Fannie Lou Hamer (1917–1977), African American civil rights activist. This statement was first quoted in Southern Patriot (March 1967). As quoted in This Little Light of Mine, ch. 9, by Hay Mills (1993).
Said in 1967, on commencing a voter registration drive among African Americans in Sunflower County, Mississippi, which was 70% African American. Before the drive, 13% of eligible African Americans were registered to vote, compared with 85% of eligible whites.