Breaking Mississippi

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The explosive inside story of one man's war against racial segregation in the 1960s.

The inside story of James Meredith's war against racial segregation in 1960s America - an explosive flashpoint in civil rights history that draws in both the KKK and JFK.

This is the explosive inside story of James Meredith's battle to smash the system of white supremacy in the most racially segregated state in 1960s America.

By becoming the first black person to apply to the all-white university of Mississippi - Meredith will draw in the KKK and JFK - and trigger the largest number of troops ever deployed for a single disturbance on US soil.

Across 10 episodes and with US public radio journalist Jenn White as our guide - James Meredith takes us from his childhood in rural Mississippi where racism runs deep - to a pivotal flashpoint in US civil rights history that will be described as the last battle of the American Civil War.

This could be our last opportunity to hear James Meredith tell this story in his own words and in a way that's never been heard before.

BBC Radio 4 LW

Breaking Mississippi: 5. A Call to Arms

5. A Call to Arms

BBC Radio 4 - Breaking Mississippi, 5. A Call to Arms

As armed segregationists head for Oxford, President JFK and the governor talk in secret.

As increasing numbers of armed segregationists head for the Oxford campus, President Kennedy and the Mississippi governor talk in secret.

This is the explosive inside story of James Meredith's battle to smash the system of white supremacy in the most racially segregated state in 1960s America.

By becoming the first black person to apply to the all-white university of Mississippi – Meredith will draw in the KKK and JFK – and trigger the largest number of troops ever deployed for a single disturbance on US soil.  

Across 10 episodes and with US public radio journalist Jenn White as our guide - James Meredith takes us from his childhood in rural Mississippi where racism runs deep – to a pivotal flashpoint in US civil rights history that will be described as the last battle of the American Civil War.

This could be our last opportunity to hear James Meredith tell this story in his own words and in a way that's never been heard before.  

Episode Five: A Call to Arms

As increasing numbers of armed segregationists head for the Oxford campus - President Kennedy and the Mississippi Governor talk in secret.

Presenter: Jenn White
Producer: Conor Garrett
Editor: Philip Sellars
Production Co-ordinator: Anne Smith
Audio Engineer: Gary Bawden
Original Music Score: Ashley Beedle and Darren Morris. Recorded @ North Street West

Archive reproduced with the kind permission of: The Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Mississippi State University, JFK Library, Getty Images, Huntley Film Archives, British Pathé Ltd, F.I.L.M Archives, Efootage, Historic Films, The Clarion Ledger – USA Today Network.
With special thanks to the University of Mississippi.

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Breaking Mississippi

5. A Call to Arms

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