“This Light of Ours: Sketches of a Vision”

Celebrating the Birthday of the late Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer

2014/09/30 – (Jackson, MS) – The Jimmie Travis Civil Rights Legacy Symposium Series in collaboration with The Veterans of the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement, Inc., Tougaloo College NAACP and the Fannie Lou Hamer Institute at COFO continue social discussions.  This series honors an icon of the Civil Rights Movement, Jimmie Travis who served as Co-Founder and former chairman of the Veterans of the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement, Inc. Jimmie was a man of steel who was determined to destroy every vestige of racial segregation in the state of Mississippi and abroad.

The first lecture of the 2014-2015 Jimmie Travis Civil Rights Legacy Symposium Series – “This Light of Ours: Sketches of A Vision”; Celebrating the Birthday of the late Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer will be held Wednesday, October 8, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. at Woodworth Chapel, on the campus of Tougaloo College, 500 West County Line Road, Jackson, Mississippi.

As Fannie Lou Hamer traveled from Harvard to Seattle University, from Berkeley to Carlton, Shaw, Florida State and Duke—without manuscript, just telling all those who would listen “what it is and telling it like it is”—some audience members doubtlessly wondered who is this woman speaking in a southern black vernacular dressed in clothing that reflects her impoverished status, and what does she have to teach us? Come and be a part of this FREE intergenerational dialogue that honors the legacy of an American hero.

Distinguished speakers who will be presenting some of Mrs. Hamer’s speeches are; Judge Mamie Chinn, the first African American Female Justice Court Judge of Madison County; Mr. Eddie Fair, nephew of Mrs. Hamer and current Hinds County Tax Collector; Dr. Beverly Wade Hogan, President, Tougaloo College and Mr. Charles McLaurin, Civil Rights Veteran and friend of Mrs. Hamer. Rev. C. J. Rhodes, Religious Life Director at Alcorn State University, will serve as moderator.

Tougaloo student participants include: Mr. Blaise Adams, President, Tougaloo College NAACP, Mr. Marcus Brumfield, Mr. Tougaloo College, 2014-2015, Ms. Le’Andrea Mitchell, Treasurer, Tougaloo College NAACP, Mr. Trevon Marks, Mr. NAACP, Tougaloo College NAACP, Ms. Oriana Odell, Miss Tougaloo College, 2014-2015, Ms. Hilary Word, Secretary, Tougaloo College NAACP and Mr. Danzael Blount, 1st Vice President, Tougaloo College NAACP.  A special theatrical tribute will be presented by MADDRAMA, written by Dr. Mark Henderson, Chair, Department of Speech & Theatre, Jackson State University.

According to Cynthia Goodloe Palmer, Executive Director of the Veterans of the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement, Inc., indicated “The Jimmie Travis Civil Rights Legacy Symposium Series will serve as a community forum for the city of Jackson and the entire state of Mississippi.” She further states “This series will further highlight our vision statement, “Empowering the Next Generation, Passing it on to Carry it on.” It’s FREE and open to the public.

Immediately following, a book fair will give attendees an opportunity to purchase civil rights books, music, t-shirts and other items.  If you need any additional information, please contact Mr. Hollis Watkins or Ms. Cynthia Goodloe Palmer at (601) 977-7914 (office) or email: MississippiCivilRightsVeterans@gmail.com.

Source: Mississippi Veterans of the Civil Rights Movement