After high school, James Meredith spent nine years in the Army Air Force before enrolling in Jackson State College—an all-black school—in Mississippi. In 1961, he applied to the all-white University of Mississippi in Oxford. He was admitted, but his admission was withdrawn when the registrar discovered his race. Meredith filed a suit against the University alleging discrimination based on the Brown v. Board of Education opinion. (van Rijn, Kennedy, pp. 91-93; Jennings and Brewster, p. 381.)
Although the district court ruled against him, the case made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled in his favor. Mississippi Governor Ross Barnett ignored the Supreme Court’s order and vowed to prevent Meredith’s enrollment. He said he was willing to go to jail before he would let Meredith become a student. Barnett ordered the arrest of the federal officials who attempted to enforce the court order. Meredith tried to register four times. He was not successful until the fifth attempt, after President Kennedy called out federal troops to challenge Gov. Barnett. In the rioting that took place, two people were killed and hundreds were injured. (Id.)
Phil Ochs, a prominent singer of topical songs in the 1960s, and Bob Dylan wrote songs about the Meredith situation. “Battle of Oxford,” Phil Ochs (1962). Oxford is the city in Mississippi where “Ole Miss” is located. (http://youtu.be/1PLFKimdUOA)
I’ll sing you a song about a southern town where the devil had his rule
When marshalls faced an angry mob to send one man to school
His name was Jimmy Meredith
The tide he helped to turn
For he chose to stay on that terrible day
The land was soon to learnThere was blood, red blood, on their hands,
Yellow dirt on their clothes
What they thought they were doing,
Only God and the devil knows
There was hate, cold hate, in their hearts,
Shot from their souls like a gun
And as they threw their stones and bricks,
They screamed, “See what you have done!”The governor made a promise he would keep the trouble down
But when the mob got ugly no troopers could be found
And men were filled with hate and fear,
They screamed into the night
The rebel flag waved in the air
The symbol of state’s rightsThere was blood, red blood, on their hands,
Yellow dirt on their clothes
What they thought they were doing,
Only God and the devil knows
There was hate, cold hate, in their hearts,
Shot from their souls like a gun
And as they threw their stones and bricks,
They screamed, “See what you have done!”Gas was fired into the mob after each attack
And though the gas was running low, they never fired back
And when the smoke had cleared away and the fury felt it’s pain
Two men were dead and a hundred bled
The south had risen againSo listen Mr. Barnett, and Mr. Walker, too
The times are changing mighty fast, they’ll roll right over you
But someday you’ll head for the south, to the southern tip of hell
And it’s hot down there, white-hot down there
Let’s hear your rebel yell!There was blood, red blood, on their hands,
Yellow dirt on their clothes
What they thought they were doing,
Only God and the devil knowsThere was hate, cold hate, in their hearts,
Shot from their souls like a gun
And as they threw their stones and bricks,
They screamed, “See what you have done!”
“See what you have done!”
“Oxford Town,” Bob Dylan (1962). (http://youtu.be/XSf_n8RispY)
Oxford Town, Oxford Town
Ev’rybody’s got their hats bowed down
The sun don’t shine above the ground
Ain’t a-goin’ down to Oxford Town.He went down to Oxford Town
Guns and clubs followed him down
All because his face was brown
Better get away from Oxford Town.Oxford Town around the bend
He comes to the door, he couln’t get in
All because of the color of his skin
What do you think about that, my frien’?Me and my gal, my gal’s son
We got met with a tear gas bomb
I don’t even know why we come
Goin’ back where we come from.Oxford Town in the afternoon
Ev’rybody singin’ a sorrowful tune
Two men died ‘neath the Mississippi moon
Somebody better investigate soon.