Flint in Genesee County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Fannie Lou Hamer

1917 - 1977

Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, July 26, 2021

1. Fannie Lou Hamer Marker

Inscription. Granddaughter of a slave, Hamer was a champion of civil rights. Threats of losing her home and sharecropping job inspired her to work tirelessly registering African-Americans to vote. She was known for singing Christian hymns on the Freedom Buses to boost morale. In 1963, after recovering from a near fatal beating by Mississippi police, she continued to organize more voter registration drives. She ran for Congress on the Freedom Ballot and received more votes than her opponent. Hamer believed civil rights are human issues, not racial. As she said, "Nobody's free until everybody's free."

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights. A significant historical year for this entry is 1963.

Location. 42° 59.358′ N, 83° 42.702′ W. Marker is in Flint, Michigan, in Genesee County. Marker is at the intersection of Executive Plaza Drive and Penbrook Lane, on the right when traveling east on Executive Plaza Drive. The marker is located in Sitdowners Memorial Park behind UAW Region 1-D Office. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1901 Executive Plaza Drive, Flint MI 48507, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Frances Perkins (here, next to this marker); Rosie the Riveter (here, next to this marker); Carrie Chapman Catt (here,

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next to this marker); Rhonda Cornum (here, next to this marker); Elizabeth Cady Stanton (here, next to this marker); Lucy Gonzalez Parsons (here, next to this marker); UAW Veterans (a few steps from this marker); UAW Tribute to Women (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Flint.

Also see . . . Fanni Lou Hamer. Excerpt:

I guess if I'd had any sense, I'd have been a little scared—but what was the point of being scared? The only thing they could do was kill me, and it kinda seemed like they'd been trying to do that a little bit at a time since I could remember.

— Fannie Lou Hamer

(Submitted on March 24, 2023, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan.)

Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, July 26, 2021

2. Fannie Lou Hamer Marker

Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, July 26, 2021

3. Location

The marker is located in Sitdowners Memorial Park.

Fannie Lou Hamer image. Click for full size.

Courtesy of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History., June 1, 1971

4. Fannie Lou Hamer

Fannie Lou Hamer headshot from political poster: Public Domain

Credits. This page was last revised on March 26, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 24, 2023, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 66 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 24, 2023, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.