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Meredith is a civil rights icon who has long resisted that label because he believes it sets issues such as voting rights and equal access to education apart from other human rights.

During the event, Meredith fell while trying to stand and speak. He leaned on an unsecured lectern, and it crashed forward with Meredith on top. People nearby scrambled to return him to a wheelchair.

Meredith suffered no visible injuries. An ambulance crew checked him later, and then Meredith went to his home in Jackson to have a birthday celebration with his family. His wife, Judy Alsobrooks Meredith, said Monday that he was spending time with grandchildren and showing no signs of pain.

In October 1962, federal marshals escorted Meredith as he enrolled as the first Black student at the University of Mississippi, while white people rioted on the Oxford campus. Mississippi's governor at the time, Ross Barnett, had stirred mobs into a frenzy by declaring that Ole Miss would not be integrated under his watch.

Meredith was a 29-year-old Air Force veteran who had already taken classes at one of Mississippi's historically Black colleges, Jackson State. NAACP attorneys represented him as he obtained a federal court order to enter the state's flagship public university. After a largely solitary existence at Ole Miss, Meredith graduated in 1963 with a bachelor's degree in political science.

After graduating, Meredith set out to promote Black voter registration and show that a Black man could walk through Mississippi without fear. In June 1966, a white man with a shotgun wounded Meredith on the second day of a march from Memphis, Tennessee, to Jackson, Mississippi. With Meredith hospitalized, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Stokely Carmichael and other civil rights leaders continued the march, often followed by long lines of activists and local people.

Less than three weeks after he was shot, Meredith had recovered enough to join the final stretch of what became known as the March Against Fear. It ended at the state Capitol, where an estimated 15,000 people gathered for Mississippi's largest civil rights rally.

This year, Meredith had planned to walk 200 miles in Mississippi to spread his anti-crime message - roughly the same distance as the March Against Fear. Instead, he made a series of appearances in recent weeks, often using a rolling walker, a wheelchair or a golf cart.

On Sunday, Meredith rode in a golf cart for the final quarter-mile from Jackson City Hall to the Mississippi Capitol, led by a high school marching band and accompanied by dozens of people on foot. A racially diverse group of about 200 people sought shade under magnolia and oak trees while listening to songs, speeches and a child's poem praising Meredith.

Flonzie Brown-Wright, a longtime Mississippi civil rights activist who participated in the 1966 March Against Fear, said she believes Meredith is a genius at creating strategies for social change.

"He is a very smart man, endowed with a lot of old-fashioned wisdom. He has been able to use that for the greater good of his people," Brown-Wright said Sunday. "I love him like a big brother."

In the decades since Meredith integrated Ole Miss, the university has erected a statue of him on campus and has held several events to honor him and his legacy.

John Meredith said Sunday that his father had a profound effect on higher education, but the March Against Fear had a greater impact on him as a son because it demonstrated the importance of elections.

"The silent gift of voting is the ability to help shape the laws under which you live. It is the beauty and the curse of America," said John Meredith, the current city council president in Huntsville, Alabama. "Participation in voting yields inclusion, diversity and opportunity. Failure to vote results in the loss of freedom ... and government oppression."

At the Capitol birthday celebration, Iyanu B. Carson, a 5th grade student from Jackson, read her poem titled "90 Years of History," saying she aspires to be like Meredith.

"You made the choice to use your voice, you were strong and made them believe you belonged," Iyanu said. "Today we celebrate history, and Mr. Meredith, history is you! We're proud of your accomplishments and all that you have been through."

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Civil rights notable James Meredith turns 90, urges people to press onward

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In October 1962, federal marshals escorted him as he enrolled as the first Black student at the University of Mississippi, while white people rioted.

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Martin Luther King Jr: Risked Life for Civil Rights Movement | Biography

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On this date in history, Black students Vivian Malone and James Hood registered for classes at The University of Alabama despite then-Gov. George C. Wallace's unsuccessful attempt to block their enrollment. That day changed Alabama and the nation when Malone and Hood walked through the doors of Foster Auditorium to enroll as students at The University of Alabama - marking the beginning of school desegregation in the state and moving forward a comprehensive federal civil rights act.

