2. Mississippi & Freedom Summer By: Adan Paz Room: 201

3. Background In the early 60’s Mississippi was the poorest state in the nation. 86% of non-white families lived below the national poverty line. In the 1950s, Mississippi was 45% black, but only 5% of blacks were able to vote.

4. Background (Cont.) White intentionally tried to make blacks fail the test to be able to vote At minimum seven blacks were able to vote despite fear and corruption.

5. Trouble in Mississippi The NAACP went to Mississippi in an effort to register more blacks in the 50’s. Young blacks who couldn’t vote participated in Sit-ins Student who were in the Sit-ins were expelled from their schools

6. Trouble in Mississippi (cont.) Moses and Chuck Mcdew started the Nonviolent High School for the children who were expelled from the school. Later they were arrested four months in jail for contributing to the delinquency of miners.

7. Gallery Student participating in Sit-ins The hardships people faced for rights 3 Men who were murdered for participating in Freedom summer

8. Gallery (Cont.) Young black children remain hopeful for freedom summer Cop hassling protester Posters used during freedom summer aimed to encourage afican americans to vote.

9. Goals were met While all the goals were not fully met, some were. Freedom summer showed blacks they could have political power. It also helped blacks and other minorities gain representation in the Democratic Party.

10. Timeline 1950’s – only 5% of blacks voted in Mississippi 1954 – White try to make the blacks fail the literacy test 1962 – Over 260 blacks were afraid to vote 1963 – Protesters were spray painted and abused

11. Timeline 1964 – Mock election made to see the results for black votes 1964 – over 800 African Americans participated in the election

12. Bibliography Cozzens,Lisa “Mississippi & Freedom summer” Watson.org 29 June 1998.12 April 2009. http://www.watson.org/~lisa/blackhistory/civilrights-55-65/missippi.html -This is a very useful website for my project and for someone who wants to know about this event. It gives background on what lead up to the event and what what Freedom Summer was all about. “Freedom Summer” Core-Online.org 15 Feb. 2006. 13 April 2009 http://www.core-online.org/History/freedom_summer.htm While this source does focus on the topic of Freedom Summer, it does not provide much information or a background.All it tell the reader is what Freedom Summer consisted of and what Happened.

13. Bibliography (Cont.) “Freedom Summer” Spartcus.schoolnet.co.uk 19 August 2004. 14 April 2009 http://www.spartcus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAfreedomS.htm Just like the article from Core-online.org This site does not provide much information as other sites do.Its good for a general overview of Freedom Summer, but its not a good site for those who need detail Wiles, Deborah. Freedom Summer. Jackson : Simon & Schuster, 2002. The book shows a white boy and a black boy who are friends and are in the middle of Freedom Summer.It shows how their lives were impacted in their early years during segregation. Truly a recommended book for one who wants to read about Freedom summer.

14. Conclusion Freedom summer was a big Event in the Civil Rights movements. In the end blacks relized they do have the possibility to advance into politics and rise in the social chain. This was a huge stepping stone for equal rights for colored people.