On this episode of State of Independence, Joe Watkins interviews James Meredith, a hero for human dignity and equality. Mr. Meredith grew up in the Deep South—but didn’t grow up in poverty. His father was the son of an enslaved person who had risen to be a successful, independent farmer. So, it wasn’t until James was 15—on a train ride home from Detroit—that he saw the underbelly of American society. This is what he said:
“The train wasn’t segregated when we left Detroit. But when we got to Memphis, the conductor told my brother and me we had to go to another car. I cried all the way home from Memphis, and in a way, I have cried ever since.
James Meredith turned tears into a battle plan. Fueled by faith-filled courage, he became a man on a mission. He’s nearly 90 now, and he’s still fighting. (original airdate 5-19-23)