Happy Black History Month!
We’re so grateful to stand on the shoulders of countless Black changemakers, past and present, who’ve paved the way for a stronger and more inclusive democracy. And every month of the year, Fair Fight is committed to carrying on their legacies by protecting the freedom to vote and dismantling the deep, systemic racial injustice in our electoral system.
Today, let’s celebrate some of the courageous voting rights leaders who inspire our work, our fight, and our mission:
Mary Church Terrell
Suffragist, Civil Rights Leader
“Lifting as we climb.”
Mary Church Terrell was one of the first Black women to earn a college degree in the United States, and she used her educational background as a leader in the Suffrage Movement. In the late 1800s, she banded together with other women’s suffrage and civil rights leaders like Ida B. Wells and Harriet Tubman to form the National Association of Colored Women. After the 19th Amendment was ratified, she continued to fight for Black women’s suffrage and challenged segregation until her death in 1954.
Fannie Lou Hamer
Civil Rights Leader, Community Organizer
“Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.”
Fannie Lou Hamer spent her career fighting back against systemic racism present in elections, healthcare, housing, and more. After facing violence, racism, and intimidation as barriers to voting, she helped form the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party and pushed for greater racial equity in the political process. She was a key organizer of the 1964 Mississippi Freedom Summer and helped found the National Women’s Political Caucus, which remains active today.
John Lewis
Civil Rights Leader, U.S. Representative
“Make good trouble.”
John Lewis embodied the values of the Civil Rights Movement — he chaired the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and was a planner and speaker for the 1963 March on Washington. He helped lead the historic march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma where he risked his life peacefully demonstrating for voting rights. He served Georgians in Congress for 17 terms, leaving behind a legacy of advocacy and an unwavering commitment to our democracy.
Helen Butler
Executive Director, Georgia Coalition for the People's Agenda
“Be engaged in this process. You can be that difference.”
Helen Butler has dedicated her life to advocating for voting rights and other social justice issues. As executive director of the Coalition, she has helped bring together community organizers, policy experts, faith leaders, and more to improve the livelihoods of people of color in Georgia and across the country. She has received local, state, and national recognition for her commitment to defending democracy, empowering Black women, and fighting for social justice.
Stacey Abrams
Founder of Fair Fight, Former Georgia House Minority Leader
“Do not allow setbacks to set you back.”
Stacey Abrams is a force in the modern-day voting rights movement, committed to ensuring all eligible voters have access to the ballot box and fighting for free and fair elections. After serving as House Minority Leader in the Georgia legislature, she ran for Governor of Georgia and brought attention to systemic voter suppression prevalent throughout the state. Her persistence in this movement, exemplified by the founding of Fair Fight, inspires us to keep up the fight.
We are proud to share the stories of these democracy champions every day, not just during Black History Month. Together, we’ll uplift their voices, build a stronger community, and inspire our neighbors to make a difference themselves.
In solidarity,
The Fair Fight Team
If you feel inspired by these brilliant Black activists and how Fair Fight is carrying on their legacies by protecting the freedom to vote, please consider chipping in today. [[link removed]]
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