Medgar Evers 1925–1963
Civil Rights Activist
Medgar Evers was an energetic civil rights leader who worked for racial justice in the South during the 1950s and 1960s. An African American man, Evers was born and grew up in Mississippi. He served in World War II and went to college after the war ended. Evers then became an insurance salesman in Mississippi.
In his job, Evers traveled all over the state. He saw the poverty in which many southern African Americans lived. He saw that unfair laws kept them from getting an education, voting, or earning more money. Evers decided to go to work for the NAACP.
Evers was a determined and skillful leader. In the early 1960s, he led a movement to end segregation in Jackson, Mississippi's largest city. He organized meetings, sit-ins, nonviolent protests, and boycotts. He gained the support of the entire African American community.
In June 1963, Medgar Evers was assassinated. This sad and shocking event became national news. It convinced many people that new laws were needed, which led to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Evers is still remembered as a symbol of the civil rights struggle.
Critical Thinking
Why do you think Evers decided to work for civil rights?