Fannie Lou Hamer, born in 1917, was a prominent civil rights activist in the United States. She was a key figure in the civil rights movement of the 1960s, known for her powerful voice and fearless advocacy for racial equality. Hamer was born into a sharecropping family in Mississippi and faced racism and poverty from an early age.

Despite facing significant challenges, Fannie Lou Hamer became involved in the civil rights movement in the early 1960s. She became a leader in the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP), an organization that fought for the rights of African Americans to participate in the political process. Hamer played a crucial role in organizing voter registration drives and challenging segregation in the South.

Hamer gained national attention for her passionate speeches and activism, including her powerful testimony at the 1964 Democratic National Convention, where she spoke about the violence and discrimination faced by African Americans in the South. Her testimony brought widespread attention to the struggles of Black Americans and helped to galvanize support for the civil rights movement.

Fannie Lou Hamer continued to be a tireless advocate for racial justice and equality until her death in 1977. She remains a revered figure in Black history, celebrated for her bravery, determination, and unwavering commitment to fighting for the rights of African Americans.