Cathy Johnson |
School: Rust College
Major: Political Science/ Criminal Justice Graduation Date: April 2005 Organizations & Honors
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ABSTRACT
Fannie Lou Hamer Role in the Civil Rights Movement Between 1963-1967
| My topic of interest deals with the Civil Rights Movement in the Mississippi
Delta. The research is primarily focused on the extraordinary civil rights
activist Fannie Lou Hamer between the time periods of 1963-1967. My research
will explain how she mobilized citizens of the Delta to register to vote.
The significance of this topic is to inform individuals on how an African American woman led a crusade for voting equality in a time where there was segregation, lynching, and prejudice. This particular topic is very important because Mrs. Hamer is the major reason why blacks not only in Mississippi but nationwide have equal voting rights until this day. It will also explain strategies she used to encourage black residents to register and vote for a political voice. During this time frame, males were looked upon as being more dominant. On the other hand, I will go into detail on how her role in the Civil Rights Movement affected African American women. I will complete my study by using old newspapers, books, and documents. There are several researchers who have looked at this topic and completed novels such as Taeku Lee, Steven Lawson, Rhoda Blumberg, and etc. All have completed books on the Civil Rights Movement. They all stated important facts on the movement in the Mississippi Delta and the role Fannie Lou Hamer played. Through my research, I hope to accomplish equality in the eyes of myself, peers, mentors and my professor. Fannie Lou Hamer was the greatest activist that led the struggle for the Voting Rights Act of 1965. She did all of this by dedication and will. After completion, I hope to show how a Black woman led one of the biggest battles in Mississippi. Next, I want to be able to explain the obstacles that she and the residents went through such death, loss of job, and etc for the right to vote. Lastly, I want to be able to explain how Mississippi responded to politics and the Voting Act of 1965 after it was signed. |