Audience
Fannie Lou Hamer
(October 6, 1917- March 14, 1977)
Hamer was one of the most passionate voices in the Mississippi Delta that advocate for the civil and voting rights of African Americans. As a child, Hamer was aware of the differences between the way White and Black Americans were treated in the South. In 1964, Hamer co-founded the Mississippi Democratic Party (MFDP) which challenged the local Democratic Party’s efforts to block Black participation. She argued at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) to be recognized by the delegation. During the summer of 1964, Hamer helped organize Freedom Summer, which brought hundreds of college students to help African Americans register to vote in the South. In 1968, Hamer began to turn to economic strategies to create racial equality. She launched the Freedom Farm Cooperative (FFC) by buying land that Black farmers could own and farm collectively.
Announcement Group
