WEBVTT FILE 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?