SouthTalks: “Walking Alone: James Meredith’s March Against Fear and the Politicization of Violence in the Black Freedom Struggle” - University of Mississippi (../platform/stylesheet/42722802068809/46940867806558/1790798587.css)             (southtalks-walking-alone-james-merediths-march-against-fear-and-the-politicization-of-violence-in-the-black-freedom-struggle.html)     University of  Mississippi | Ole Miss  (https://olemiss.edu//use.typekit.net/rmt3wly.css) (../../olemiss.edu/assets/js/dist/app.css) (../../s3.amazonaws.com/localist-customer/Olemiss/olemiss1.css) (../../olemiss.edu/assets/fontawesome/css/all.css) (https://olemiss.edu/assets/favicons/apple-touch-icon.png.orig) (../../olemiss.edu/assets/favicons/favicon-32x32.png.orig) (../../olemiss.edu/assets/favicons/favicon-16x16.png.orig) (../../olemiss.edu/assets/favicons/favicon.ico.orig) (../../www.google.com/cse/static/element/8435450f13508ca1/default+en.css) (../../www.google.com/cse/static/style/look/v4/default.css)  (https://olemiss.edu/) (University of Mississippi)  Search  (Search)  Search    Close Menu    Search   (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/auth/login) Log in     (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/auth/login)  Log in     (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/) University of Mississippi    (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/calendar/day/2026/10/21) Wednesday, October 21    SouthTalks: “Walking Alone: James Meredith’s March Against Fear and the Politicization of Violence in the Black Freedom Struggle”    Clear message        SouthTalks: “Walking Alone: James Meredith’s March Against Fear and the Politicization of Violence in the Black Freedom Struggle” By (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/group/southtalks) SouthTalks    Wednesday, October 21, 2026 12pm   (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/event/53852097205784/confirm?instance_id=53852097205785&return=https%3A%2F%2Feventcalendar.olemiss.edu%2Fevent%2Fsouthtalks-walking-alone-james-merediths-march-against-fear-and-the-politicization-of-violence-in-the-black-freedom-struggle)  I'm Interested    Share SouthTalks: “Walking Alone: James Meredith’s March Against Fear and the Politicization of Violence in the Black Freedom Struggle”   (https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/event/southtalks-walking-alone-james-merediths-march-against-fear-and-the-politicization-of-violence-in-the-black-freedom-struggle) Share SouthTalks: “Walking Alone: James Meredith’s March Against Fear and the Politicization of Violence in the Black Freedom Struggle” on Facebook    (https://x.com/intent/tweet/?url=https%3A%2F%2Feventcalendar.olemiss.edu%2Fevent%2Fsouthtalks-walking-alone-james-merediths-march-against-fear-and-the-politicization-of-violence-in-the-black-freedom-struggle&text=SouthTalks%3A+%E2%80%9CWalking+Alone%3A+James+Meredith%E2%80%99s+March+Against+Fear+and+the+Politicization+of+Violence+in+the+Black+Freedom+Struggle%E2%80%9D by University+of+Mississippi) Share SouthTalks: “Walking Alone: James Meredith’s March Against Fear and the Politicization of Violence in the Black Freedom Struggle” on X    (https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/event/southtalks-walking-alone-james-merediths-march-against-fear-and-the-politicization-of-violence-in-the-black-freedom-struggle&title=SouthTalks: “Walking Alone: James Meredith’s March Against Fear and the Politicization of Violence in the Black Freedom Struggle”) Share SouthTalks: “Walking Alone: James Meredith’s March Against Fear and the Politicization of Violence in the Black Freedom Struggle” on LinkedIn       (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/photo/53852097260063) (Image of SouthTalks: “Walking Alone: James Meredith’s March Against Fear and the Politicization of Violence in the Black Freedom Struggle”)    (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/event/53852097205784/confirm?instance_id=53852097205785&return=https%3A%2F%2Feventcalendar.olemiss.edu%2Fevent%2Fsouthtalks-walking-alone-james-merediths-march-against-fear-and-the-politicization-of-violence-in-the-black-freedom-struggle)  I'm Interested       About this Event (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/barnard_observatory) Barnard Observatory, 105  (southtalks-walking-alone-james-merediths-march-against-fear-and-the-politicization-of-violence-in-the-black-freedom-struggle.html#about_map) View map   Free Event (southtalks-walking-alone-james-merediths-march-against-fear-and-the-politicization-of-violence-in-the-black-freedom-struggle.html#) Add to calendar   (https://calendar.google.com/calendar/event?action=TEMPLATE&dates=20261021T170000Z%2F20261021T170000Z&details=%E2%80%9CWalking+Alone%3A+James+Meredith%E2%80%99s+March+Against+Fear+and+the+Politicization+of+Violence+in+the+Black+Freedom+Struggle%E2%80%9D%0A%0Apresented+by+Zachary+Clary%0A%0A+%0A%0AIn+this+SouthTalk%2C+Zachary+Clary+will+focus+on+James+Meredith%E2%80%99s+1966+March+Against+Fear+from+Memphis%2C+Tennessee%2C+to+Jackson%2C+Mississippi.