,756 OPENED THE GATES OF HIGHER EDUCATION FOR ALL AMERICANS, 379 00:22:02,799 --> 00:22:05,498 WHICH IS A SPECTACULAR ACHIEVEMENT. 380 00:22:10,198 --> 00:22:11,808 Narrator: BY THE TIME TROOPS RESTORED ORDER, 381 00:22:11,852 --> 00:22:14,071 300 PEOPLE HAD BEEN ARRESTED. 382 00:22:14,115 --> 00:22:16,204 MORE THAN 200 PEOPLE WERE INJURED, 383 00:22:16,247 --> 00:22:19,599 INCLUDING 30 GUNSHOT WOUNDS TO FEDERAL MARSHALS. 384 00:22:20,948 --> 00:22:24,212 TWO CIVILIANS WERE KILLED, INCLUDING A JOURNALIST. 385 00:22:27,302 --> 00:22:28,912 Schieffer: THE REPORTER WHO WAS KILLED 386 00:22:28,956 --> 00:22:30,610 WAS FOR AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE. 387 00:22:30,653 --> 00:22:32,176 HE HAD BEEN SENT THERE BECAUSE 388 00:22:32,220 --> 00:22:34,701 SOMEBODY IN HIS OFFICE, IT WAS THEIR DAY OFF. 389 00:22:37,530 --> 00:22:40,924 Wickham: RAY GUNTER WAS A YOUNG MAN FROM ABBEVILLE, MISSISSIPPI, 390 00:22:40,968 --> 00:22:44,798 AND HE CAME DOWN TO SEE WHAT ALL THE FUSS WAS ABOUT. 391 00:22:44,841 --> 00:22:46,365 HE WAS A LOCAL GUY WHO WAS 392 00:22:46,408 --> 00:22:48,323 IN THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME. 393 00:22:55,243 --> 00:22:58,115 Narrator: THAT SAME MORNING IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE RIOT, 394 00:22:58,159 --> 00:23:01,249 MEREDITH BEGINS HIS FIRST DAY AS A STUDENT AT OLE MISS. 395 00:23:02,250 --> 00:23:05,427 Meek: I COULD NEVER FORGET SEEING JAMES STEP OUT THAT DORM 396 00:23:05,471 --> 00:23:10,432 AND I THOUGHT AT THE TIME, "GOLLY, WHAT A BRAVE MAN," 397 00:23:10,693 --> 00:23:12,652 BECAUSE, HELL, I WAS SCARED. 398 00:23:12,695 --> 00:23:14,784 AND I WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE. 399 00:23:14,828 --> 00:23:17,570 BUT HE WAS STRONG, STEADFAST, 400 00:23:17,613 --> 00:23:20,877 AND MADE HIS WAY, AND HE WAS DETERMINED. 401 00:23:22,531 --> 00:23:23,619 Reporter: SIR, THERE'S BEEN A GREAT DEAL 402 00:23:23,663 --> 00:23:25,534 OF TURMOIL AND CONFLICT, 403 00:23:25,578 --> 00:23:26,927 TWO PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED, 404 00:23:26,970 --> 00:23:28,407 DO YOU HAVE ANY FEELINGS OF GUILT, 405 00:23:28,450 --> 00:23:30,800 HAVE YOU GIVEN IT ANY SECOND THOUGHTS? 406 00:23:30,844 --> 00:23:33,237 James Meredith: I'M VERY SORRY THAT ANYONE 407 00:23:33,281 --> 00:23:36,197 HAD TO GET HURT OR KILLED. 408 00:23:36,240 --> 00:23:37,851 BUT, OF COURSE, I DON'T BELIEVE ANY OF YOU BELIEVE 409 00:23:37,894 --> 00:23:39,896 THAT I HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT. 410 00:23:47,600 --> 00:23:49,515 Narrator: JAMES HAD WON THE BATTLE. 411 00:23:52,779 --> 00:23:54,868 IT HAS TAKEN 16 MONTHS 412 00:23:54,911 --> 00:23:57,174 AND THE LARGEST MOBILIZATION OF FEDERAL TROOPS 413 00:23:57,218 --> 00:23:59,873 ON U.S. SOIL SINCE THE CIVIL WAR. 414 00:24:01,091 --> 00:24:03,877 James Meredith: I FELT THAT I HAD ACCOMPLISHED 415 00:24:03,920 --> 00:24:08,359 A SMALL PART OF MY MISSION. 416 00:24:08,403 --> 00:24:10,884 Narrator: OLE MISS IS NO LONGER SEGREGATED. 417 00:24:14,844 --> 00:24:18,500 James Meredith: AT NINE, I ATTENDED MY FIRST CLASS, 418 00:24:18,544 --> 00:24:23,070 IT WAS A COURSE IN COLONIAL AMERICAN HISTORY. 419 00:24:23,113 --> 00:24:24,680 I WAS A FEW MINUTES LATE 420 00:24:25,681 --> 00:24:29,250 AND WAS GIVEN A SEAT AT THE BACK OF THE ROOM. 421 00:24:31,252 --> 00:24:36,257 I REMEMBER A GIRL, THE ONLY GIRL THERE I THINK, 422 00:24:36,605 --> 00:24:38,781 AND SHE WAS CRYING, 423 00:24:38,825 --> 00:24:43,438 BUT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN FROM THE TEARGAS IN THE ROOM. 424 00:24:43,482 --> 00:24:46,006 I WAS CRYING FROM IT MYSELF. 