"James Meredith officially became the first African American student at the University of Mississippi on October 2, 1962. He was guarded twenty-four hours a day by reserve U.S. deputy marshals and army troops. On August 18, 1963, Meredith fulfilled his childhood dream to graduate from the University of Mississippi with a degree in political science." - Elizabeth Brevard (National Portrait Gallery)




Image source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, U.S. News & World Report Magazine Collection