Fannie Lou Hamer (A.D. 1917-1977)

More resources coming soon!

Aliases:Fannie Lou Hamer (A.D. 1917-1977)

Born: A.D. 1917.[2]

Father:

  • Jim Townsend.[3]

Mother:

  • Ella Townsend.[4]

Siblings:

Spouse: [5]

  • Percy Hamer.

Occupation: 

Works: [6]

Died: A.D. 1977.[7]

Timeline: [8]

  • Hamer quits school at age thirteen to work full-time in the cotton fields (c. A.D. 1930).
  • Hamer moves to Ruleville, Mississippi (c. A.D. 1944).
  • Hamer attends a meeting of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) (A.D. 1962).
  • Hamer and seventeen others attempt to register to vote in Indianola, Mississippi and fail the constitutional test (A.D. 1962).
  • Hamer returns home and is approached by her boss, who demands that she promise not to attempt to register to vote again. When Hamer refuses, she is fired (A.D. 1962).
  • Hamer begins to work for the SNCC, helping African-Americans register to vote (A.D. 1962).
  • Hamer is jailed and severely beaten in Winona, Mississippi (A.D. 1963).
  • The FBI in conjunction with the Justice Department investigate the jailers, and the case goes to trial. However, the jailers are found not guilty.
  • Hamer serves on the Council of Federated Organization (COFO).
  • Hamer establishes the Freedom Farm, a cooperative project with other farmers (A.D. 1969-1974).

External Resources:

Bibliography

[1] Asante, Molefi Kete. 100 Greatest African Americans: A Biographical Encyclopedia. “Fannie Lou Hamer”. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, 2002.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Ibid.

[8] Ibid.

* – Updated 2/16/2019.

Leave a comment