425 00:24:46,049 --> 00:24:47,573 Meek: I THOUGHT, "GOSH, SOMEBODY, 426 00:24:47,616 --> 00:24:49,618 "I GOTTA GET A PICTURE OF HIM IN THE CLASSROOM." 427 00:24:49,662 --> 00:24:53,404 SO, I TOOK A NIKON, AND I PUT ON MY TRENCH COAT, 428 00:24:53,448 --> 00:24:55,145 AND WHEN JAMES WENT IN THE FIRST CLASSROOM, 429 00:24:55,189 --> 00:24:57,800 I JUST SNAPPED AS BEST I COULD. 430 00:25:00,542 --> 00:25:03,240 AND THE CLASS BEGAN TO EMPTY, 431 00:25:03,284 --> 00:25:05,504 INCLUDING THE INSTRUCTOR 432 00:25:05,547 --> 00:25:07,244 AND THERE WAS JAMES BY HIMSELF 433 00:25:08,855 --> 00:25:10,421 AND THAT WAS A POWERFUL MOMENT. 434 00:25:20,649 --> 00:25:23,347 Narrator: MEREDITH EMBARKS ON HIS STUDIES, 435 00:25:23,391 --> 00:25:26,612 SPURNED BY THE VAST MAJORITY OF HIS FELLOW STUDENTS. 436 00:25:28,048 --> 00:25:31,225 BUT THE THREAT OF VIOLENCE IS EVER PRESENT. 437 00:25:36,796 --> 00:25:39,581 Narrator: SOON AFTER MEREDITH BEGINS HIS SECOND SEMESTER, 438 00:25:39,625 --> 00:25:42,976 MEREDITH'S CLOSE FRIEND MEDGAR EVERS IS MURDERED, 439 00:25:48,677 --> 00:25:52,246 SHOT IN THE BACK IN THE DRIVEWAY OF HIS HOME. 440 00:26:05,607 --> 00:26:07,348 Evers: I'VE HAD A NUMBER OF THREATENING CALLS, 441 00:26:07,391 --> 00:26:10,525 PEOPLE CALLING ME SAYING THAT THEY WERE GONNA KILL ME, 442 00:26:10,569 --> 00:26:12,745 SAYING THEY WERE GONNA BLOW MY HOME UP 443 00:26:12,788 --> 00:26:17,097 AND SAYING THAT I ONLY HAD A FEW HOURS TO LIVE. 444 00:26:17,140 --> 00:26:19,752 I SAID "WELL, WHENEVER MY TIME COMES I'M READY". 445 00:26:28,195 --> 00:26:30,023 Narrator: JUST A FEW MONTHS LATER, 446 00:26:30,066 --> 00:26:31,546 JAMES REACHES THE GOAL 447 00:26:31,590 --> 00:26:33,548 THAT MEDGAR EVERS HELPED HIM TO REALIZE. 448 00:26:35,289 --> 00:26:36,986 University Dean: JAMES HOWARD MEREDITH. 449 00:26:46,126 --> 00:26:48,650 Narrator: TODAY, NEARLY 60 YEARS LATER, 450 00:26:48,694 --> 00:26:51,653 ONE IN 10 STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI 451 00:26:51,697 --> 00:26:53,612 IS AFRICAN AMERICAN. 452 00:26:53,655 --> 00:26:55,875 Student: CAN I SHAKE YOUR HAND? 453 00:26:55,918 --> 00:26:57,746 James Meredith: I'M GLAD TO SEE YOU HERE. 454 00:27:01,097 --> 00:27:02,838 Narrator: WHILE INTEGRATING OLE MISS 455 00:27:02,882 --> 00:27:04,448 IS A LANDMARK VICTORY, 456 00:27:07,364 --> 00:27:09,889 FOR JAMES THE BATLLE WASN'T OVER. 457 00:27:11,542 --> 00:27:13,457 James Meredith: THE CONCEPT OF CIVIL RIGHTS 458 00:27:13,501 --> 00:27:16,156 IS THAT WE GOOD WHITE FOLKS 459 00:27:17,287 --> 00:27:20,508 WILL HELP YOU GET SOME OF YOUR RIGHTS, 460 00:27:20,551 --> 00:27:21,640 THREE OR FOUR OF THEM, 461 00:27:22,684 --> 00:27:26,645 IF YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ALL THE RIGHTS WE DO. 462 00:27:26,688 --> 00:27:29,648 Doyle: HE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT THE TRADITIONAL VOCABULARY 463 00:27:29,691 --> 00:27:34,261 AND IMAGERY OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT 464 00:27:34,304 --> 00:27:38,482 WAS SOMEHOW INDICATED WEAKNESS 465 00:27:38,526 --> 00:27:42,486 OR INFERIORITY OR SUPPLICATION. 466 00:27:42,530 --> 00:27:47,535 James Meredith: CIVIL RIGHTS IS AN INSULT TO CITIZENSHIP. 467 00:27:48,275 --> 00:27:51,234 EVERY CITIZEN IN THE UNITED STATES 468 00:27:52,888 --> 00:27:55,848 IS ENTITLED TO EVERY ONE OF THOSE RIGHTS. 