Freedom. Now.
In 1964 Mississippi, voting as a Black American was extraordinarily difficult and dangerous.
White Mississippians went to extreme lengths to prevent Black people from exercising their long-delayed civil rights, and their efforts were working. At the time, Black voter registration across Southern states averaged 50–70%. However, in Mississippi, where Black Americans were roughly half of the state’s population, they were only 6.7% of registered voters.
Stanley Nelson Jr.’s documentary, Freedom Summer, recounts events that changed the civic landscape of Mississippi forever. In June 1964, more than 1,000 out-of-state students descended on Mississippi to bring national attention to the state’s aggressive suppression of Black voters, and to support successful voter registration.
The presence of those students, both Black and White, triggered a series of events:
- The Klu Klux Klan exponentially increased their membership base and one night, crosses were burned in 64 of Mississippi’s 82 counties.
- Three brave activists, James Chaney, Michael Schwerner and Andrew Goodman, were tortured and murdered by the Klu Klux Klan.
- Many other student volunteers were attacked and arrested, but neither the Mississippi police nor the FBI investigated these crimes.
“Maybe we’re not going to get many people registered [to vote] this summer. Maybe we’re not going to get very many people into Freedom Schools. Maybe all we’re going to do is live this summer. In Mississippi, that will be so much.” — Bob Moses, Freedom Summer Project Director
The state’s political landscape also changed:
- Freedom schools were established to teach a curriculum “designed to help students examine their experiences with racial discrimination and understand their broader context in Mississippi’s closed society.”
- The Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, the first to welcome Black people, was established and took part in the August 1964 Democratic National Convention.
- Fannie Lou Hamer, a sharecropper who had been evicted from her home after attempting to vote, spoke at the Convention. Her compelling testimony captivated the country, putting a human face to the plight of Black Americans in Mississippi and bringing national attention to the issue.
For many, these instances feel like chapters in a faraway past, disconnected from the contemporary American experience. However, voter suppression is still a challenge Black Americans face when exercising their democratic rights. Over 50 years later, their experiences are closer to those captured in Freedom Summer than any American citizen should be comfortable with. The white hoods have simply been replaced by:
- Closed polling locations: In southern states, 1200+ polling locations serving mostly Black and Latino voters closed in recent years. Seven counties in Georgia each have one polling place — for the entire county.
- Discarded and uncounted votes: In Florida, 15,000+ absentee votes were “rejected due to a signature issue” in 2018. Votes sent in by African-Americans accounted for just 8% of overall absentee ballots, but made up 17% of those with a signature issue. This is incredibly alarming as we approach a general election likely to include an unprecedented number of mail-in ballots due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Extreme inconvenience: In 2020, voters waited five hours to vote in Georgia’s primary election. Considering that voting days are not paid days off for US workers, a five-hour wait is more than a deterrent — it is a poll tax and a threat to both democracy and employment.
The good news is that other entities are realizing the outsized role they can play in social justice, including businesses. As the 2020 election approaches, businesses are heavily promoting voting education and registration both internally to employees and externally to consumers. Apparel brand, Solace, took this even further after their founder, Brooklyn-based designer Bria Parrish, was inspired by Freedom Summer. She noticed that the student volunteers who traveled to Mississippi wore t-shirts bearing the bold slogan “FREEDOM NOW”, and recreated the shirts in honor of their efforts. Bria donated proceeds to racial justice organization Color of Change in support of their mission to “expand voter access, end voter intimidation, and boost civic engagement.”
“I wasn’t sure where I fit in the movement — I’m not an activist or an organizer — but Freedom Summer reminded me that there’s no role too small on this journey to freedom. I recreated the shirt in order to donate to the people on the front lines and in our communities doing the work.” - Bria Parrish, Founder, Solace
With one of the most pivotal elections in U.S. history on the horizon, and the country still suffering after 200,000+ tragic deaths due to the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone has a role to play in the fight against Black voter suppression.
Here’s what you can do:
- If you haven’t, stop what you’re doing right now and register to vote.
- Follow organizations leading the charge against this issue. Color of Change (IG | TW), and Stacey Abrams’ Fair Fight (IG | TW)are great places to stay informed and activated.
- Remember that local elections are just as important as national ones, and the results can feel more immediate within your community. Visit Vote411 for local election information.
- Get familiar with your voting rights by reviewing Vote.org’s guide.
- If you experience the suppression of your right to vote, call the Election Protection Hotline at 1–866–687–8683.
- If you’ve been convicted of a felony, learn how to restore your right to vote.
Driving progress in this country is a collective responsibility. America was conceived in racism and the legacy of that horror is one we must actively destroy. We have the opportunity to redefine this country’s story, so please, step up and take action. This fight belongs to all of us.
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Kirstyn Nimmo is a social impact strategy expert and founder of GOOD WORX, a consultancy that equips companies and communities to drive equity, act with accountability, and shift culture toward equality.
