Fannie Lou Hamer is known as the woman who was “sick and tired of being sick and tired,” so she decided to do something about it.
“A grass roots organic intellectual and activist, [Hamer] sought to do everything she could in Mississippi to free her people. She ressurected herself from the crevices of servitude to become one of the civil right movement’s most respected figures and symbols of Black Freedom. Her major contributions came from her dedication and constant work in creating change through voting.
Fannie Lou Hamer felt the dream of democracy. Undergoing tremendous sacrifice, Hamer lifted a proud, defiant voice and she sang of freedom. At the 2004 Democratic Convention Ruby Dee said of Hamer, ‘She guided us out of the wilderness of death threats and disenfranchisement, of lynching and literacy tests of segregation and second-class status. One woman from Mississippi did this. One voice lifted so many. All of us.’ ” (see more)
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See more about Fannie Lou Hamer and hear her theme song, “This Little light of Mine,” at A Woman a Week.
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February 4, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Karen Hopper
No barriers exist for those who realize that God created each one in equality. I for one was raised in a very diverse area, and all color was beautiful and we walked hand in hand. My heart weeps that humans could be so disrespected. Guess it is the part of the country where you lived that determined views. Thank God I was raised where equality existed and still exists.
February 4, 2008 at 2:10 pm
helenl
No, Karen. The laws in the US caused blacks to be second class citizens under Jim Crow. I grew up in Missouri and didn’t know this kind of thing existed either. But it did. And racism is still alive and well in the US. Our ignorance does not wipe out injustice. Barriers are real. And many who trust God do not have what they need to live in this world. Please don’t make light of inequity with other worldly thought. Does everyone in your town have health insurance? The south was not all bad, just different.
(See Luke 18:12-13) “Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner.”
February 4, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Karen Hopper
I am sorry that you took my statement as such, and it came across incorrectly. No barriers should exist – but I know they do. I am not blinded to that, and I was truly was not making light of inequity. I just lived in a town where we could walk together, eat together, go to school and church together, play together, etc. I never even took thought to health insurance and the likes. Some of my best friends are of many colors, and it sorrows me as to their treatment. (Guess I did to think more of how I come across before writing, sorry).
February 4, 2008 at 2:55 pm
helenl
Dear Karen, I hope I did not come across as holier than thou. I was well into my forties when I discovered the injustices I speak of. But I went back to school and got a master’s degree because of my discovery. Racism is still with us; I try to do my part to educate against it; I know with God all things are possible. I do not doubt your experience. I, too, was raised in church in a small town with few blacks and little strife. But we live in a hurting world. Racism hurts us all. My mother once said I talk about race too much. I said, that’s because others talk about it too little. God has given me a job to do. “We shall overcome.” Apology accepted. Love, Helen
February 4, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Karen Hopper
Helen, your words “talk about it too little” are so correct. I have received a lesson today, that will last and make me ponder the injustices of this day and age. Being sheltered in my little area while young, gave me a distorted view of others sufferings. Although I followed the movement, weep with them, rallied around their cause, and felt their inequity, I also looked at it happening elsewhere in another section of our country, not my home territory. Unfortunately, I had a clouded vision and didn’t take into account that there were many within my own small circle that we suffering. We must continue to move forward to eliminate the injustices still placed upon our brothers and sisters. Love you too, Karen
February 4, 2008 at 4:33 pm
helenl
Karen, Sometimes we Christians do a terrible injustice to our children by shielding them from the world. Oh, I know “there’s nothing wrong with a hothouse for young plants.” And I don’t mean we should sent babies into a riot. But too often children falsely believe that everyone lives the way they do. And it just isn’t so.
February 4, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Karen Hopper
So true. We do try to shelter our children, like mother hens – and sometimes it becomes harmful to them in so doing. (Just noticed my typos, I’m horrified).
February 4, 2008 at 5:18 pm
helenl
(E-mail me which ones, and I’ll fix ‘em and delete this), or the world might think we’re imperfect people.
February 4, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Karen Hopper
No, never mind, Helen. I think I’ll take today as my “imperfect” day for the year. Keeps me humble (I guess).
February 4, 2008 at 5:50 pm
helenl
These days are good for us, Karen. They keep us humble.