On the morning of June 11, acting on the authority of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, U.S. Deputy Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach, accompanied by federal marshals and the Alabama National Guard, confronted Wallace and asked him to allow Malone and Hood to enter Foster Auditorium to register for classes. Wallace refused and delivered a speech denouncing the federal government and advocating for states' rights. Upon hearing of Wallace's refusal, Kennedy then authorized the National Guard to remove him. That afternoon, Wallace made a statement and complied with the President's order. Malone and Hood enrolled without further incident.

That evening in a televised address to the nation, President Kennedy declared civil rights no longer simply a legal issue but a moral issue. One week later, he submitted a civil rights bill that became the foundation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Learn more about the desegregation of The University of Alabama and the courageous students who made it happen with the resources below.

This Day in History | June 11: University of Alabama Desegregated (History.com)

Stand in the Schoolhouse Door (Encyclopedia of Alabama)

University of Alabama Integration (Civil Rights Digital Library)

Acknowledging UA's Past (UA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion)

A trip to the archives: Here's how three CW editors covered segregation on campus (The Crimson White, 2019)

2010 Panel Discussion of UA's Desegregation (The University of Alabama/YouTube)
In November 2010, before the dedication of the Autherine Lucy Foster Clock Tower and the Malone-Hood Plaza, Autherine Lucy Foster, Dr. James Hood, Dr. Sharon Malone Holder and Elvin Malone, the sister and brother of Vivian Malone Jones, participated in a discussion facilitated by Dr. Culpepper Clark to talk about the events of June 1963.

Dedication of Malone-Hood Plaza and Autherine Lucy Clock Tower (The University of Alabama/Vimeo)

Vivian Malone Jones

"There will come a day in your life when you must act for others, your family, perhaps your community, and you must be ready! So, take from all the books you have read, all the lessons you have learned, the certain knowledge that one day, any day, you must be bold, have courage and walk through a door that leads to opportunity for others."
V ivian Malone Jones, commencement address, The University of Alabama, 2000

In 1963, Vivian Juanita Malone, a native of Mobile, Alabama, stepped through the doors at Foster Auditorium to register for classes at The University of Alabama and never looked back. She became the University's first African American graduate on May 30, 1965, when she received a bachelor's degree in commerce and business administration. She received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from UA on Aug. 12, 2000, and served as commencement speaker that year. In 2013, the University dedicated the Malone-Hood Plaza in front of Foster Auditorium to honor Vivian Malone Jones and James Hood and their courage to break barriers. Also, Jones was named to the UA Division of Student Life Hall of Fame, and in 2021 was inducted into the Alabama Women's Hall of Fame. In 2022, the UA Culverhouse Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the UA Black Alumni Association established The Malone Awards to celebrate alumni excellence and support student success. Jones died Oct. 13, 2005.

40th Anniversary: Vivian Malone Jones and the Stand in the Schoolhouse Door (The University of Alabama/YouTube)

A Daughter's Struggle to Overcome a Legacy of Segregation
(NPR 2013: audio and transcript of an interview with Peggy Wallace Kennedy, George Wallace's daughter who was 13 at the time of these events)

Vivian Juanita Malone Jones (1942-2005) (BlackPast.org, 2020)

Vivian Malone Jones - Through the Doors (The University of Alabama: brief bio, 2000 commencement address and hooding)

Commencement Address to The University of Alabama Graduating Class of 2000 (transcript)

James Hood

"One person can make a difference if that one person is committed to making a difference."
Dr. James Hood

James Alexander Hood, a native of Gadsden, Alabama, was an activist at a young age and was active in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He was persuaded by civil rights leaders to apply for admission to UA and initially was denied because of his race. A federal judge ordered Hood's admission to UA. He registered for classes on June 11, 1963, with Vivian Malone; however, he left the University after two months, saying he wanted to avoid "a complete mental and physical breakdown." He transferred to Wayne State University in Detroit where he studied political science and police administration and graduated with a bachelor's degree. He earned a master's degree in criminal justice from Michigan State University in 1972. After a career in law enforcement and education, he returned to The University of Alabama and earned a doctorate in higher education in 1997. Hood died Jan. 17, 2013.

