From the dawn of the modern civil rights movement, James Meredith has offered a unique perspective on democracy, racial equality, and the meaning of America. Man on a Mission presents his captivating saga for a new generation in the era of Black Lives Matter.
The presidential election of 1968 forever changed American politics. In this character-driven narrative history, Aram Goudsouzian portrays the key transformations that played out over that dramatic year.
The narrative centers on James Meredith's courageous journey as the first African American student at the University of Mississippi and his subsequent "March Against Fear" in 1966 aimed at promoting black voter registration. His march, a powerful act of defiance against systemic racism, took a tragic turn when he was shot by an unknown assailant on the second day, a pivotal moment immortalized in a striking photograph. The book explores themes of bravery, civil rights activism, and the ongoing struggle for racial equality in America.