469 00:27:55,891 --> 00:27:57,763 Judy Meredith: HIS THING WAS, 470 00:27:57,806 --> 00:28:00,940 "IF YOU GIVE ME SOME CIVIL RIGHTS, 471 00:28:00,983 --> 00:28:03,856 "WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF THE RIGHTS I'M SUPPOSED TO HAVE?" 472 00:28:11,559 --> 00:28:15,955 James Meredith: THE PSYCHOLOGY OF VIOLENCE 473 00:28:15,998 --> 00:28:20,220 IS EVEN MORE USED THAN ACTUAL VIOLENCE. 474 00:28:21,700 --> 00:28:24,006 Williams: FOR MEREDITH, IT WAS THIS OVERWHELMING FEAR 475 00:28:24,050 --> 00:28:25,660 THAT HE UNDERSTOOD MOST BLACKS 476 00:28:25,704 --> 00:28:28,141 STILL EXPERIENCE IN THE DEEP SOUTH 477 00:28:28,184 --> 00:28:30,621 WHEN JUST TRYING TO EXERCISE BASIC CIVIL RIGHTS, 478 00:28:30,665 --> 00:28:31,971 EVEN SOMETHING AS A SIMPLE 479 00:28:32,014 --> 00:28:33,799 AS GETTING A HAMBURGER IN A RESTAURANT, 480 00:28:33,842 --> 00:28:36,279 AND GOD FORBID, TRYING TO GO TO REGISTER TO VOTE. 481 00:28:40,066 --> 00:28:43,069 James Meredith: YOU UNDERSTAND, LYNCHING HAD BEEN 482 00:28:43,112 --> 00:28:45,724 A KEY FACTOR OF THE FEAR. 483 00:28:45,767 --> 00:28:50,729 BUT IT WAS ALMOST FINISHED IN THE '60S. 484 00:28:50,990 --> 00:28:53,296 BUT THE FEAR WAS STILL THERE. 485 00:28:54,297 --> 00:28:57,126 Narrator: BY 1966, JUST FIVE PERCENT 486 00:28:57,170 --> 00:29:00,477 OF BLACKS IN MISSISSIPPI ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE, 487 00:29:00,521 --> 00:29:03,263 ASSERTING THEIR RIGHT COULD BE A DANGEROUS UNDERTAKING. 488 00:29:04,873 --> 00:29:06,962 MEREDITH, DETERMINED TO DRAW ATTENTION 489 00:29:07,006 --> 00:29:09,486 TO THE FEAR THAT BLACK PEOPLE EXPERIENCED, 490 00:29:09,530 --> 00:29:13,795 EMBARKS ON HIS NEXT GREAT MISSION, A WALK AGAINST FEAR. 491 00:29:13,839 --> 00:29:16,102 Reporter: JAMES MEREDITH, A VETERAN NEGRO LEADER 492 00:29:16,145 --> 00:29:18,495 SET OFF ON FOOT FROM MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE 493 00:29:18,539 --> 00:29:22,891 TO JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, TO CONQUER FEAR, MEREDITH SAID. 494 00:29:22,935 --> 00:29:25,764 Narrator: HE AIMES TO WALK 220 MILES, 495 00:29:25,807 --> 00:29:28,941 ENCOURAGING BLACKS TO REGISTER AS HE GOES. 496 00:29:28,984 --> 00:29:32,640 James Meredith: I CALL IT MY SECOND ASSAULT ON MISSISSIPPI. 497 00:29:33,772 --> 00:29:36,296 Narrator: THE MARCHES FROM SELMA TO MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA 498 00:29:36,339 --> 00:29:37,819 THE PREVIOUS YEAR 499 00:29:37,863 --> 00:29:41,823 HAD ENCOURAGED THIS FORM OF PROTEST. 500 00:29:41,867 --> 00:29:43,477 BUT TRUE TO CHARACTER, 501 00:29:43,520 --> 00:29:45,609 MEREDITH HAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN MIND. 502 00:29:46,480 --> 00:29:48,961 HE'D WALK BY HIMSELF. 503 00:29:49,004 --> 00:29:52,878 Wright: HE HAD INFORMED OTHER LEADERS OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS 504 00:29:52,921 --> 00:29:54,705 WHAT HE WAS GOING TO DO. 505 00:29:54,749 --> 00:29:57,230 AND SOME OF THEM SCOFFED AT HIM, SOME LAUGHED AT HIM. 506 00:29:57,273 --> 00:29:58,971 NOW SOME OF THEM SAID, "OH, MAN, YOU KNOW YOU CAN'T DO THAT. 507 00:29:59,014 --> 00:30:00,320 YOU'RE NOT GONNA LIVE. 508 00:30:00,363 --> 00:30:01,974 YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GONNA KILL YOU 509 00:30:02,017 --> 00:30:05,107 IF THEY SEE A BLACK MAN WALKING DOWN AN INTERSTATE." 510 00:30:05,151 --> 00:30:08,458 James Meredith: WHEN I TOLD THEM I WAS GONNA DO, THEY LAUGHED. 