BHS Day 17: Fannie Lou Hamer

Hi! For our second Activist Spotlight, I wanted to feature someone who I hadn't heard of before. The civil rights movement lasted for a long time so I figured there were probably bunches of unsung heroes who faded into the background over time. Today's entrant, for me, was one of those unsung heroes. She made fighting for equality her calling and despite facing numerous obstacles every step of the way, still accomplished most of what she set out to do. Check out today's further reading links; there's a lot I left out but her story, as with all the others, is definitely worth the read. 

Name: Fannie Lou Hamer, 1917-1977  Profession: Activist Why is the Spotlight on her today? For her dedication to fighting for equal rights and determination to decrease poverty Notables and accomplishments:
--Fought in a small group of other African-Americans to get them registered to vote, a decision which cost her her job and her home, but was ultimately successful in being able to register
--Co-founded the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party to contrast with being underrepresented at the Democratic National Convention, as there were no Black representatives included
--Founded the Freedom Farms Corporation, which assisted low-income families with food, social services, establishing businesses for minorities, and grants or scholarships for education
--Was known for singing during demonstrations, to either calm or inspire her audience
--Was posthumously honored as the namesake of several spots in her hometown of Ruletown, Mississippi and two academic institutes across the country
--Was part of the effort to establish the National Women's Political Caucus after its creation 
--Worked for the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee, which focused on peaceful protest and disobedience in response to inequality
--Ran for Congress in Mississippi, but lost the election (the sources vary as to the reason why she lost; some cite unfair voting and others consider it a clean loss)
--Remained active in anti-poverty efforts and organizations and even testified in front of the Senate's Subcommittee on the subject
--Was eulogized by Andrew Young, who was then a US ambassador to the UN
--Was posthumously inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame


Research resources and further reading links: Biography | History | AZ Quotes | MS History Now |


Quote of the Day:
"America that is divided against itself cannot stand, and we cannot say we have all this unity they say we have when Black people are being discriminated against in every American city I have visited."
--Fannie Lou Hamer