Hamer's Background
What occupation did Hamer’s parents have?
Sharecropper
What attracted her to the SNCC?
“Local autonomy as the basis of sustained militancy”
Hamer’s involvement in which political organization helped her gain national exposure?
Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party
What was Hamer’s most important area of work to her?
Poverty, rural, anti-exploitation of workers, and voting rights
What day was made Fannie Lou Hamer Day in Ruleville in 1976?
October 31st
What happened to Fannie Lou Hamer’s family just as they were beginning to gain economic independence?
Their animals were poisoned
What happened to Hamer and her fellow activists in Winona in 1963?
They were brutally beaten by officers and fellow black inmates (though they were coerced into doing it)
What was the MFDP and what was their objective in 1964?
Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party; they wanted representation and a voice for the largely ignored black population in Mississippi
What different themes of movements did Hamer involve herself in?
Her involvement moved from voting policies to electoral politics to economic justice and self determination within the community.
Which office did Hamer run for during her first campaign bid?
The Second District Congressional Seat in Mississippi
What was an African cultural tradition carried on from her grandmother that Hamer frequently utilized in her own work and in inspiring others later on in her political career?
What is Song?
Why did Hamer disagree with national Civil Rights leaders during the 1964 Democratic Convention?
They wanted to compromise for only 2 seats (Johnson Administration)
What two goals did the March on Washington (1963) have in mind?
Jobs and Freedom
Why did Hamer move from the national stage to a more community based, grassroots level
Criticized/Disagreed with the NAACP for their lack of commitment to local self-determination and support of local communities/basic necessities
Why did Hamer sue Sunflower County in 1970?
Failure to desegregate schools and protect the jobs of black teachers and principals
What happened to Hamer in 1961 that she rarely spoke about?
She was forcibly sterilized
Why was interaccial mingling within SNCC troubling to Hamer?
Popular rhetoric at the time that said that white women were “pure” and needed to be protected and black men were “hypersexual” and “violent”; this could potentially disrupt the group’s goals and put targets on their members' backs
What was the MFLU and what was their objective?
Mississippi Freedom Labor Union; they wanted increase wages and institute a minimum wage, limit workday to 8 hours a day with time and a half for overtime, guaranteed sick pay and health/accident insurance, and ensure employer commitment to fair hiring practices
Was Hamer considered a feminist? Did she actively try to advocate for women’s rights?
No; however, she did take part in the National Women’s Political Caucus where she was considered a legitimizing black female icon for the women’s movement
Why was Hamer’s trip to Africa significant to her and her activism?
She was able to witness governments and businesses run by black people which was incredibly inspiring; additionally, she looked to Guinea’s origins of gaining independence through organization at grass-roots levels
What work did Hamer get “tricked” into doing as a child that showed her the stark realities of black exploitation?
She picked cotton for 12-14 hours a day
Why did Hamer support SNCC more than national organizations such as the NAACP?
To her, SNCC never “lost sight of who they were fighting for” and kept the basic, essential needs of their people at the forefront of their mission
What was the significance of the MFDP’s failure to unseat the all-white delegation in the Mississippi Democratic Party?
1) Sent a message to whites in power that black Mississippians would no longer passively accept human/civil rights violations
2) Exposed the lack of power black Mississippians had to the nation and got the attention of the federal government
3) Marked Hamer’s emergence on the national scene
4) Important for Hamer’s evolution as a leader
For Hamer, what did it mean to be morally pragmatic?
Doing whatever needed to be done wherever it needed to be done only because it was right (addressing basic needs and poverty issues)
How did Hamer encourage people to register to vote?
She provided free food and clothing; however, she only gave them resources if they registered to vote first