Fannie Lou Hamer

Born: 1917 in Mississippi

Died: 1977

The youngest of 20 children, she worked in the fields starting at age 6 and at age 12 dropped out of school to farm full time.

Attended protest meeting that encouraged African Americans to vote in 1962 but when she went to courthouse to register, was opposed by police, changing her life.

Kicked off her plantation for registering to vote, she became an activist & inspired other African Americans to vote, focusing on poor and minority populations.

She worked with Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (students protesting injustice) and was often met with violence, even facing physical abuse.

Said: “When I liberate myself, I liberate others. If you don’t speak out, ain’t nobody going to speak out for you.”