511 00:30:11,548 --> 00:30:15,509 THEY SAID GO HEAD HOME, DIRT FARMER BLACK FROM MISSISSIPPI 512 00:30:15,552 --> 00:30:16,771 WITH YOUR IGNORANT SELF. 513 00:30:17,685 --> 00:30:20,383 AND YOU KNOW, I SAID OKAY. 514 00:30:21,471 --> 00:30:23,125 YOU'RE ALL SO SMART AND I'M SO DUMB, 515 00:30:23,169 --> 00:30:24,823 WE'RE GONNA SEE WHAT HAPPENS. 516 00:30:24,866 --> 00:30:26,737 Wright: HE DOESN'T NEED ANYONE'S PERMISSION TO DO IT. 517 00:30:26,781 --> 00:30:28,435 WHETHER THEY AGREE WITH HIM OR NOT, 518 00:30:28,478 --> 00:30:30,916 IT DOESN'T MATTER TO HIM BECAUSE HE'S ON A MISSION 519 00:30:30,959 --> 00:30:33,527 AND HE KNOWS THAT HE'S ON A MISSION. 520 00:30:33,570 --> 00:30:35,268 Williams: MEREDITH HAD NEVER CONCEIVED 521 00:30:35,311 --> 00:30:37,357 OF THIS AS A MARCH OR DEMONSTRATION. 522 00:30:37,400 --> 00:30:39,228 HE MADE THIS SHARP DISTINCTION 523 00:30:39,272 --> 00:30:43,624 BETWEEN DEMONSTRATIONS AND MARCHES AND WHAT HE WAS DOING, 524 00:30:43,667 --> 00:30:46,322 AND HE BASICALLY SAID THIS WALK AGAINST FEAR 525 00:30:46,366 --> 00:30:48,585 WAS TO RECLAIM A RIGHT THAT EVERY 526 00:30:48,629 --> 00:30:50,239 AMERICAN SHOULD BE ENTITLED TO. 527 00:30:50,283 --> 00:30:53,764 IT WAS ABOUT RECLAIMING FOR BLACKS IN MISSISSIPPI, 528 00:30:53,808 --> 00:30:55,766 AND IN FACT, IN AMERICA, 529 00:30:55,810 --> 00:30:57,812 THIS SENSE OF BEING ENTITLED TO, 530 00:30:57,856 --> 00:31:01,468 JUST THE BASIC ACCOUTREMENTS OF CITIZENSHIP. 531 00:31:01,511 --> 00:31:03,600 Narrator: AS MEREDITH HAD BEEN AT OLE MISS, 532 00:31:03,644 --> 00:31:08,040 HE IS ONE MAN, ALONE, SEEKING TO CHANGE THE WORLD. 533 00:31:08,083 --> 00:31:09,693 Doyle: IT WAS JAMES MEREDITH, 534 00:31:09,737 --> 00:31:12,392 IN A PITH HELMET WITH A FEW DOLLARS IN HIS POCKET 535 00:31:12,435 --> 00:31:16,700 AND A CANE, SAID, "WE'RE GONNA DEMONSTRATE OUR COURAGE 536 00:31:16,744 --> 00:31:18,093 AND THE WORKERS AND THE CITIZENS 537 00:31:18,137 --> 00:31:19,703 OF EVERY TOWN WE GO THROUGH, 538 00:31:19,747 --> 00:31:22,576 I'M GONNA ASK THEM TO GO REGISTER TO VOTE." 539 00:31:22,619 --> 00:31:25,579 NOW, REGISTERING TO VOTE, EVEN IN 1966 IN MISSISSIPPI, 540 00:31:25,622 --> 00:31:29,409 COULD GET YOU, AS A BLACK MAN OR A WOMAN, KILLED. 541 00:31:30,627 --> 00:31:32,064 Narrator: ON THE SECOND DAY, 542 00:31:32,107 --> 00:31:33,717 HE CROSSES THE STATE LINE FROM TENNESSEE, 543 00:31:34,849 --> 00:31:37,591 THE EYES OF MISSISSIPPI ARE NOW UPON HIM. 544 00:31:37,634 --> 00:31:39,201 James Meredith: ABOUT THE TOP OF THE HILL, 545 00:31:39,245 --> 00:31:41,464 SOMEBODY CAME UP AND TOLD ME 546 00:31:41,508 --> 00:31:44,554 THERE'S A MAN DOWN THERE WAITING SAYS HE'S GONNA SHOOT YOU. 547 00:31:45,512 --> 00:31:46,992 I SHOOK IT OFF. 548 00:31:47,035 --> 00:31:49,995 I'D HAD MANY THREATS IN MY LIFETIME. 549 00:31:50,038 --> 00:31:52,084 IT DIDN'T BOTHER ME AT ALL. 550 00:31:54,303 --> 00:31:58,568 AND I GOT DOWN HERE AND I HEARD SOMEBODY SAY, 551 00:31:58,612 --> 00:32:00,962 "JAMES MEREDITH. 552 00:32:01,006 --> 00:32:02,964 EVERYBODY ELSE, GET OUT OF THE WAY. 553 00:32:03,008 --> 00:32:05,445 I ONLY WANT JAMES MEREDITH." 554 00:32:05,488 --> 00:32:07,012 AND THEN A MAN HAD COME UP OUT 555 00:32:07,055 --> 00:32:09,579 OF ONE OF THESE DITCHES OVER THERE 556 00:32:11,277 --> 00:32:12,539 AND HE SHOT ME TWO TIMES. 557 00:32:18,023 --> 00:32:20,373 I'M HIT IN THE LEG I KNOW AND IN THE HEAD. 558 00:32:20,416 --> 00:32:22,027 AIN'T NOBODY GOING TO GET ME IN THE CAR? 559 00:32:22,070 --> 00:32:23,506 Man: HERE IT COMES RIGHT NOW, HERE IT IS. 560 00:32:29,991 --> 00:32:31,471 Reporter: POLICE FIND A MAN 561 00:32:31,514 --> 00:32:33,342 WITH A SHOTGUN HIDING IN THE BUSHES. 