De-hate

Believe it or not got home somewhat early. Although yesterday proved to a day that would live in infamy: running out of gas and loosing my wallet. But such is life. Like I said home somewhat early, and got a chance to look at some of the debate on CSPAN. I did not listen. In stead I turned the volume down and watched. I didn’t feel that either would have that much to say. But I did look, and not because they were debating, either, just because of the History. Debating at an University that only proffered two things in my mind: SEC sports and more importantly, James Meredith.

As I looked at both masters of many tricks move their mouths, I could only think of the symbolism of having a debate at the place that initially accepted Meredith, but rejected him when they found out that he was not white. He even applied again but was rejected again. Which lead him to file a complaint with the US District Court saying that he had been rejected because of his race. The courts first rejected his motion, but on appeal the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court reversed the decision.

But you know them backwoods crooked letter hump back hump back I folk wasn’t having it so Attorney General, Robert Kennedy, sent federal marshals and the National Guard to protect Meredith since it was being said that if he entered a class room he would be lynched. History recounts that more than 150 marshals were wounded, of which, 28 by gunfire. He went to his first class and folk say the woods walked out in protest and being the scholar he was, his response was that he would already be ahead of them for he would be learning something they would not – classic. Yep, scholar, for after graduation he attended the University of Ibadan in Nigeria (1964-65) and at Columbia University (1966-68).

I felt as if I was the only one thinking about such. I mean the Oxford of today is more integrated than places in New York or DC. And it seems that it has come a long way from the days of hate to the day of de-hate.

So yea, I looked at the debate, but I aint listen to am one of the folks. I guess it was a silent honor to James Meredith in some sort of sickly way. Because in my heart, since the maverick and the Rock star were in discussion, just made me think if either of them had any merit, they would have took the chance to meet with this one man, who lived in Oxford even, and taken a picture to thank him for his efforts. vote