<P> James Howard Meredith ( born June 25 , 1933 ) is an African - American Civil Rights Movement figure , writer , political adviser and Air Force veteran . In 1962 , he became the first African - American student admitted to the segregated University of Mississippi , after the intervention of the federal government , an event that was a flashpoint in the Civil Rights Movement . Inspired by President John F. Kennedy 's inaugural address , Meredith decided to exercise his constitutional rights and apply to the University of Mississippi . His goal was to put pressure on the Kennedy administration to enforce civil rights for African Americans . </P>
<P> James Howard Meredith ( born June 25 , 1933 ) is an African - American Civil Rights Movement figure , writer , political adviser and Air Force veteran . In 1962 , he became the first African - American student admitted to the segregated University of Mississippi , after the intervention of the federal government , an event that was a flashpoint in the Civil Rights Movement . Inspired by President John F. Kennedy 's inaugural address , Meredith decided to exercise his constitutional rights and apply to the University of Mississippi . His goal was to put pressure on the Kennedy administration to enforce civil rights for African Americans . </P>
who was the first african american student to attend the university of mississippi
who was the first african american student to attend the university of mississippi
James Howard Meredith
James Howard Meredith