Medgar Evers (1925–1963) was a civil rights activist from Mississippi who played a significant role in the fight against racial segregation and discrimination. He served as the first field secretary for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the NAACP in Mississippi and worked tirelessly to organize voter registration drives and boycotts to combat racial injustice.
Evers faced constant threats and harassment due to his activism, and tragically, he was assassinated outside his home in Jackson, Mississippi, in 1963 by a white supremacist. His death galvanized the civil rights movement and sparked nationwide outrage, contributing to the momentum that led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Medgar Evers' legacy continues to inspire generations of activists in the ongoing struggle for racial equality and justice.
As a combat veteran of World War II and the recipient of two Bronze Stars Evers buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.
Learn more through the National Park Service
https://www.nps.gov/memy/index.htm
The Joy Trip Project celebrates the enduring legacy of Black American History. The Unhidden Minute is part of the Unhidden Podcast Project supported through a National Geographic Explorer Grant from the National Geographic Society, with the cooperation of the National Park Service. This series elevates the untold stories of Black American historical figures, events and cultural contributions.
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Medgar Evers