James Hood - Through the Doors (The University of Alabama: brief bio)

James Alexander Hood (1942-2013) BlackPast.org

James Hood, who integrated University of Alabama, dies at 70 (The Washington Post)

James Hood Dies at 70; Integrated University of Alabama (The New York Times)

James Hood/Malone-Hood Plaza (The University of Alabama)

A New Beginning: A Tribute to Courage and Progress
(The University of Alabama: 2013 website for the Malone-Hood Plaza and Autherine Lucy Clock Tower)

Autherine Lucy Foster

"My response to fear is: do it anyway. Let nothing stop you. You have to push forward."
Dr. Autherine Lucy Foster

Before June 11, 1963, there was Feb. 6, 1956.

Autherine Lucy, a native of Shiloh, Alabama, became the first African American student to enroll at UA on Feb. 3, 1956. She initially applied to UA in 1952 after earning a degree in English from Miles College that same year. However, her acceptance was rescinded because she was not white. A federal court order later reversed that decision, and Foster enrolled at UA in 1956. However, she attended classes for only three days and was suspended and later expelled from campus due to riots and threats against her life. In 1988, the UA Board of Trustees overturned her expulsion. A year later she again enrolled at UA, joining her daughter, Grazia Foster, who was also a student at UA. Autherine Lucy Foster earned a master's degree in elementary education in August 1991, and Grazia Foster earned a bachelor's degree in corporate finance. They crossed the commencement stage together in 1992. Upon her graduation, the University honored Autherine Lucy Foster with a portrait of her that hangs in the Student Center's Hall of Fame.

Autherine Lucy Foster leaves a long legacy at UA. Her valiant role in desegregating the University is also recognized with a pair of endowed scholarships and three landmarks on campus - a historic marker in front of what is now Autherine Lucy Hall and the Autherine Lucy Clock Tower. She is listed as a UA Legend, was inducted into the UA Student Life Hall of Fame and has numerous campus awards and honors named for her. The University dedicated Autherine Lucy Hall Feb. 25, 2022. The following month, Foster died and a memorial service was held on campus on March 9.

Historic Marker Honors Civil Rights Hero (The University of Alabama)

Autherine Lucy Hall Dedication (The University of Alabama/YouTube)

The Story of Autherine Lucy Foster (The University of Alabama/YouTube)

Remembering Autherine Lucy Foster (The University of Alabama/website)

Autherine Lucy: Forgotten Hero (an Alternative Campus Tour on Race & Memory at UA
(webpage created by Dr. Meredith M. Bagley, former professor in UA Communication Studies)

50th Anniversary of Autherine Lucy Foster's Enrollment at UA - Part One (The University of Alabama/YouTube)

50th Anniversary of Autherine Lucy Foster's Enrollment at UA - Part Two (The University of Alabama/YouTube)

50th Anniversary of Autherine Lucy Foster's Enrollment at UA - Part Three (The University of Alabama/YouTube)

Autherine Lucy (Encyclopedia of Alabama)

Recommended Viewing
CBS Special Report - June 11, 1963

John F. Kennedy's 1963 Televised Address to the Nation on Civil Rights - transcript of the speech (The JFK Library)

A report from Roger Mudd, a broadcast journalist who was a correspondent and anchor for CBS News

Dan Rather, CBS news correspondent, interview with CBS newsman Nelson Benton, who was in Tuscaloosa and gave a description of events on June 11.

Interview with Atlanta Constitution editor Ralph McGill in Washington with Charles Von Friend, CBS News Washington correspondent

Interview with Gunnar Myrdal, Swedish Nobel laureate, economist and sociologist, whose book "An American Dilemma: The Negro Problem and Modern Democracy," is considered a classic in sociology.

