In honor of Black History Month, Dr. Treasure Shields Redmond will deliver the interactive presentation “None of Us Are Free Until All of Us Are Free”: The Life and Activism of Fannie Lou Hamer at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 16 via Zoom™.
The presenter, Dr. Redmond, infuses poetry, with southern dialect, spirituals, and gospel to tell the story of the civil rights leader, Fannie Lou Hamer. Hamer, a native of rural Mississippi and grassroots Civil Rights activist, helped to organize the 1964 Freedom Summer for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and served as the vice-chairperson of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party.
Hamer’s legacy resonates with the experiences of many Illinoisans who traveled south to participate in Freedom Summer or were involved in the pursuit of Civil Rights in Cairo, East St. Louis, Chicago, and many other communities throughout the state.
Dr. Redmond believes that the example of Hamer, who prioritized mutual respect and the pursuit of justice, is highly relevant to young people who seek to respond constructively to issues of race relations for the Black Lives Matter movement.
Dr. Redmond, a Mississippi native, is a published poet, master educator, community arts organizer, a successful entrepreneur, and the author of “Chop: A Collection of Kwansabas for Fannie Lou Hamer.” She was recently named a post-doctoral fellow of literary executorship for the estate of Dr. Eugene B. Redmond and the late Henry Dumas. She was raised in federal housing projects and was signed to a record label by M.C. Hammer as a hip-hop artist.
The event is free and open to the public. To access the Zoom link, go to highland.edu/event-calendar and click on the event.
Join Zoom Meeting: https://highland.zoom.us/j/93018564960?pwd=LzlrdzFVNTk5MUtWSk40NklHSWl1dz09
Meeting ID: 930 1856 4960
Passcode: 024199
One tap mobile: 312-626-6799; ,930-185-64960; US (Chicago) 301-715-8592; 930-185-64960 US (Washington D.C)
For more information on the program contact Laura Watson at 815-599-3456 or laura.watson@highland.edu.