Civil Rights Vanguard in the Deep South: Newspaper Portrayal of Fannie Lou Hamer, 1964–1977

Abstract

At age 45, Fannie Lou Hamer began registering black voters in Mississippi. Before her death in 1977, this courageous black woman—like other under recognized women—played many roles in the civil rights movement. Night visitors riddled her house with bullets; she suffered other dangers and indignities. But she persevered; her comments on national television galvanized many. A content analysis of five leading national newspapers for 1964–1977 shows, however, little recognition of her achievements, until the end of her life. Early coverage often mentioned physical attributes, as often reflected in coverage of other women, but there was some insight into her contributions at the end.