Editorial Letter

EDITORIAL LETTER”To Be Born Black in Mississippi” by Kenneth Mayfield

Kenneth Mayfield did not intend to get involved in the civil rights movement when he registered for entry to the University of Mississippi. Kenneth simply wanted to be a lawyer. He attended the University of Mississippi with only one goal and that was to get a law degree. But even though integration had already taken place, the injustice and discrimination he routinely experienced made him realize he could not simply turn a blind eye. Kenneth only wanted to be a lawyer, but he discovered his life’s purpose along the way.

Kenneth began to actively stand up against racism and racial injustice. Kenneth became the quintessential black militant of the late 60’s, determined to fight racial injustice by any means necessary. This was the start of a new path for Kenneth. In 1970 Kenneth and seven other students were expelled from the Ole Miss for disorderly conduct. But this was not the end, this was only the beginning.

Kenneth would go on to get his law degree and to pass the bar. He became one of the premier champions of racial injustice, fighting discrimination where ever it was encountered.

This is a gripping story about a man coming of age during a most critical time of American culture. It is a story about individual growth and learning how to use the tools within the system as a force for change.

To Be Born Black in Mississippi is a unique insight about how it felt to be treated as a second class citizen in the land of the free during the 1950’s through the early 1979’s. It is a story about how painful progress can sometimes be and the satisfaction of knowing how one man can make a difference for so many others.

This is a story about turning rage into calm, collected, and calculated action for justice. This is a story about one man’s struggle during a very tough time, and a people’s call for simple fairness.