Fannie Lou Hamer (1917-1977) was a pivotal American civil rights activist. Born into poverty as a Mississippi sharecropper, she became a powerful voice for voting rights and racial equality. Key points: Voting Rights Advocate: Hamer dedicated herself to the fight for African Americans' right to vote in the face of systemic oppression and violence. SNCC Organizer: She became a field organizer for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), leading voter registration drives. Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP): In 1964, she co-founded the MFDP, challenging the all-white Mississippi Democratic Party at the Democratic National Convention. Her powerful testimony there brought national attention to the civil rights struggle in Mississippi. "Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired": This powerful quote encapsulated her frustration with racial injustice and became a rallying cry for the movement. Brutal Violence: Hamer endured threats, harassment, and a brutal beating in jail for her activism, which left her with permanent injuries. Freedom Farm Cooperative: Later in life, she focused on economic empowerment, establishing the Freedom Farm Cooperative to help Black farmers. Hamer's unwavering courage and powerful voice made her an influential leader in the Civil Rights Movement, and her work laid the groundwork for the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Sources and related content