Why Is James Meredith Important In Mississippi?
The name James Meredith is not very known to the general public, even when he played a major role in the civil rights movement. Nevertheless, Meredith can be compared to the likes of other major civil rights leaders, such as Martin Luther King Junior or Malcom X. His iron will enabled him to confront an entire Mississippian society who was out to get him. His will was what enable him to achieve his goal. This was to enforce the rights as a civilian of African Americans to attend the University of Mississippi. Many civil rights activists shied away from any social progress activities in Mississippi, due to the engraved white supremacy ideology in the Mississippian society. When Meredith challenged the state of Mississippi as a whole, the civilians
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Doyle states this in the novel, “Mississippi was so hopeless that it wasn’t even on their target list” (Doyle 31). One of the main reason for this was the engraved white supremacy ideology engraved in the society of Mississippi. This ideology dominated the political and social arena to such extent that according to Doyle, “it influenced the police, the media, and the state government” (Doyle 21). An organization called the Citizen Council played an enormous role in promoting white supremacy. Their ideology is stated in the novel, “preserve racial integrity and to further the cause of state rights.”(Doyle58). Unlike the Kl u Klux Klan, they were seen as a legitimate political organization all of the towns of Mississippi. Another factor was the poor performing economy that has plagued Mississippi after the civil war. During the 1960s the economic situation of Mississippi seemed bleak at best. During this time frame they were consider being the poorest state in the country and contained the highest number of African American citizens of that time. In every society when there is economic hardship many individuals would use a scape goat to put their frustration on, which in this case was the African American citizens. Politicians and radicals would use this as an opportunity to obtain power by placing the blame on the African Americans. A lesson that can be learned from this is the correlation between racial tensions and the economy. Whenever the economy is in a slump the majority would put the blame on the minority, which is seen throughput the history of this
Doyle states this in the novel, “Mississippi was so hopeless that it wasn’t even on their target list” (Doyle 31). One of the main reason for this was the engraved white supremacy ideology engraved in the society of Mississippi. This ideology dominated the political and social arena to such extent that according to Doyle, “it influenced the police, the media, and the state government” (Doyle 21). An organization called the Citizen Council played an enormous role in promoting white supremacy. Their ideology is stated in the novel, “preserve racial integrity and to further the cause of state rights.”(Doyle58). Unlike the Kl u Klux Klan, they were seen as a legitimate political organization all of the towns of Mississippi. Another factor was the poor performing economy that has plagued Mississippi after the civil war. During the 1960s the economic situation of Mississippi seemed bleak at best. During this time frame they were consider being the poorest state in the country and contained the highest number of African American citizens of that time. In every society when there is economic hardship many individuals would use a scape goat to put their frustration on, which in this case was the African American citizens. Politicians and radicals would use this as an opportunity to obtain power by placing the blame on the African Americans. A lesson that can be learned from this is the correlation between racial tensions and the economy. Whenever the economy is in a slump the majority would put the blame on the minority, which is seen throughput the history of this