Black Past: Meredith, James

A brief biography of James Lafayette reveals that he was a spy during the American Revolution. He fooled the likes of Benedict Arnold and General Cornwallis of Britain!

This encyclopedia entry tells about James Wormley, a black businessman in Washington, D.C.

This encyclopedia article gives a brief outline of the life of James Baldwin, influential author, playwright, and social commentator.

An encyclopedia article about James Forten, a free black man, who fought in the Revolutionary War, and later became a supporter of abolition and suffrage.

This interesting encyclopedia entry is about Gabriel Prosser, a slave, who planned a huge revolt to take over Richmond, Virginia and make a "Kingdom of Virginia." There is a link to a PBS website for more information.

This interesting encyclopedia article gives information about theblack universities that were founded in Atlanta after the Civil War. Later several joined together to make a consortium called the Atlanta University System.

This encyclopedia article gives an interesting account of the Freedom Rides of 1961, which sparked later civil rights movements.

This concise encyclopedia entry recounts the life of George Alvin Wiley, founder of the civil rights organization, CORE.

We continue our Black History Month series with a look at the desegregation of Ole Miss in 1962.

This article recounts the entrance of Mississippi State University's first black student, James Meredith. Note that he was escorted by National Guardsmen, as requested by President Kennedy, in order to protect his safety.