The J.D. Williams Library hosted a series of brown bag lectures that focused on civil rights in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the enrollment of the University of Mississippi’s first African-American student, James Meredith.
Among the lectures, David Sansing, historian and professor emeritus, spoke on the history of the integration of the University of Mississippi.
“I would like for people who attended my lecture to understand and appreciate how much the University of Mississippi has changed and progressed since the admission of James Meredith in 1962,” Sansing said.
Maurice Hobson, assistant professor of history and African American studies, discussed civil rights and the New South; and Michael Williams, assistant professor of history and African American studies at Mississippi State University, talked about civil rights activist Medgar Evers.
Jennifer Ford, head of Archives and Special Collections, said that the brown bag lectures also tie into an exhibit at the library.
“Our current exhibit is titled, ‘We Shall Always March Ahead: Mississippi and the Civil Rights Movement,’” she said. “We wanted all of the Brown Bags to connect in some way with civil rights.”