A civil rights marker honoring native James Meredith will be unveiled this week in Kosciusko.
That ceremony will take place at noon near the intersection of S Huntington and Allen Streets, which is close to where Meredith’s childhood home was located.
The sign was designed by Davis Houck, Fannie Lou Hamer Professor of Rhetorical Studies, and his spring 2024 rhetorical criticism class at Florida State University.
The inscription on the marker will read:
James H. Meredith
“James H. Meredith was born in Kosciusko on June 25, 1933, to Roxie and Moses “Cap” Meredith. Raised on an Attala County farm, he attended segregated public schools and served in the Air Force. He was the first Black student to integrate the University of Mississippi in 1962. In 1966, he survived being shot while leading the March Against Fear to encourage Black Mississippians to register to vote. A lifelong proponent of education, Meredith authored numerous books and was a key figure in the civil rights movement.
Meredith, the first African American to be admitted to Ole Miss, graduated from the school in 1963. He went on to be a major leader in the civil rights movement with his 1966 “March Against Fear.” He and his wife will be in attendance at the ceremony Friday.
Audio: Tim Kyle explains more about the ceremony during the December 18 edition of “Minute with the Mayor.”
