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Who Was Fannie Lou Hamer?
Fannie Lou Hamer was a pivotal figure in the American civil rights movement, emerging from a background as a sharecropper in Mississippi. Early in her life, she toiled in the cotton fields, but her commitment to social justice propelled her into activism. In 1962, Hamer became actively involved with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), where she spearheaded voting rights drives and relief efforts.
Her political engagement intensified in 1964 when she co-founded the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP) and ran for Congress. Her efforts garnered national attention during that year’s Democratic National Convention, highlighting the injustices faced by African Americans in the South. Despite battling declining health, Hamer remained steadfast in her activism until her death in 1977. Her legacy endures as a testament to her dedication to civil rights and social change.
Early Life
Fannie Lou Townsend, later known as Fannie Lou Hamer, was born on October 6, 1917, in Montgomery County, Mississippi. As the youngest of 20 children, she was raised in a family of sharecroppers in the Mississippi Delta. From a young age, Hamer contributed to the family’s labor, beginning work in the fields at just six years old.
At approximately twelve years old, Hamer left school to work full-time and support her family. After her marriage to Perry “Pap” Hamer in 1944, she continued to work as a sharecropper on a cotton plantation near Ruleville, Mississippi. Despite the couple’s efforts to build a family, Hamer was unable to bear children of her own. During a surgical procedure to remove a tumor, she was subjected to a hysterectomy without her consent, a significant and distressing event in her life.
Registering to Vote
In the summer of 1962, Fannie Lou Hamer made a pivotal decision to attend a local meeting organized by the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), which was actively encouraging African Americans to exercise their right to vote. On August 31, 1962, Hamer, along with 17 others, journeyed to the county courthouse in Indianola with the aim of registering. Their efforts were met with resistance from both local and state law enforcement; ultimately, only Hamer and one other individual were permitted to complete the registration process.
The consequences of Hamer’s bravery were severe. She was dismissed from her employment and forced to leave the plantation where she had lived for nearly twenty years. Despite these hardships, Hamer’s commitment to voter registration and civil rights only deepened. Reflecting on the challenges she faced, she remarked to The New York Times, “They kicked me off the plantation, they set me free. It’s the best thing that could happen. Now I can work for my people.”
Joining the Civil Rights Movement
In 1962, Fannie Lou Hamer took on the role of a community organizer for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), marking the beginning of her lifelong commitment to the struggle for civil rights. Hamer played a pivotal role in leading voter registration drives and organizing relief efforts. Her activism, however, came with significant personal risk. Throughout her career, she faced numerous threats, arrests, and instances of violence. Notably, in 1963, after being detained along with other activists, Hamer endured severe physical assault while in custody at a jail in Winona, Mississippi, resulting in permanent kidney damage.
Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party
In 1964, Fannie Lou Hamer played a pivotal role in founding the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP). The MFDP was established as a challenge to the all-white delegation representing Mississippi at that year’s Democratic Convention. Hamer’s involvement in this initiative was a significant political move, reflecting her commitment to civil rights and democratic inclusion. Despite her defeat in the Democratic primary for Congress, Hamer’s impactful televised appearance at the convention brought national attention to the civil rights struggles occurring in Mississippi.
In addition to her efforts in voter registration, Hamer was instrumental in creating organizations aimed at expanding business opportunities for minorities and providing essential family services, including childcare. Her advocacy extended beyond voter rights; in 1971, she was a co-founder of the National Women’s Political Caucus, furthering her dedication to political and social reform.
Death and Legacy
Diagnosed with breast cancer in 1976, Fannie Lou Hamer continued her relentless advocacy for civil rights until her passing on March 14, 1977, in a hospital in Mound Bayou, Mississippi.
Her funeral drew hundreds to a Ruleville church, where the community gathered to honor her enduring commitment to racial equality. Andrew Young Jr., then a U.S. delegate to the United Nations, delivered a poignant eulogy. He emphasized that the strides made in the civil rights movement were achieved through the “sweat and blood” of activists like Hamer. “None of us would be where we are today had she not been here then,” Young remarked, as reported by The New York Times.
Fannie Lou Hamer rests in the serene Fannie Lou Hamer Memorial Garden in Ruleville. Her grave is marked by a tombstone bearing one of her most memorable quotes: “I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.”