46 Years Ago in Oxford, MS

[Clio the Leo]

Forty six years ago, almost to the day, in Oxford MS, James Meredith became the first African American to enroll at Ole Miss.

"In September 1962, a federal court ordered the University of Mississippi to accept James Meredith, a twenty-eight-year-old Air Force Veteran, much to the consternation of segregationists. Governor Ross Barnett said he would never allow the school to be integrated. After days of violence and rioting by whites (in which two people were killed), Meredith, accompanied by federal officials, enrolled on October 1, 1962. Because he had earned college credits elsewhere, Meredith graduated the following August without incident."

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/aaohtml/exhibit/aopart9.html

While Meredith's wife and son will be in attendance tonight, he has decided to stay home "not wanting to be a distraction." When asked which candidate he was supporting, he said, "I won't discuss that .... I'm supporting the poor and the responsibility of the rich to the poor."

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/sleuth/2008/09/james_meredith_bails_on_ole_mi.html

As we all watch Barack Obama, who is well on his way to becoming the next President of the United States begin what we HOPE will be the first in a series of debates, take a moment to appreciate the historical significance of what is happening.

"It's been a long time coming but I know ..... a change gonna come, oh yes it will."

[jefferson_dem]

1. Thanks for the reminder. Bob Dylan did a little ditty on this town's tragic history.

---> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbYgF9I2iJg

Oxford Town

Oxford Town, Oxford Town
Ev'rybody's got their heads 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 come in to the door, he couldn'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

Oxford Town, Oxford Town
Ev'rybody's got their heads bowed down
The sun don't shine above the ground
Ain't a-goin' down to Oxford Town

Copyright ©1963; renewed 1991 Special Rider Music

[Clio the Leo]

2. After tonight, Americans are gonna be holdin' their heads a little higher I think. NT

[dipsydoodle]

3. I bought that album when it was released back in '63

In the absense of the internet whatever to search for related origins of music tracks etc in those days I'd never figured that the song was based on a factual event. Thanks for that.