Sadly, today’s feature took way too long to happen, in my opinion. But I am happy to report that on this date in 1963, the first African-American student graduated from the University of Mississippi. He fought long and hard to have this opportunity, and his civil right activism is quite inspiring. I will never understand the racial issues that this country has experienced and continue to experience. Why does skin color still have to be the divisive thing in this country? I always come back to something from my own life that still amazes me to this day. I am as white as they come. Yes, I am very fair-skinned, and my culture is so white that other whites may be shocked! Not kidding, there. When I was in high school, my best friend was black. Yes, she was, and I never thought a thing about it. I remember how I had to prepare my racist father for meeting her, and there were even concerns when I had her as a bridesmaid in my wedding. Her culture was and is still decidedly black. What she told me after I graduated (she was a year behind me) was that people at my high school were totally shocked that me, the typical white person, would associate with her, the typical black. They said it made no sense. I was so white, and she was so black, and yet we were the best of friends. I had no idea that our friendship created such a stir. She was (and is) my friend, and her skin color was never even a consideration.
For more info:
http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/18/aug-18-1963-james-meredith-graduates-from-mississippi/comment-page-1/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Meredith
