Hamer Happenings
Page 8
Judge Reuben Anderson, Mr. Eric Etheridge and Dr. Leslie Burl McLemore at the Freedom Riders Legacy Banquet
Mr. Byron C. Williams, Dr. Leslie Burl McLemore, Dr. Daphne R. Chamberlain and Mr. Keith L. McMillian Hamer Institute Faculty and Staff at the COFO Center
On May 24, 1961, young men and women, both black and white, arrived in Jackson. As they stepped off Trailways and Greyhound buses, they were arrested, charged with breach of the peace and quickly convicted. During the early 1960’s, Mississippi increasingly became a hotbed for civil rights activity. Five decades later, nearly 100 original freedom riders, returned to Jackson Mississippi to a much more welcoming reception. This momentous event brought back families and friends to share their remarkable stories. It was clearly one of the largest gatherings of Freedom Riders since they changed the course of American history half a century ago. As noted in the USA Travel Guide, “not only will this event be a stirring and emotional experience for the Riders themselves, but, Mississippi Freedom 50th: Return of the Freedom Riders promises to be a deeply fascinating and moving program for visitors as well.” One writer said, "The tone of the week-long festivities in Jackson at time resembled a church revival. It was at time celebratory and melancholy.” During the week of May 23 – May 26, 2011, The Fannie Lou Hamer National Institute on Citizenship and Democracy at Jackson State University was represented by its faculty, staff, graduate assistants, and volunteers on many of this week’s events and programs. The Return of the Freedom Riders 50th Anniversary Reunion National Youth Leadership Summit was coordinated in part by: Dr. Daphne R. Chamberlain and Mr. Byron C. Williams, Youth Leadership Summit Coordinators. Along
with Freedom Rider, Lewis Zuchman and Youth Leadership Summit Chair Albert Sykes, they helped to plan and execute a successful “youth track” that engaged more than approximately 275 young people from across the United States including New York, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Their activities included: an opening dinner and dance, Intergenerational Story Circles, a concert featuring Skipp Coon, PyInfamous, Power Riders, Anthony Maleek, Calico Panache’, The Young Peoples Project, Tennessee State Commercial Music Ensemble and others. From songwriting workshops to concurrent sessions (Cradle to Prison Pipeline, Juvenile Justice and Quality Education as a Constitutional Right) the attending youth were betrothed throughout the week. Other programs and events include: The All Peoples Reception honoring the Freedom Riders, Guided visit to Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman, Visit to the Fannie Lou Hamer Memorial and other Civil Rights Sites, daily youth leadership forums and activities plus much more. Chronicled daily, here is an abbreviated account of the activities our graduate assistants experienced: