1. In 1962, James Meredith became the first African American student to enroll at the University of Mississippi. This historic event was met with violent protests from white supremacists, leading to a federal intervention and deployment of the National Guard.

2. On October 7, 1949, blues legend B.B. King made his first recording at the studios of WDIA radio in Memphis, Tennessee. King went on to become one of the most influential guitarists of all time, winning 15 Grammy Awards and inspiring countless musicians.

3. In 1967, civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer led a group of protesters to block the arrests of three young men who had been beaten by police in Ruleville, Mississippi. Hamer, who had been beaten and jailed herself for her activism, remained a powerful voice for voter registration and civil rights until her death in 1977.

4. On October 7, 1916, William Faulkner's first piece of published writing, a poem titled "L'Apres-Midi d'un Faune," appeared in The New Republic magazine. Faulkner went on to become one of America's greatest writers, winning the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1949.

5. The Natchez Trace Parkway, a 444-mile scenic roadway running through Mississippi, Tennessee, and Alabama, was officially dedicated on October 7, 1938. The route follows the historic Natchez Trace, a footpath used by Native Americans and early European explorers and traders. Today, the parkway is a popular destination for tourists and outdoor enthusiasts.