"First Southeastern Conference school to field an African American athlete" NYT crossword answer is:
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The first Southeastern Conference school to field an African American athlete was the University of Mississippi in 1959. The athlete, named James Meredith, was a transfer student from a local junior college and was the first African American to enroll at the university. His enrollment sparked a major civil rights movement in the state of Mississippi and the entire Southeastern Conference. His courageous efforts paved the way for other African American athletes to compete in the SEC and helped to break down many of the racial barriers that existed in the region.