James Meredith walking to class in the University of Mississippi, while being protected by marshals.

James Meredith Journal Entries

Journal Entry: June 11, 1960
Dear Journal,
School ended a few days ago and it was a swell year, too.
Jackson State College is a good college, but I feel as if
I can achieve so much more. I’ve decided to try and become
the first African American to attend the University of
Mississippi. I don’t want to apply to the University of
Mississippi just to become the first African American to
attend the university, but just because I feel that I can
learn so much more over there and gain a better education.
I would have to go through one more year at Jackson State
College, but I will write back again when I see what the
university has to say.

Journal Entry: November 18, 1960
Dear Journal,
So far the school year at Jackson State College was
good, but yesterday was a disappointing day because I got
a letter from the University of Mississippi informing me
that they would not accept “my kind” into their university.
It brought me down how they wrote that, but I could still
understand and even though that letter was disappointing, it
won’t stop me from trying again. I will write again when I
get a letter back from the university. Hopefully they will
accept me this time.

Journal Entry: January 21, 1961
Dear Journal,
It’s a new year and the start of a new year has to
start good. Well, it did start well, but then today I just
got a letter from the university. Again, it looked exactly
like the first letter they sent me saying they would not
accept “my kind.” It was really starting to just get annoying
getting the same letter sent to me. I’ve been thinking about
it a lot today and I have made up my mind and I will file a
complaint once the school year ends. I would not want to get
in any trouble while I already have an education. I will write
again when I finish school and when I have filed the complaint
to the district court.

Journal Entry: July 25, 1961
Dear Journal,
I have finally and officially been accepted to the
University of Mississippi. It was a long journey, but then
again I believe it will be worth it. The story is that on May
31, 1961, I filed the complaint to the district court
complaining that the University of Mississippi has been denying
my admission because of the color of my skin. At first, the
district court rejected my complaint, but the Fifth Judicial
Circuit Court refused the ruling and then by a two to one
decision the judges came to an agreement that I, James Meredith,
have been refused admission to the university because of my race
and that Mississippi was maintaining a policy of educational
segregation. I am so happy because I feel that I have achieved
so much already, but still I just can’t wait until I go there.
I will write back after the first day of school.

Journal Entry: September 2, 1961
Dear Journal,
The first day at the University of Mississippi was an
insane one. There were hundreds of marshals at the school and
escorting me to my classes. I’ve also heard that there were riots
last night where 28 marshals were wounded and two innocent people
were killed. That’s not the worst part, one of the marshals told
me that the riots were because of me and people are blaming me
for the deaths of those two people. I really just hope that the
riots won’t start again because all I want to do is learn at the
university. Hopefully I will get through this year alive.