Period 6 - Ms.

Bullock 2016
Caitlyn Cholewinski
Megan Fish

Medgar Evers
Medgar Evers was born in Decatur, Mississippi on July 2, 1925. He went to Alcorn
Agricultural and Mechanical College which is now Alcorn State University. His senior year he
married fellow student, Myrlie Beasley. They had three children, Reena(1933), Darrell (1953),
and James (1960). In 1963 he joined the Army and spent time in Normandy during WWII.
Medgar Evers was an American Civil Rights activist who fought segregation at Ole Miss, and
worked with the NAACP to gain social justice and voting rights. On June 12, 1963, Medgar was
assassinated by Bryon De La Beckwith.
Evers accomplishments include being a World War II Veteran who participated in the
Normandy invasion. Medgar also helped Integrate Ole Miss, along with being the first field
secretary for NAACP in the South. He helped recruit new members for NAACP and took part in
demonstrations and boycotts of discriminating white-companies.
He had the most influence in the South, especially by the MIssissippi area, where he
was born (Decatur). After his death he gained more popularity throughout the nation, particularly
because he was shot just hours after President Kennedy had delivered a landmark speech on
civil rights. He was important because he was the first state field secretary of the NAACP in the
South (Mississippi).
Medgar Evers has been influential from 1954 (when he became the NAACPs first
secretary), up until this date. He is an inspiration to many, and is still fondly looked upon in
todays society. After his death (1963) his wife carried on his fighting.
Works Cited:
Webpage:
http://www.history.com/news/7-things-you-should-know-about-medgar-evers
MLA:
Maranzani, Barbara. History.com. 7 Things You Should Know About Medgar Evers. 11 June
2013. Web. 12 January 12 2016.
Webpage:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4700724
MLA:
Gordon, Ed. NPR.com "The Civil Rights Legacy of Medgar Evers." 13 June
2005.
Web. 12 January 2016.
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