I'd heard of Fannie Lou Hamer before, but she was a critical figure in my History of Social Work curriculum at the UW. She had been a grassroots organizer for women, Black Americans, farmers, sharecroppers, affordable housing, and more. Like many women of color in the US throughout history, and modernity, Fannie Lou Hamer was forcibly sterilized against her knowledge or consent by a white doctor. Unable to have children biologically, she adopted. She became an activist for Black franchise only to be repeatedly arrested and beaten by the police, leaving injuries that would affect her for the rest of her life. She fought vehemently for Black representation in the Democratic party. She helped to found the National Women’s Political Caucus. After experiencing so much frustration working within political systems, Fannie Lou Hamer turned her strategy towards communities. She organized "pig banks" to provide livestock to Black farmers. She launched the Freedom Farm Cooperative which purchased land and redistributed it to Black farmers. She ensured low income housing was built in Mississippi. Black community organizers have always, and continue to do some of the most impactful work in our communities. . . . #blacksocialworkers #socialwork #socialjustice #socialworkforsocialjustice #blackhistory #blackfutures #blacknow #blackhistoryisamericanhistory #socialworkhistory #intersectionalfeminism #grassroots #communityorganizer #fannielouhamer #icon https://www.instagram.com/p/CK14-xjDoOo/?igshid=157t152w64b54
