Why You Should Come to “Women Who Sustained Freedom Summer”

This Women’s History Month, if you’re really looking for a way to celebrate the power of women, “Women Who Sustained Freedom Summer” should be on the top of your list. 

It’s a dynamic panel discussion happening on March 26 at the Old Capitol Museum, celebrating the 60th anniversary of Freedom Summer and the women who made it possible. Because, while the movement itself is often recognized across history, the women who made it possible are not. 

If that’s not reason enough to mark your calendar, here are a few more:

You’ll Get Inspired

Whether it’s from the immersive museum venue, the panelists, or the inspiring topics on the line-up, you’re bound to get inspired from this event. 

Panelists Dr. Daphne Chamberlain, Dr. Emilye Crosby, and civil rights veteran Euvester Simpson are joining Pamela Junior, former Director of the Two Mississippi Museums to unpack the stories, contributions, and experiences of Freedom Summer’s great female activists like Fannie Lou Hamer, Victoria Gray, and Annie Devine.

These women are not historical footnotes; they are beacons of inspiration highlighting the power of women’s leadership. They also represent how history and legislation are intersectional and require input from everyone in order to maintain equitable communities. 

You’ll Connect with History

The importance of Freedom Summer can’t be overstated. Freedom Summer paved the way for the Voting Rights Act of 1965–a law that effectively ended the Jim Crow Era–and made it possible for Black Mississippians to exercise their right to vote. 

Activists like Fannie Lou Hamer, Victoria Gray, and Annie Devine were key to this movement, by organizing protests, encouraging Black communities to vote, and challenging discriminatory policies and legislative actions in bold ways.

For example, during the 1964 Democratic National Convention Hamer, Gray, and Devine attempted to unseat Mississippi’s all-white delegation and be recognized as representatives of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. 

In doing so, they sparked a nationwide effort by the Mississippi Freedom Democrats and demands for Congressional investigations into Mississippi’s voting practices, helping drive the momentum that resulted in the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

You’ll Gain New Perspective

“Women Who Sustained Freedom Summer” is an invitation to all women to celebrate, reflect, and continue the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement by giving back and getting involved. Plus, it’s a great way to honor and lift up defining moments in women’s history. You’ll definitely want to bring friends and family to share the experience with!

Click here to learn more and be sure to follow us on social for event updates. 

We’re proud to partner with The Mississippi Humanities Council (MHC), Southern Poverty Law Center, and Mississippi Department of Archives to present this event, and we can’t wait to see you there!