562 00:32:33,386 --> 00:32:35,170 James Meredith: THE ONLY THING SIGNIFICANT TO ME AT THAT POINT, 563 00:32:35,214 --> 00:32:37,129 HE DIDN'T KILL ME. 564 00:32:37,172 --> 00:32:38,695 Reporter: AND NO ONE ASKS HIM 565 00:32:38,739 --> 00:32:41,568 FOR AN EXPLANATION AND NONE SEEMS REQUIRED. 566 00:32:41,611 --> 00:32:45,964 James Meredith: NOW, FRANKLY, I DID NOT PLAN TO GET SHOT. 567 00:32:48,183 --> 00:32:54,842 BUT AFTER I GOT SHOT, EVERYTHING I HAD HOPED FOR HAPPENED. 568 00:32:55,277 --> 00:32:56,975 Narrator: THE DAY AFTER MEREDITH IS SHOT, 569 00:32:57,018 --> 00:32:59,542 LEADERS FLY INTO MEMPHIS FROM ALL FIVE 570 00:32:59,586 --> 00:33:03,024 OF THE NATION'S MAJOR CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS, 571 00:33:03,068 --> 00:33:06,114 THE SO CALLED BIG FIVE HAVE ARRIVED IN TOWN. 572 00:33:08,899 --> 00:33:11,076 THE MOVEMENT HAS BEEN SPLINTERING 573 00:33:11,119 --> 00:33:14,122 WITH SOME PUSHING TO TURN UP HEAT ON TACTICS. 574 00:33:15,080 --> 00:33:16,690 Malcolm X: THE DAY OF THE SIT-IN, 575 00:33:16,733 --> 00:33:19,910 THE LIE-IN, THE CRAWL-IN, 576 00:33:19,954 --> 00:33:24,002 THE CRY-IN AND THE BEG-IN IS OUTDATED. 577 00:33:24,872 --> 00:33:28,093 Narrator: AND THEY DID NOT AGREE ON THE NEXT STEPS 578 00:33:28,136 --> 00:33:31,792 Williams: DR. KING DOES NOT WANT TO REPUDIATE ANY GROUP, 579 00:33:31,835 --> 00:33:34,447 BUT HE IS PUT IN AN UNCOMFORTABLE POSITION 580 00:33:34,490 --> 00:33:37,537 BY FLOYD MCKISSICK, AND STOKELY CARMICHAEL. 581 00:33:39,191 --> 00:33:40,888 THEY WANT A MARCH IN WHICH BLACKS 582 00:33:40,931 --> 00:33:42,411 WERE GONNA TAKE A LEADERSHIP ROLE 583 00:33:42,455 --> 00:33:44,370 IN WHICH THEY WILL NOT ESCHEW NONVIOLENCE, 584 00:33:44,413 --> 00:33:47,112 IN WHICH THERE SHOULD BE ARMED SELF-DEFENSE. 585 00:33:47,155 --> 00:33:50,463 WHITNEY YOUNG AND ROY WILKINS CAN'T SIGN ON TO THIS. 586 00:33:51,725 --> 00:33:53,074 James Meredith: BUT THE OTHER QUESTION, 587 00:33:53,118 --> 00:33:54,597 "COULD STOKELY CARMICHAEL 588 00:33:54,641 --> 00:33:57,774 USE BLACK POWER?" 589 00:33:58,819 --> 00:34:01,604 AND I SAID STOKELY CARMICHAEL IS A CITIZEN 590 00:34:01,648 --> 00:34:04,085 HE CAN SAY ANYTHING HE WANNA SAY. 591 00:34:07,741 --> 00:34:12,006 Dr. King: THIS MARCH, THAT WE ARE CONTINUING 592 00:34:12,050 --> 00:34:14,835 STARTED BY JAMES MEREDITH, 593 00:34:14,878 --> 00:34:17,968 I AM CONVINCED WILL HAVE AS GREAT 594 00:34:18,012 --> 00:34:21,320 AN IMPACT OR PROBABLY A GREATER IMPACT 595 00:34:21,363 --> 00:34:23,931 THAN THE MARCH FROM SELMA TO MONTGOMERY. 596 00:34:34,246 --> 00:34:36,378 Narrator: WITHIN DAYS, HIS LONE WALK 597 00:34:36,422 --> 00:34:39,425 HAS TRANSFORMED INTO A NATIONAL EVENT. 598 00:34:50,697 --> 00:34:54,483 ♪ WE SHALL OVERCOME 599 00:34:54,527 --> 00:34:57,530 ♪ WE SHALL OVERCOME 600 00:34:57,573 --> 00:34:59,227 Announcer: ALONG THE WAY, 601 00:34:59,271 --> 00:35:00,794 FIELD HANDS AND DOMESTIC WORKERS 602 00:35:00,837 --> 00:35:03,101 JOINED THE MARCH AS IT PASSED THEIR HOMES. 603 00:35:03,144 --> 00:35:06,452 ♪ WE SHALL OVERCOME 604 00:35:06,495 --> 00:35:07,844 Narrator: ON JUNE 16TH, 605 00:35:07,888 --> 00:35:09,194 THE MARCHERS ARRIVE AT GREENWOOD, 606 00:35:09,237 --> 00:35:11,674 ABOUT 100 MILES FROM JACKSON. 607 00:35:16,418 --> 00:35:18,812 Reporter: AT GREENWOOD, CITY OFFICIALS FIRST BALKED 608 00:35:18,855 --> 00:35:21,510 AT GRANTING A CAMPSITE, THEN DECIDED TO BE HELPFUL. 