A Confrontation for Integration at The University of Alabama (The Grio/YouTube)

Recommended Reading
Books

"Opening the Doors: The Desegregation of the University of Alabama and the Fight for Civil Rights in Tuscaloosa" by B.J. Hollars

"The Schoolhouse Door: Segregation's Last Stand at the University of Alabama" by E. Culpepper Clark

June 11, 1963 The Tuscaloosa News Archives June 12, 1963

University Showdown at Hand

Price of Peace Major Concern of Businessmen (AP Jack Stillman)

Wallace Prepares to Stand in Door (TNews Dick Looser)

No Legal Leg to Stand on, Wallace Told

By Student Leaders Negroes Described as 'Stoic,' Congenial

UA Newspaper Supports Mixing on Moral Grounds

JFK Federalizes State Guard After Governor Blocks Mixing

Wallace's Statement at Foster

Will be Enrolled, Says U.S. Official

This is the Text of Proclamation (President John F. Kennedy')

Don't Have Any Legal Legs to Stand on, Wallace Told

For Negroes, Marshals It was a Quiet Trip into Tuscaloosa

June 13, 1963

Talks to Nation, President Outlines Rights Proposals

2 Negroes Begin Capstone Classes

Classes Started, UA Quiet

Local Guardsmen Assigned UA Duty

No Guns Fired, No Rocks Thrown, But Old Flavor to Federal Victory at UA

Some Officers Leaving Duty at UA Campus

No Arrests

City Returns to 'Normal' After Mixing

Violence Absent from UA Scene

Wallace's Stand not Likely to Bring Prosecution by U.S.

Governor's Stand at UA Labeled a Political Blunder

A Crisis Passes Peacefully

Registration Takes Only 15 Minutes

Tuscaloosa Keeping Quiet About Situation

Students Mildly Surprised by Gov. Wallace's Action

Sept. 20, 1963

Solons Praise Wallace Stand at University

UA Atmosphere Friendlier, Report 2 Negro Students

Shelton Says Klan to Fight Mixing on Economic Front

Roadblocks Gone from UA Campus

Kennedy Praises City in UA Case

Negro Enrolls at University; Quiet Reported

Commencement 1965 (Editorial)

Grads Told Solutions Lie With Majority in Middle

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Desegregation at The University of Alabama

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On this date in history, Black students Vivian Malone and James Hood registered for classes at The University of Alabama despite then-Gov. George C. Wallace's unsuccessful attempt to block their enrollment.

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Why JFK decided to embrace civil rights as a ‘moral issue’ in 1963: OPINION

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Fifty-seven years ago today, John F. Kennedy made one of his most important orations, an appeal to all Americans to accept civil rights as “a moral issue.”

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LBJ aide remembers fight for Civil Rights Act

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1965 Selma to Montgomery March Fast Facts | CNN

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Read CNN’s Fast Facts on the 1965 Selma to Montgomery march in Alabama, a pivotal event in the civil rights movement

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Black Panthers Revisited | Op-Docs | The New York Times

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National Museum of African American History and Culture

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In response to the summer of uprisings in 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson established the 11-member National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders. Johnson asked the commission to answer three key questions: What happened during the riots? Why did the riots occur? What could be done to prevent riots from happening in the future?

Illinois Governor Otto Kerner chaired the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, which became known as the Kerner Commission. According to the commission's report, the United States was socially and economically divided. The commission warned: "Our nation is moving toward two societies, one black, one white-separate and unequal." In addition to Newark and Detroit, the group surveyed uprisings in 23 cities.

The Kerner Commission cited numerous grievances as triggers for civil unrest. Among them were discrimination in policing practices, the justice system, and consumer credit practices, inadequate housing and public assistance programs, high unemployment, and the exclusion of communities of colors from the democratic process.

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In response to the "Long Hot Summer" of 1967, President Johnson established the 11-member National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders. The President asked the commission to answer three questions.