+While+walking+through+DeSoto+County%2C+Mississippi%2C+along+US+Highway+51%2C+Meredith+collapsed+to+the+ground%2C+felled+by+a+shotgun+blast.+He+survived+but+could+not+continue+the+march.+Other+movement+leaders%2C+including+Martin+Luther+King+Jr.%2C+Floyd+McKissick%2C+and+Stokely+Carmichael%2C+stepped+in+to+complete+the+journey+to+Jackson.%0A%0AClary+will+discuss+the+important+questions+of+what+happened+and+explore+what+the+March+Against+Fear+meant.+How+was+this+example+of+violence%E2%80%94a+singular+man+walking+alone+in+protest+and+gunned+down%E2%80%94remembered%3F+How+did+Americans+inside+and+outside+of+the+civil+rights+movement+react+to+this+attack+on+Meredith%3F+What+was+its+symbolic+significance%3F+%0A%0AZachary+Clary+is+a+history+PhD+candidate+at+Vanderbilt+University+and+the+recipient+of+the+2025+Study+the+SouthResearch+Fellowship.+His+research+explores+the+instrumentalization%2C+politicization%2C+and+memory+of+violence+in+the+twentieth-century+Black+freedom+struggle.+He+has+written+previously+for+Smithsonian+Magazine%2C+The+Washington...%0A%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Feventcalendar.olemiss.edu%2Fevent%2Fsouthtalks-walking-alone-james-merediths-march-against-fear-and-the-politicization-of-violence-in-the-black-freedom-struggle&location=Barnard+Observatory&sprop=website%3Aeventcalendar.olemiss.edu&text=SouthTalks%3A+%E2%80%9CWalking+Alone%3A+James+Meredith%E2%80%99s+March+Against+Fear+and+the+Politicization+of+Violence+in+the+Black+Freedom+Struggle%E2%80%9D) (Save to Google Calendar) Save to Google Calendar   (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/event/southtalks-walking-alone-james-merediths-march-against-fear-and-the-politicization-of-violence-in-the-black-freedom-struggle.ics) (Save to iCal) Save to iCal   (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/event/southtalks-walking-alone-james-merediths-march-against-fear-and-the-politicization-of-violence-in-the-black-freedom-struggle.ics) (Save to Outlook) Save to Outlook      255 Grove Loop, University, MS 38677 (http://olemiss.edu/southernstudies/)  http://olemiss.edu/southernstudies/  (southtalks-walking-alone-james-merediths-march-against-fear-and-the-politicization-of-violence-in-the-black-freedom-struggle.html#about_map) View map   Free Event (southtalks-walking-alone-james-merediths-march-against-fear-and-the-politicization-of-violence-in-the-black-freedom-struggle.html#) Add to calendar   (https://calendar.google.com/calendar/event?action=TEMPLATE&dates=20261021T170000Z%2F20261021T170000Z&details=%E2%80%9CWalking+Alone%3A+James+Meredith%E2%80%99s+March+Against+Fear+and+the+Politicization+of+Violence+in+the+Black+Freedom+Struggle%E2%80%9D%0A%0Apresented+by+Zachary+Clary%0A%0A+%0A%0AIn+this+SouthTalk%2C+Zachary+Clary+will+focus+on+James+Meredith%E2%80%99s+1966+March+Against+Fear+from+Memphis%2C+Tennessee%2C+to+Jackson%2C+Mississippi.+While+walking+through+DeSoto+County%2C+Mississippi%2C+along+US+Highway+51%2C+Meredith+collapsed+to+the+ground%2C+felled+by+a+shotgun+blast.+He+survived+but+could+not+continue+the+march.+Other+movement+leaders%2C+including+Martin+Luther+King+Jr.%2C+Floyd+McKissick%2C+and+Stokely+Carmichael%2C+stepped+in+to+complete+the+journey+to+Jackson.%0A%0AClary+will+discuss+the+important+questions+of+what+happened+and+explore+what+the+March+Against+Fear+meant.+How+was+this+example+of+violence%E2%80%94a+singular+man+walking+alone+in+protest+and+gunned+down%E2%80%94remembered%3F+How+did+Americans+inside+and+outside+of+the+civil+rights+movement+react+to+this+attack+on+Meredith%3F+What+was+its+symbolic+significance%3F+%0A%0AZachary+Clary+is+a+history+PhD+candidate+at+Vanderbilt+University+and+the+recipient+of+the+2025+Study+the+SouthResearch+Fellowship.+His+research+explores+the+instrumentalization%2C+politicization%2C+and+memory+of+violence+in+the+twentieth-century+Black+freedom+struggle.+He+has+written+previously+for+Smithsonian+Magazine%2C+The+Washington...