609 00:35:24,034 --> 00:35:25,775 Narrator: AFTER SOME NEGOTIATION, 610 00:35:25,819 --> 00:35:28,300 THE MARCHERS ARE ABLE TO CAMP ON PUBLIC LAND 611 00:35:29,562 --> 00:35:32,173 BUT FRUSTRATION IS NOW AT A PEAK. 612 00:35:33,392 --> 00:35:35,655 Reporter: STOKELY CARMICHAEL SPOKE LOUDER AND LOUDER. 613 00:35:35,698 --> 00:35:39,441 HE SOUNDED THE MARCH'S NEW RALLYING CALL, BLACK POWER. 614 00:35:39,485 --> 00:35:40,573 Carmichael: WE WANT BLACK POWER. 615 00:35:41,965 --> 00:35:43,880 WE WANT BLACK POWER. 616 00:35:43,924 --> 00:35:46,187 Williams: BLACK POWER DIDN'T JUST APPEAR IN 1966, 617 00:35:46,231 --> 00:35:48,058 IT HAD ALWAYS BEEN THERE. 618 00:35:48,102 --> 00:35:49,799 IT WAS ABOUT BLACK EMPOWERMENT, 619 00:35:49,843 --> 00:35:51,410 IT WAS ABOUT BLACK PRIDE, 620 00:35:51,453 --> 00:35:53,412 BUILDING UP ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY 621 00:35:53,455 --> 00:35:55,153 IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY. 622 00:35:56,545 --> 00:35:57,720 Narrator: A FEW DAYS LATER, 623 00:35:57,764 --> 00:36:00,897 3,500 MARCHERS ARRIVE IN CANTON 624 00:36:05,380 --> 00:36:09,950 THIS TIME OFFICIALS REFUSE TO ALLOW CAMPING ON PUBLIC LAND. 625 00:36:09,993 --> 00:36:13,736 Dr. King: THIS IS IMPORTANT, WE'RE GOING TO STICK TOGETHER. 626 00:36:13,780 --> 00:36:17,871 IF NECESSARY, WE ARE WILLING TO FILL UP 627 00:36:17,914 --> 00:36:20,178 ALL OF THE JAILS IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI. 628 00:36:38,631 --> 00:36:40,154 Narrator: WHEN STATE TROOPERS ARRIVE, 629 00:36:40,198 --> 00:36:41,808 THE MARCHERS HAVE NO ESCAPE, 630 00:36:42,983 --> 00:36:45,290 MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN ARE GASSED AND BEATEN. 631 00:36:46,421 --> 00:36:49,685 BUT THEY REMAIN UNAFRAID AND UNDETERRED. 632 00:36:56,518 --> 00:36:59,347 Narrator: BY JUNE 26TH 1966, 633 00:36:59,391 --> 00:37:01,784 MEREDITH'S LONE WALK ACROSS MISSISSIPPI 634 00:37:01,828 --> 00:37:05,484 HAS BECOME A MARCH OF MAGNITUDE. 635 00:37:10,532 --> 00:37:12,317 Reporter: 20 DAYS AFTER HE WAS WOUNDED, 636 00:37:12,360 --> 00:37:15,145 MEREDITH REJOINED THE MARCH AS IT APPROACHED JACKSON. 637 00:37:17,931 --> 00:37:19,411 Narrator: THE FOLLOWING DAY, 638 00:37:19,454 --> 00:37:22,152 THE MARCHERS ARRIVE AT THEIR FINAL DESTINATION, 639 00:37:22,196 --> 00:37:24,807 MISSISSIPPI'S STATE CAPITOL IN JACKSON. 640 00:37:30,117 --> 00:37:32,772 Man: ♪ I'M GONNA LET IT SHINE 641 00:37:46,960 --> 00:37:49,136 James Meredith: THE PURPOSE OF THE MARCH THAT 642 00:37:49,179 --> 00:37:52,313 I STARTED THREE WEEKS AGO TODAY. 643 00:37:52,357 --> 00:37:55,316 WHY I STOOD STRAIGHT UP AND TO CHALLENGE 644 00:37:55,360 --> 00:38:00,234 THAT THING AT THE BASE OF THE SYSTEM OF WHITE SUPREMACY. 645 00:38:01,540 --> 00:38:04,543 AND THAT THING IS FEAR. 646 00:38:06,458 --> 00:38:08,068 Narrator: ALONG THE WAY, 647 00:38:08,111 --> 00:38:11,506 4,000 BLACK MISSISSIPPIANS HAVE REGISTERED TO VOTE. 648 00:38:11,550 --> 00:38:13,900 Williams: THE MEREDITH MARCH IS GOING TO HAVE 649 00:38:13,943 --> 00:38:16,294 A VERY IMPORTANT IMPACT IN MISSISSIPPI 650 00:38:16,337 --> 00:38:17,947 IN TERMS OF EMPOWERING PEOPLE 651 00:38:17,991 --> 00:38:20,776 TO SEE THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING ABLE 652 00:38:20,820 --> 00:38:22,735 TO GO TO REGISTER TO VOTE. 653 00:38:22,778 --> 00:38:24,171 Narrator: TODAY PROPORTIONATELY 654 00:38:24,214 --> 00:38:25,607 MORE BLACKS THAN WHITES 655 00:38:25,651 --> 00:38:28,131 ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE IN MISSISSIPPI. 