As the Obama Presidential Center prepares to open Thursday in Chicago, a broader vision of presenting the story of America’s first Black president and first lady emerges – a series of spaces honoring the civil rights and democracy leaders who inspired the Obamas’ own leadership journeys.
These include Mississippi sharecropper and voting rights advocate Fannie Lou Hamer.
Center officials said people like Hamer represent those “on whose shoulders we stand” as people across the country and around the world seek to advance progress, dignity and inclusion.
More than five years after construction began, the opening of the center honoring former President Barack and Michelle Obama will coincide with Juneteenth, the federal holiday on June 19 that commemorates the 1865 emancipation of enslaved Black Americans.
The center marks a milestone for Chicago’s South Side – where the Obamas’ journey began – creating a new civic, cultural and educational destination rooted in community and public engagement.
The Fannie Lou Hamer Walkway at the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago honors the civil rights leader from Mississippi. Credit: Courtesy of Obama Presidential CenterSituated at the entrance to the campus, the Fannie Lou Hamer Walkway serves as a “park within a park” that blends lush plantings and stone hardscapes to provide a contemplative transition between the library and forum buildings. The space honors Hamer, co-founder of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party and the National Women’s Political Caucus, who brought national attention to the indignities faced by Black Americans and demonstrated the power of determination in the fight for voting rights.
“President and Mrs. Obama have always been clear that their ability to make change was made possible through the example of leaders, who, through their commitment, sacrifice, and passion, fought for a world where everyone has a voice,” Valerie Jarrett, CEO of The Obama Foundation, said in a news release. “The honorees we are naming today are giants of democracy who showed us all that one voice can change a room and together we can change the world.”
Hamer’s niece, Monica Land, who produced the award-winning film “Fannie Lou Hamer’s America” and oversees its educational website, said the Obamas’ recognition of Hamer’s struggle is both humbling and telling.
“Deep down, Aunt Fannie Lou wondered if what she was doing really made a difference,” Land said in the news release. “She sacrificed so much and she missed so much time with her family because she was constantly traveling on behalf of others. She had regrets. But it’s moments like this that prove that she did make a difference, and she would be so proud to see these advancements.”
Additional signage honoring Hamer appears on the north-facing wall just inside the courtyard and features one of her quotes: “And it’s no easy way out. We just got to wake up and face it, folks. And if I can face the issue, you can too.”
Fannie Lou Hamer testifies before the Credentials Committee at the 1964 Democratic National Convention. Credit: Courtesy: Library of Congress (Warren K. Leffler, photographer)The Fannie Lou Hamer Walkway was made possible through the support of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois.
A fearless organizer, Hamer became one of the most important grassroots voices of the 1960s freedom movement by helping thousands to register to vote despite intimidation and violence. After being viciously beaten in a Winona, Mississippi, jail at the hands of local law enforcement in June 1963, she recounted her experience a year later during the nationally televised Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City. Following that emotionally charged testimony, Hamer became one of the most sought-after speakers of her time.
Hamer died of breast cancer, hypertension and the aftereffects of the jailhouse beating on March 14, 1977.
Other dedicated spaces at the $380 million, 19.3-acre Obama Presidential Center include the Claudette Colvin Program Room, the Dorothy Height Sky Room Vista, the Thurgood Marshall Courtyard and the Rosa Parks Courtyard Lounge. Officials said, “these named spaces will serve as lasting tributes to the giants of history, reminding every visitor that they, too, have the power to leave a lasting mark on the world.”
A one-of-its kind museum, the center is the first fully digital museum and combines high-tech and hands-on exhibits spanning the campaigns, key moments of Obama’s presidency and life at the White House, art installations, a Chicago Public Library branch, athletic facilities and community gathering spaces.
A grand opening ceremony for family members of the dedicated spaces and select guests will be held on Thursday.
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