%0A%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Feventcalendar.olemiss.edu%2Fevent%2Fsouthtalks-walking-alone-james-merediths-march-against-fear-and-the-politicization-of-violence-in-the-black-freedom-struggle&location=Barnard+Observatory&sprop=website%3Aeventcalendar.olemiss.edu&text=SouthTalks%3A+%E2%80%9CWalking+Alone%3A+James+Meredith%E2%80%99s+March+Against+Fear+and+the+Politicization+of+Violence+in+the+Black+Freedom+Struggle%E2%80%9D) (Save to Google Calendar) Save to Google Calendar   (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/event/southtalks-walking-alone-james-merediths-march-against-fear-and-the-politicization-of-violence-in-the-black-freedom-struggle.ics) (Save to iCal) Save to iCal   (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/event/southtalks-walking-alone-james-merediths-march-against-fear-and-the-politicization-of-violence-in-the-black-freedom-struggle.ics) (Save to Outlook) Save to Outlook       “Walking Alone: James Meredith’s March Against Fear and the Politicization of Violence in the Black Freedom Struggle”            presented by Zachary Clary              In this SouthTalk, Zachary Clary will focus on James Meredith’s 1966 March Against Fear from Memphis, Tennessee, to Jackson, Mississippi. While walking through DeSoto County, Mississippi, along US Highway 51, Meredith collapsed to the ground, felled by a shotgun blast. He survived but could not continue the march. Other movement leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr., Floyd McKissick, and Stokely Carmichael, stepped in to complete the journey to Jackson.           Clary will discuss the important questions of what happened and explore what the March Against Fear meant. How was this example of violence—a singular man walking alone in protest and gunned down—remembered? How did Americans inside and outside of the civil rights movement react to this attack on Meredith? What was its symbolic significance?            Zachary Clary is a history PhD candidate at Vanderbilt University and the recipient of the 2025 Study the South Research Fellowship. His research explores the instrumentalization, politicization, and memory of violence in the twentieth-century Black freedom struggle. He has written previously for Smithsonian Magazine , The Washington Post , The Chicago Tribune , and The Washington Monthly , among others.           SouthTalks is a series of events – including lectures, performances, film screenings and panel discussions – that explore the interdisciplinary nature of Southern studies. All events are at Barnard Observatory, unless otherwise noted, and are free and open to the public.               Event Details Event Type (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/search/events?event_types%5B%5D=42722803170754) Lectures (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/search/events?event_types%5B%5D=43527124278872) Arts and Culture (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/search/events?event_types%5B%5D=43845201920161) Community  Website (http://olemiss.edu/southernstudies/) (http://olemiss.edu/southernstudies/) http://olemiss.edu/southernstudies/  Cost free  Group (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/group/southtalks) SouthTalks  Department (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/department/center-for-the-study-of-southern-culture) Center for the Study of Southern Culture  Accessibility Accomodations For assistance related to a disability, contact Afton Thomas at (mailto:amthoma4@olemiss.edu) amthoma4@olemiss.edu or call 662-915-5993.      See Who Is Interested  (LaLa Jones) (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/yyjones_242) (LaLa Jones)    (Donald R. Guillory Guillory) (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/dguillor_27) (Donald R. Guillory Guillory)     2 people  are interested in this event  (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/event/53852097205784/confirm?instance_id=53852097205785&return=https%3A%2F%2Feventcalendar.olemiss.edu%2Fevent%2Fsouthtalks-walking-alone-james-merediths-march-against-fear-and-the-politicization-of-violence-in-the-black-freedom-struggle)  I'm Interested     Hide map Show map   (https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=255 Grove Loop, University, MS 38677&travelmode=transit)  Public transport   (https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=255 Grove Loop, University, MS 38677&travelmode=driving)  Car   (https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=255 Grove Loop, University, MS 38677&travelmode=walking)  Walking    (Interactive Campus Map) <p>Your browser does not support iframes.</p>    User Activity No recent activity    (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/auth/login) Sign up to post      University of Mississippi  Event Types   (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/calendar?event_types%5B%5D=42853671151942) Academic Calendar (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/calendar?event_types%5B%5D=42853655795101) Alumni (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/calendar?event_types%5B%5D=43527124278872) Arts and Culture (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/calendar?event_types%5B%5D=43526497292612) Campus Recreation (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/calendar?event_types%5B%5D=43845201920161) Community (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/calendar?event_types%5B%5D=44154962380552) Health