Clyde Kennard was an African American civil rights pioneer who played a significant role in the civil rights movement in Mississippi. He was born on June 12, 1927, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Kennard was a highly accomplished student and military veteran who aspired to attend the University of Mississippi in the 1950s. However, at that time, the university did not admit African American students.

Despite facing numerous obstacles and racial discrimination, Kennard persevered in his pursuit of higher education. He applied to Mississippi Southern College (now the University of Southern Mississippi) in Hattiesburg, a historically white institution, in an attempt to further his studies. Kennard's application was denied multiple times due to his race, despite meeting all the academic qualifications.

Kennard's steadfast determination to obtain an education and challenge segregation in higher education made him a target of harassment and intimidation by local authorities and white supremacist groups. In 1960, he was falsely accused of stealing $25 worth of chicken feed and subsequently arrested and sentenced to seven years in prison on fabricated charges.

Kennard's case garnered national attention and sparked outrage among civil rights activists and supporters. Organizations such as the NAACP and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) rallied to his defense and worked to expose the injustice and racism that Kennard faced.

Despite efforts to secure his release and overturn his conviction, Kennard's health deteriorated while imprisoned, and he was diagnosed with cancer. He was finally released on parole in January 1963 but tragically passed away just months later on July 4, 1963, at the age of 36.

Clyde Kennard's legacy lives on as a symbol of courage, resilience, and the ongoing struggle for equal rights and access to education in America. He is remembered for his unwavering commitment to justice and equality and his sacrifice in the fight against racial discrimination and segregation. In 2006, the state of Mississippi posthumously exonerated Kennard, recognizing the grave injustice he suffered.