Ole Miss welcomes Meredith with open arms, a promise

What a difference four decades and a battle for civil rights make. On Tuesday, a black man stepped on the campus of the University of Mississippi and was greeted with open arms. But in 1962, this same black man had his life on the line as hundreds of whites rioted on the same campus in an attempt to block his admission as a student.
James Meredith stood up for his rights as a human being and as an American. By enrolling at Ole Miss, he conquered one of the symbols of the most segregated state in the union. The university is Mississippi's flagship institution of higher education, and the racial barrier it kept firmly in place was a reflection of the state's attitude.
The bloody battle that was triggered by Meredith's refusal to back down not only confirmed to the world that Mississippi's racism remained deeply rooted, but it also emboldened blacks and thoughtful whites in the South and throughout the nation to make civil rights a moral and political imperative.
That was then.
Healing mission
On Tuesday, Ole Miss embarked a healing mission. It began with the anniversary celebration of Meredith's admission. Former U.S. marshals who fought the white racists were honored and a civil rights memorial was dedicated. The memorial will built adjacent to the Lyceum building where the deadly riots occurred.
But the mission won't end this week. It will last a year, culminating in September 2003 with an international symposium on race. Who would have thought it?
For Meredith, 69, who did not become an active participant in the civil rights movement in the South in the 1960s, the significance of his civil disobedience had less to do with his presence on campus as a student, than the accomplishment of his son, Joseph.
Joseph Meredith is the university's recipient this year of the outstanding doctoral student award. He has earned his Ph.D.
"I was never proud of going to Ole Miss until my son graduated," Meredith said. "I was humiliated."
It is such humiliation suffered by millions of blacks that demands a commitment from Americans of all races to make this a truly color blind society.
Although giant steps have been taken to remove the barriers that have split this country apart for so long, still more needs to be done. Far too many blacks see themselves as the victims of a racist white society and too many believe that government institutions, especially the criminal justice system, are designed to undermine the minority community.
Whether there is a basis for such thinking is not the point. The fact that it exists means that this nation must openly and objectively address issues of race. Otherwise, the acts of bravery on the part of individuals like James Meredith will be tarnished.