and Wellness (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/calendar?event_types%5B%5D=42722803170754) Lectures (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/calendar?event_types%5B%5D=43526484045638) Music (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/calendar?event_types%5B%5D=42853642049337) Performing Arts (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/calendar?event_types%5B%5D=43526509498036) Professional Development (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/calendar?event_types%5B%5D=43526506382462) Receptions (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/calendar?event_types%5B%5D=42853645316422) Sports (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/calendar?event_types%5B%5D=42853654564104) Student Organizations (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/calendar?event_types%5B%5D=43526485987901) Theatre (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/calendar?event_types%5B%5D=42853640334247) Workshops and Classes      Activity   (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/search?what=events) All events  (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/search?what=groups) All groups  (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/search?what=places) All places  (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/signup) Sign up  (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/auth/login) Login  (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/event/create) Submit an event      (https://olemiss.edu/academics/index.php) Academics  (https://olemiss.edu/admissions/index.php) Admissions  (https://olemiss.edu/student-life/index.php) Student Life  (https://olemiss.edu/research/index.php) Research  (https://olemiss.edu/who-we-are/index.php) Who We Are  (https://olemiss.edu/athletics/index.php) Athletics         (https://olemiss.edu/departments/index.php) Office Directory  (https://olemiss.edu/profiles/index.php) Employee Directory  (https://olemiss.edu/news/index.php) News  (https://events.olemiss.edu/) Events  (https://nowandever.olemiss.edu/) Give      (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/) (university logo)    University, MS 38677  USA  (tel:662-915-7211) 662-915-7211    (https://map.olemiss.edu/) Map and Parking   Social Media Links (https://facebook.com/olemiss) Facebook    (https://twitter.com/olemiss) Twitter    (https://instagram.com/olemiss) Instagram        (https://my.olemiss.edu) myOleMiss  (https://blackboard.olemiss.edu/) Blackboard  (http://mail.go.olemiss.edu/) Student Email  (https://office365.olemiss.edu/owa) Employee Email  (https://careers.olemiss.edu/) Careers  (http://ole-miss.bncollege.com/) Bookstore     Information for (https://olemiss.edu/audience/admitted-students/index.php) Admitted Students  (https://olemiss.edu/audience/current-students/index.php) Current Students  (https://olemiss.edu/audience/faculty-and-staff/index.php) Employees  (https://olemiss.edu/audience/alumni/index.php) Alumni  (https://olemiss.edu/audience/parents-and-families/index.php) Parents & Families  (https://olemiss.edu/audience/visitors/index.php) Visitors  (https://olemiss.edu/audience/oxford-community/index.php) Oxford Community     Regional Campuses (https://www.outreach.olemiss.edu/desoto/) DeSoto  (http://www.outreach.olemiss.edu/tupelo/) Tupelo  (http://www.outreach.olemiss.edu/booneville/) Booneville  (http://www.outreach.olemiss.edu/grenada/) Grenada  (http://www.outreach.olemiss.edu/rankin/) Rankin  (https://umc.edu) UM Medical Center      (https://olemiss.edu/info/copyright/) Copyright © 2024 The University of Mississippi. All Rights Reserved . (https://policies.olemiss.edu/ShowDetails.jsp?istatPara=1&policyObjidPara=10654991) Privacy Policy (https://olemiss.edu/info/eeo-statement/index.php) EEO Statement (https://olemiss.edu/info/accessibility/index.php) Accessibility (https://secure.ethicspoint.com/domain/media/en/gui/31500/index.html) Ethics Line         University of Mississippi Powered by (https://www.localist.com) Localist Event Calendar Software  (https://twitter.com/OleMiss?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor) Twitter   (https://www.facebook.com/olemiss/) Facebook   (https://www.instagram.com/olemiss/?hl=en) Instagram        Log in   (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/auth/shib_login?previous_url=https%3A%2F%2Feventcalendar.olemiss.edu%2Fevent%2Fsouthtalks-walking-alone-james-merediths-march-against-fear-and-the-politicization-of-violence-in-the-black-freedom-struggle) Log in with your WebID (https://eventcalendar.olemiss.edu/auth/google_login?previous_url=https%3A%2F%2Feventcalendar.olemiss.edu%2Fevent%2Fsouthtalks-walking-alone-james-merediths-march-against-fear-and-the-politicization-of-violence-in-the-black-freedom-struggle)  Log in with Google