No.75: Fannie Lou Hamer

Episode Transcript

Listen here.

Ever wonder what happens when a sharecropper's voice shakes the very foundations of American democracy? Well 60 years ago today, Fannie Lou Hamer did just that.

Hi, I’m Shae, a PhD Candidate at Harvard, and welcome to the "100 Historic Black Women You Should Know By Election Day Series," where we celebrate the unsung heroines who’ve shaped our world.

Today, we’re diving into the life of Fannie Lou Hamer, a woman whose courage and determination left an indelible mark on the fight for civil rights. Born in 1917 in Mississippi, Hamer was the youngest of 20 children in a family of sharecroppers. Her early life was defined by hard labor and extreme poverty, but she would not be confined by her circumstances.

Fannie Lou Hamer became a civil rights activist in the early 1960s after attending a meeting organized by the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). Her life took a dramatic turn when she was fired from her job and forced to leave her home for registering to vote. But rather than being silenced, this fueled her resolve to fight for the rights of Black Americans.

The defining moment of her activism came on August 22, 1964 when Hamer delivered her electrifying speech at the Democratic National Convention. Speaking on behalf of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, which sought to unseat the all-white Mississippi delegation, she told the nation, “Is this America, the land of the free and the home of the brave, where we have to sleep with our telephones off the hook because our lives be threatened daily, because we want to live as decent human beings in America?”

Her testimony, broadcast live on national television, exposed the brutal realities of racism and voter suppression in the South. Despite President Lyndon B. Johnson’s attempt to overshadow her speech by calling a sudden press conference, Hamer's words resonated with millions and left an indelible impact on the civil rights movement.

Here’s a fun fact: Fannie Lou Hamer wasn’t just a powerful orator; she was also a talented singer. She often used music to inspire and unite activists during the civil rights movement, with her rendition of "This Little Light of Mine" becoming an anthem for freedom fighters.

If you found Fannie Lou Hamer’s story as inspiring as I do, please rate this podcast 5 stars so more people can hear these amazing stories. Don’t forget to follow me on social media for more incredible histories, and subscribe to my YouTube channel to stay updated on all things "100 Historic Black Women You Should Know By Election Day."