Sixty years ago, volunteers from across the country united with local activists and families in Mississippi to alter the course of our nation’s history. Through Freedom Summer, people of diverse backgrounds—northerners and southerners, rich and poor, Black and white—gathered at the heart of Black voter disenfranchisement.
Despite facing intimidation and violence, including the tragic murders of three young activists—James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner—their efforts to register Black voters in Mississippi captivated the nation’s attention and sparked significant change. This change led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act the following year, a landmark piece of federal legislation that prohibits racial discrimination in voting and has been instrumental in protecting the rights of minority voters.
In 1964, Mississippi epitomized Black voter disenfranchisement, as less than 7% of Black residents were able to vote and influence decisions affecting their lives. This situation resulted from an 1890 state constitution that purged Black voters from the rolls and imposed onerous re-registration requirements. Through violence, threats, poll taxes and nearly impossible constitutional quizzes, Black voter registration plummeted from 130,000 to fewer than 1,300 within a decade.
Fast-forward to now, and the legacy of their collective efforts to register Black Mississippians echoes today. As the director of policy and advocacy at the Mississippi Center for Justice, I am acutely aware of the urgent work needed to fulfill and continue their legacies 60 years later.
Reflecting on the progress Mississippi and the nation have made since Freedom Summer, the cause that drove Freedom Summer all these years ago still needs to be completed. Just earlier this month, a federal court ordered the state of Mississippi to redraw several of its state legislative districts to ensure more equitable representation for Black Mississippians. This is a testament to the progress we have made. While the original Freedom Summer was about voter registration, the ongoing legacy of this movement, championed by organizations like MCJ and others, must now encompass voter participation and activation.
Today, barriers to voter participation persist in various pernicious forms. Modern voter-suppression tactics, such as restrictive voter ID laws, voter roll purges, and limited access to polling places, disproportionately affect Black communities. In Mississippi, these barriers are compounded by socioeconomic challenges, including poverty and lack of access to reliable transportation, making it difficult for many to get to the polls and creating, according to researchers, the second most difficult state to vote in our nation.
But these issues aren’t just challenges in Mississippi; gerrymandering and other voter-suppression tactics exacerbate the issue and affect communities nationwide. In the years since the Supreme Court of the United Stated gutted a key part of the Voting Rights Act in 2013, scores of restrictive laws like the ones mentioned earlier have, as a study earlier this year shows, widened racial disparities in voter turnout in the ensuing years. Sadly, this problem could further deteriorate, with tools such as Project 2025 previewing an arsenal of voter-suppression tactics, including the proposed end of early voting and the modification of proof-of-citizenship laws that would disenfranchise tens of millions of Americans who don’t have ready access to their citizenship documents.
To address these barriers and honor Freedom Summer’s legacy, we must focus on three critical focal points of voting: registering, participating, and activating. By doing so, we can dismantle the obstacles that continue to impede Black Americans’ access to voting, both then and now—and that work begins in Mississippi.
Simply put, we must ensure that every registered voter can participate fully and freely in elections. This means fighting against modern forms of voter suppression such as restrictive voter-ID laws and voter-roll purges, as well as advocating for policies that protect and expand voting rights.
Participation goes beyond voting in elections; it includes attending city council meetings, town halls and other civic activities. It means holding elected officials accountable and ensuring that the voices of all citizens are heard and respected in all areas of public life.
Activation involves transforming voter participation into sustained political power. This process includes organizing, educating and mobilizing communities to advocate for policies that reflect their needs and aspirations. By activating communities, we can create a political environment that prioritizes and addresses the needs of all, particularly those most marginalized, especially low-income communities and communities of color.
Freedom Summer was more than just a moment in history; it was a catalyst for change, demonstrating the power of collective action. As we face these ongoing challenges of disenfranchisement, we must draw inspiration from this legacy and realize that each of us can be a catalyst for change. Together, our collective action can build a more just and equitable future for all—starting in the state where it began at large 60 years ago.
Join us in this vital work, stand up against voter suppression and be part of the movement to secure voting rights for everyone. The fight for justice and equality continues, and it needs your voice and your action.
