Newswise — On October 1, James Meredith comes face to face with a powerful image of his contributions to opening the doors of higher education to all people.
The University of Mississippi's civil rights monument features a life-size bronze likeness of Meredith, the first black student admitted to the university. Surrounding the statue are a 17-foot-tall limestone portal, brick benches and historical markers. Members of the university family and guests gather at 2:30 p.m. to dedicate the monument, which also honors others who pioneered civil rights in the South and across the nation. The ceremony serves as a reflection of 44 years of social progress since Meredith's enrollment.
Sited in a grassy area between the Lyceum and the John D. Williams Library, the monument occupies a prominent place between the university's landmark administration building and its center of knowledge.
"This monument is an appropriate way to memorialize the role of the University of Mississippi and James Meredith in opening the doors of higher education to all people across the South," Chancellor Robert Khayat said. "We hope it will serve as a reminder of the courage of Mr. Meredith and others who led the way in important cultural changes."
Meredith is to be on hand for the ceremony, which caps a student-led series of events marking the 44th anniversary of the university's integration. Other events include a musical program in the Grove, the unveiling of a mural depicting the university's progress in promoting diversity, panel discussions, a film and an exhibit titled "Civil Rights and Civil Wrongs" at the Williams Library. For a full schedule of events, go to http://www.olemiss.edu/press/monumentevents.html.
The dedication ceremony is to feature music by UM's Gospel Choir and Combined Choirs, and appearances by Gov. Haley Barbour, former Gov. William Winter and members of the Meredith family. The keynote address is to be delivered by U.S. Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga.
Lewis, the son of Alabama sharecroppers, became involved in the civil rights movement while a student at Fisk University in Nashville, where he organized sit-ins at segregated lunch counters. He was named chair of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and became a prominent national leader for civil rights activities, including the historic March on Washington in 1963.
In 1977, he was appointed by President Jimmy Carter to lead ACTION, the federal agency that directed more than 250,000 volunteer workers. He was elected to the Atlanta City Council in 1981, and has represented Georgia's Fifth Congressional District in Washington since 1986.
The monument's focal point is the statue, which depicts a 29-year-old Meredith striding toward the center of campus. The 500-pound bronze likeness was sculpted by Oxford artist Rod Moorhead, a UM graduate who has created other prominent pieces of artwork for the university.
The four-sided portal is designed to reflect the architecture of the UM campus. The limestone columns are capped with the words "courage," "perseverance," "opportunity" and "knowledge."
"These words were chosen for prominent display on the monument because they capture the essence of the movement to open doors to higher education," said Gloria Kellum, UM vice chancellor for university relations. "James Meredith, Congressman Lewis and countless others exhibited tremendous courage and perseverance in their struggle to secure equal opportunity and access to knowledge for everyone, regardless of race, gender or other criteria."
The monument's design and prominent location on campus reflect the role that Ole Miss and her students played in this important milestone in state history, said Donald Cole, assistant provost and assistant to the chancellor for multicultural affairs.
"This monument gives rise to a voice to all of those who were voiceless during a turbulent period," Cole said. "Although sides were taken, lines were drawn and determinations were anchored, this monument reflects a reconciliation of all those opposing views, emotions and differences. It is a monument that will cause both reflections and healing."
The initial idea for the monument grew out of discussions in a graduate folklore class in the university's Center for the Study of Southern Culture more than a decade ago. Students decided that the campus needed a symbol reflecting the struggle for equal education that occurred at UM, and university administrators committed space for the project and gave the go-ahead for fundraising.
"This monument exists today because of the commitment of our students, faculty, administrators, alumni and friends," Khayat said. "This effort by the Ole Miss family is perhaps the greatest indication of the progress we have made since 1962 and is a testament to the leadership this university provides to ensure equal access to higher education for everyone."
Meredith's initial arrival at UM sparked riots and controversy, but his return Oct. 1 as an honored guest marks more than four decades of progress. That progress will not be lost on him when he sees for the first time the striding figure of himself.
To see a live webcam image of the civil rights monument, go to http://www.olemiss.edu/livecam/roaming/.
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