656 00:38:28,175 --> 00:38:30,917 THE VOTER TURNOUT AMONGST BLACKS WITHIN THE STATE 657 00:38:30,960 --> 00:38:33,354 HAS BEEN BEYOND THAT OF AFRICAN AMERICANS 658 00:38:33,398 --> 00:38:36,792 OUTSIDE THE SOUTH FOR DECADES. 659 00:38:36,836 --> 00:38:39,186 James Meredith: BUT THE VOTE IS NOT FOR THE VOTING. 660 00:38:39,229 --> 00:38:44,496 THE VOTE IS FOR GETTING WHAT YOU NEED FOR THE PEOPLE. 661 00:38:44,539 --> 00:38:46,541 AND WE AIN'T EVEN THERE YET. 662 00:38:47,934 --> 00:38:49,065 Doyle: MEREDITH TRIGGERS, 663 00:38:49,109 --> 00:38:51,590 THROUGH HIS OWN COURAGE 664 00:38:51,633 --> 00:38:54,549 AND HIS OWN TAKING A BULLET FOR THE CAUSE, 665 00:38:54,593 --> 00:38:59,467 HE TRIGGERS THE LAST GREAT MARCH OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ERA. 666 00:39:04,559 --> 00:39:06,909 Narrator: IN THE YEARS AFTER 1966, 667 00:39:06,953 --> 00:39:10,913 JAMES MEREDITH CONTINUES TO FORGE HIS OWN UNIQUE PATH. 668 00:39:12,350 --> 00:39:14,090 NOW BASED IN NEW YORK, 669 00:39:14,134 --> 00:39:16,397 HE BECOMES THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE 670 00:39:16,441 --> 00:39:19,705 AND CHALLENGES POPULAR INCUMBENT ADAM CLAYTON POWELL 671 00:39:19,748 --> 00:39:21,315 FOR A SEAT IN CONGRESS. 672 00:39:25,101 --> 00:39:29,497 BY THE 1970S, HE TURNS HIS FOCUS TO WALL STREET. 673 00:39:31,760 --> 00:39:33,675 James Meredith: SINCE I LEFT MISSISSIPPI SEVEN YEARS AGO, 674 00:39:33,719 --> 00:39:36,417 I'VE SPENT ALMOST ALL OF MY TIME IN NEW YORK 675 00:39:36,461 --> 00:39:39,855 STUDYING HOW THE CAPITALIST ECONOMIC SYSTEM WORKS 676 00:39:39,899 --> 00:39:44,294 AND ABOUT THE ACCUMULATION AND RETAINING OF WEALTH, 677 00:39:44,338 --> 00:39:48,734 BUT THIS HAS NOT REACHED BLACKS, EVERYONE AGREES WITH ME. 678 00:39:48,777 --> 00:39:50,779 Narrator: HIS DECISIONS IN LATER LIFE 679 00:39:50,823 --> 00:39:53,652 HAVE SOMETIMES BEEN UNEXPECTED. 680 00:39:53,695 --> 00:39:57,525 IN 1989, HE JOINS THE STAFF OF SENATOR JESSE HELMS, 681 00:39:57,569 --> 00:40:00,093 AN ARCH CONSERVATIVE WHO CONSISTENTLY 682 00:40:00,136 --> 00:40:02,704 OPPOSED CIVIL RIGHTS LEGISLATION. 683 00:40:02,748 --> 00:40:05,881 Doyle: JAMES MEREDITH WENT TO WORK FOR JESSE HELMS, 684 00:40:05,925 --> 00:40:10,233 THE FORMER ARCH SEGREGATIONIST OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE. 685 00:40:10,277 --> 00:40:14,934 AT THE TIME, JESSE HELMS HAD RENOUNCED SEGREGATION 686 00:40:14,977 --> 00:40:18,894 AS A LEGAL DOMINANT THEORY IN AMERICA, HE HAD REJECTED IT. 687 00:40:20,287 --> 00:40:23,682 Narrator: AND IN 1991, HE ENDORSES DAVID DUKE, 688 00:40:23,725 --> 00:40:28,121 FORMER KKK LEADER FOR GOVERNOR OF LOUISIANA. 689 00:40:28,164 --> 00:40:30,297 James Meredith: I ALWAYS THOUGHT MY JOB WAS 690 00:40:30,340 --> 00:40:34,083 TO CONVERT BAD WHITE FOLKS INTO GOOD WHITE FOLKS. 691 00:40:34,127 --> 00:40:37,739 I CONSIDER ONE OF MY MOST SIGNIFICANT VICTORIES 692 00:40:37,783 --> 00:40:42,744 CONVERTING DAVID DUKE FROM A KLANSMAN TO A FORMER KLANSMAN. 693 00:40:43,615 --> 00:40:47,183 Doyle: DUKE, AT THE TIME, HAD RENOUNCED THE KLAN. 694 00:40:47,227 --> 00:40:50,056 JAMES MEREDITH THOUGHT DUKE WAS A FORMER RACIST. 695 00:40:50,099 --> 00:40:52,493 NOW, I THINK HE WAS PROBABLY WRONG THERE. 696 00:40:53,886 --> 00:40:55,801 Narrator: MEREDITH REMAINS A FREE THINKING 697 00:40:55,844 --> 00:40:57,846 CHALLENGER TO THE STATUS QUO, 698 00:40:59,065 --> 00:41:01,502 NOT AFRAID TO SIDE WITH A PERCEIVED ENEMY 699 00:41:01,546 --> 00:41:04,331 IN ORDER TO OPEN UP AND FACE A DEBATE. 