SNCC, MFDP, CORE & BELOVED COMMUNITY MAJOR SOURCE OF ENCOURAGEMENT FOR PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AT FANNIE LOU HAMER MEMORIAL GARDEN & BIG INSPIRATION FOR FANNIE LOU HAMER NATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM
On Saturday, July 9, 2005, truckloads of dirt rolled in at The Fannie Lou Hamer Memorial Garden in Ruleville, Mississippi to begin construction of a gazebo and walking trail.
Letters of encouragements and donations of postal stamps, pre- paid phone cards and funds from "The Beloved Community" have served as major motivational forces for me, Patricia M. Thompson, and Repaying Our Ancestors Respectfully (ROAR) to continue striving to shine a light on and help uplift the legacy of the late great Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer.
In 1999, I visited the grave site of Mrs. Hamer. Shamefully, grass was up to my hips. It brought tears to my eyes having witnessed such a site. "Negligence", I cried, "we are all guilty of gross negligence when it comes to the upkeep and respect of Fannie Lou's grave regardless of the reasons". It is then I stood at the foot of her tomb and promised to Fannie Lou Hamer that no one else will ever get to see the site in that condition again because she had given too much of herself. I didn't take pictures because I have a vivid memory of what it looked like.
For the next three years, my friend and former high school classmate, Mr. Timothy Price volunteered (drafted-I was only able to pay him once or twice) to upkeep the Fannie Lou Hamer Memorial Garden.
In February 2000, I requested the assistance of Ruleville's Mayor Shirley Edwards in uplifting the legacy of Mrs. Hamer. Mayor Edwards responded by installing two roadside signs on US Highway # 49 as one enters and exits Ruleville. The signs states "HOME OF FANNIE LOU HAMER". Moreover, Ruleville purchased flowers and mums. "The Hamer Times" newsletter was launched as a source of support for our first Fannie Lou Hamer Celebration and the burial grounds became the Fannie Lou Hamer Memorial Garden on October 6, 2000.
A few months later, Mayor Edwards and the City of Ruleville applied for a block grant for various projects within the City, among them were funds for trees, shrubs and water sprinklers at the Hamer Garden.
Meanwhile, I (ROAR) begin seeking the support of "The Beloved Community" and people who knew Mrs. Hamer the best. In 2001/2002 a group of Ruleville citizens encouraged Ruleville's City Board to dedicate its recreational building the Fannie Lou Hamer Park & Multi-Purpose Facility.
Thus, in 2002, just months after having cervical spine surgery (two bone plugs, two-inch steel plate and six screws) ROAR had its 3rd Annual Fannie Lou Hamer Celebration with Congressman Bennie Thompson, MS State Senator Willie Simmons, SNCCer Charles McLaurin, Mr. Owen Brooks and Veterans of the Civil Rights Movement from around the nation in attendance.
In 2003, Mother Victoria Gray Adams served as the keynote speaker for our 4th Annual Fannie Lou Hamer Celebration. Hence, Ruleville's Alderwoman Hattie Jordan stepped forward to apply for a grant to assist with the development of the Fannie Lou Hamer Memorial Garden after realizing migration was increasing and people were now visiting the grave site by the bus loads from all over the nation. ROAR joined her efforts to help seek private donations as we waited for approval of the grant. To date $10, 520 have been raised for the Fannie Lou Hamer Memorial Fund (a special account established by Ruleville at Planters Bank).
In June 2004, a Self-Help Grant from South Delta Planning & Development Authority was approved in the amount of $100,000. On October 2, 2004, ROAR had its 5th Annual Fannie Lou Hamer Celebration which consisted of a "Ground-Breaking" Ceremony at the Fannie Lou Hamer Memorial Garden in collaboration with the City of Ruleville.
On December 4, 2004, ROAR co-sponsored with Delta State University a continuation of our Hamer celebration with a special performance by Dr. Maya Angelou at the Bologna Performing Arts Center in Cleveland, MS.
Meanwhile, your letters of encouragements continued to inspire me. On Saturday, March 12, 2005, ROAR held its first Civil Rights Museum Workshop which was facilitated by the legendary Victoria Gray Adams with the Honorable Unita Blackwell and Mr. Lawrence Guyot in attendance. Dr. Paul Richards (son of filmmaker Harvey Richards) presented us with the documentaries "Never Turn Back and Dream Deferred". We adopted Adams' Model as a guide for the development of the Fannie Lou Hamer National Civil Rights Museum. (See www.fannielouhamer.info)
In June 2005, the Sunflower County Board of Supervisors constructed a roadway at the Hamer Memorial Garden that connects to two city streets which permits easier mobility, especially, for tour buses.
September 29, 2005 through October 1, 2005, ROAR is having its 6th Annual Fannie Lou Hamer Celebration and Civil Rights Museum Workshop II in Ruleville, Mississippi. We expect the gazebo and walkway at the Hamer Gardens to be completed.
Civil Rights Museum Workshops III, IV and V are being planned for Minneapolis, MN, Jackson, MS, Tunica, MS, New Jersey and/or Washington, D.C.
Far too often, we don't pause for the cause long enough to say thank you to those who deserve it. Therefore, I, Patricia M. Thompson, Executive Director and Founder of ROAR, would like to thank the "Beloved Community" for your continued support and words of inspirations which encouraged others to get involve.
When I decided to withdraw equity from my grand parents home several years ago (in order to continue with ROAR'S efforts) some family members and friends thought I had lost my mind. As the trucks rolled in on July 9th, 2005, I thought about the journey, the risk and the what ifs'?. I knew Fannie Lou Hamer was worth it all and thanks to y'all and a whole lot of prayer I have been able to sustain the blows and still stay the course.
To be under the direct guidance of Mother Victoria Gray Adams and Unita Blackwell, Charles McLaurin, Hollis Watkins, Lawrence Guyot and several others is truly an honor. To have the support of the "Beloved Community" is truly a blessing. Your support is proof that if you are willing to hold our hands, and teach us and show us and teach us and show us, as often as necessary, step by step, we can make a difference!
It is because of what you did in the 60's, we can live as we live today. It is also because of your support for ROAR, I could never turn back. I thank you for then and I thank you for now.
ROARFULLY YOURS,
Patricia M. Thompson
Executive Director/Founder
Repaying Our Ancestors Respectfully
P. O. Box 1884
Cleveland, MS
Or
P. O. Box 581712
Minneapolis, MN 55458-1712
(662) 641-0758
Email: roar@fannielouhamer.info
www.fannielouhamer.info
Copyright © 2005
Last Modified: July 16, 2005.
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