Clyde Kennard

Clyde Kennard was a black American in the 1950s who, after serving in the military for 7 years, wanted to finish his college degree. Unfortunately for him, there were no black colleges in the area, and the closest white school was Mississippi Southern. So he sent in an application. The president kept on getting Kennard on stupid technicalities they would not call anyone else on. This was because other than him being black, he met every requirement needed. He kept writing and trying to get into this school, his persistence matched that of Rosa Parks or MLK. Eventually he was jailed for "going over the speed limit and being in possession of whiskey. And while in prison he developed a lesion on his colon. They would not release him however. But, as his story got out a lot of support came for him and they eventually released him early for medical reasons and he died shortly after being released. But his persistence really was important for the movement, especially in such a racist, segregated state such as Mississippi.