700 00:41:07,813 --> 00:41:10,380 43 YEARS AFTER HE GRADUATED, 701 00:41:10,424 --> 00:41:14,602 OLE MISS ERECTED A STATUE TO HONOR JAMES MEREDITH. 702 00:41:14,646 --> 00:41:16,735 Kellum: SOME OF OUR STUDENTS CAME TOGETHER 703 00:41:16,778 --> 00:41:19,955 TO DISCUSS WHAT COULD THE UNIVERSITY DO 704 00:41:21,087 --> 00:41:24,394 AND THEY ALL FELT WE SHOULD HAVE A CIVIL RIGHTS MONUMENT. 705 00:41:26,179 --> 00:41:28,442 Lewis: BECAUSE OF INDIVIDUALS LIKE JAMES MEREDITH. 706 00:41:30,009 --> 00:41:32,794 Kellum: WE WANTED THE MONUMENT LOCATED BETWEEN 707 00:41:32,838 --> 00:41:36,102 THE LYCEUM THAT REJECTED MR. MEREDITH 708 00:41:36,145 --> 00:41:39,366 AND THE LIBRARY THAT WAS MR. MEREDITH'S 709 00:41:39,409 --> 00:41:41,237 OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN KNOWLEDGE. 710 00:41:43,544 --> 00:41:45,894 OH, MY FAVORITE PART OF THIS WAS, 711 00:41:45,938 --> 00:41:49,245 I LOOKED OUT ONE DAY AND THERE WAS A LITTLE CHILD, 712 00:41:49,289 --> 00:41:50,899 PROBABLY SEVEN OR EIGHT, 713 00:41:50,943 --> 00:41:52,422 WHO WAS ON A SCHOOL TOUR, 714 00:41:52,466 --> 00:41:56,165 WHO WAS HOLDING MR. MEREDITH'S STATUE'S HAND 715 00:41:56,209 --> 00:41:58,864 AND I MUST TELL YOU, I HAD TEARS THAT DAY. 716 00:42:05,740 --> 00:42:09,527 Narrator: OLE MISS HAS MADE PROGRESS SINCE 1962. 717 00:42:16,751 --> 00:42:18,536 Barnett: I LOVE MISSISSIPPI. 718 00:42:20,712 --> 00:42:24,542 Narrator: IN JULY 2018, AT THE AGE OF 85, 719 00:42:24,585 --> 00:42:28,937 JAMES IS INDUCTED INTO THE OLE MISS ALUMNI HALL OF FAME. 720 00:42:30,243 --> 00:42:32,898 Judy Meredith: THEY PUT JAMES ON THE 50-YARD LINE. 721 00:42:34,421 --> 00:42:39,426 THE WHOLE STADIUM STOOD UP AND JUST APPLAUDED. 722 00:42:41,036 --> 00:42:42,951 Speaker: MR. JAMES MEREDITH. 723 00:42:42,995 --> 00:42:46,389 [CROWD CHEERING] 724 00:42:46,433 --> 00:42:48,609 Judy Meredith: THAT IS A HECK OF AN ACCOMPLISHMENT 725 00:42:48,653 --> 00:42:50,568 FOR MISSISSIPPI 726 00:42:50,611 --> 00:42:53,222 AND I HOPE IT CONTINUES TO GO IN THAT DIRECTION. 727 00:43:00,316 --> 00:43:01,622 Narrator: MEREDITH REMAINS COMMITTED 728 00:43:01,666 --> 00:43:03,711 TO THE FIGHT HE STARTED IN MISSISSIPPI 729 00:43:03,755 --> 00:43:06,322 MORE THAN 50 YEARS AGO. 730 00:43:06,366 --> 00:43:07,976 James Meredith: WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A NEW AGENDA 731 00:43:09,804 --> 00:43:14,809 IF BLACKS ARE EVER TO BECOME FULL CITIZENS IN THIS COUNTRY 732 00:43:15,070 --> 00:43:17,856 AND ENJOY ALL OF THE RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES. 733 00:43:17,899 --> 00:43:20,641 Gilliam: THE LEGACY OF KNOWING THAT, 734 00:43:20,685 --> 00:43:22,861 AS A BLACK PERSON IN AMERICA, 735 00:43:22,904 --> 00:43:24,906 THERE ARE CHANCES YOU ARE GONNA HAVE 736 00:43:24,950 --> 00:43:28,040 TO TAKE IN ORDER TO BRING ABOUT CHANGE. 737 00:43:28,083 --> 00:43:30,651 Williams: THE CLASSIC INDIVIDUAL WHO BELIEVES 738 00:43:30,695 --> 00:43:33,045 IT'S THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO INTERROGATE 739 00:43:33,088 --> 00:43:34,655 AND CONSTANTLY PUSH THE BOUNDARIES 740 00:43:34,699 --> 00:43:36,788 OF OUR DEMOCRACY TO MAKE IT BETTER. 741 00:43:38,485 --> 00:43:40,966 Judy Meredith: NOT CARING ABOUT WHAT ANYBODY 742 00:43:41,009 --> 00:43:46,014 ELSE THINKS ABOUT HIM, I THINK THAT'S HIS LEGACY. 743 00:43:47,799 --> 00:43:50,279 Narrator: ULTIMATELY, HE FORCES US TO CONFRONT 744 00:43:50,323 --> 00:43:54,022 ONE SIMPLE BUT PROFOUNDLY POWERFUL QUESTION. 745 00:43:54,066 --> 00:43:57,286 James Meredith: AM I A CITIZEN OR AM I NOT A CITIZEN?