Quick Info
| Profession | Civil rights activist |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Date of Birth | 02/07/1925 |
| Age | 37 years (died on 12, Jun, 1963) |
| Birthplace | Decatur, Mississippi, United States |
| Date of Death | 12/06/1963 |
| Zodiac Sign | Cancer |
Do you like Medgar Evers?
You can vote only once.
88% like · 12% dislike
Bio/Wiki
| Summary | Medgar Wiley Evers was an American civil rights activist who served as the NAACP's first field secretary in Mississippi. He worked to overturn racial segregation, including efforts to admit African Americans to the University of Mississippi, and to expand voting rights and access to public facilities. He was assassinated outside his home in Jackson, Mississippi, in 1963. |
|---|---|
| Death Place | Jackson, Mississippi, United States |
| Cause of Death | Assassination by gunshot |
| Burial Place | Arlington National Cemetery |
Educational Qualification(s)
| Alcorn Agricultural and Mechanical College | Attended; now Alcorn State University |
|---|
Personal Life
| Military Service | Served in the United States Army during World War II |
|---|---|
| Presidential Medal of Freedom | Awarded posthumously on 03/05/2024 |
| Spingarn Medal | Awarded posthumously by the NAACP |
Relationships & More
| Spouse | Myrlie Evers-Williams |
|---|
Family
| Spouse | Myrlie Evers-Williams |
|---|---|
| Brother | Charles Evers |
| Children |
|
Career
| NAACP | Became the NAACP's first field secretary in Mississippi in 1954 |
|---|---|
| Civil Rights Work | Led voter-registration drives, economic boycotts, nonviolent sit-ins and demonstrations in Mississippi |
| University Desegregation | Applied in 1954 to the University of Mississippi Law School as a test case; the application was rejected because of his race |
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. The City University of New York named its Brooklyn campus Medgar Evers College in 1970. | |
| 2. The Route 3 Bridge over the Hackensack River is dedicated to Evers. | |
| 3. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2024. | |
| 4. His assassination drew national attention and made him a nationally known figure. | |
| 5. Three thousand people attended his funeral in Jackson, Mississippi. |
