Dear John,

Every February, we remember and celebrate the many African Americans who have contributed so much to our country, such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Maya Angelou, Rosa Parks, and so many others.

In addition to celebrating their legacies during Black History Month, we should always work toward ensuring that the contributions and achievements of African American heroes are acknowledged, celebrated, and respected throughout the year. That is why earlier this year, I called for a statue of Fannie Lou Hamer to be erected on the Atlantic City Boardwalk in front of Boardwalk Hall.

Fannie Lou Hamer was a civil and women’s rights activist who changed the course of American politics. In 1964, she boldly demanded that the Democratic Party reject the all-white Mississippi delegations from their convention and instead seat the delegation from the interracial Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. She testified that she and other black women were beaten, threatened, and shot at — just because they tried to register to vote.

Hamer succeeded in having two members of the MFDP seated at the convention, and the party rules were changed to ensure equality at all future conventions.

This significant accomplishment deserves to be remembered every day of the year — not just in February.

In Solidarity,
Brigid