Presentation by Mzuri Moyo about Fannie Lou Hamer Nov. 17

November 1, 2011

Sarah Manriquez

Singer and actress Mzuri Moyo will sing and perform at UAF and venues throughout Fairbanks this week. Moyo will honor 60s civil rights activist and freedom fighter legend Fannie Lou Hamer in a presentation 6:30 - 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17 in the Wood Center Ballroom. A reception will take place prior to the performance from 12:30 – 2 p.m. in the Alumni Lounge.

Moyo's performances have introduced thousands of audiences to a central character of the civil rights movement.

“Many people have heard the name Fannie Lou Hamer but many people don't know anything more than she was active in the civil rights movement,” Moyo said. “They don't know about her contributions to the movement and the family sacrifices she made. From the time I heard her story from her own mouth, this is what I wanted to do.”

Moyo will appear at six venues in three days, Nov. 17-19. In addition to the UAF venues, she will also meet with the Youth Leadership Assembly at North Pole High School and perform at Bobby’s Downtown at 9:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18. On Saturday, Nov. 19, she will have breakfast with National Association for the Advancement of Colored People youth leaders and give a full performance of “The Fannie Lou Hamer Story” at the NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

Moyo’s UAF visit is sponsored by the Chancellor’s Diversity Action Committee with the support of Alaska Airlines, UAF Office of Equal Opportunity, Office of Multicultural Affairs & Diversity, UAF Women’s Center, and Women’s & Gender Studies Program.

For more information, visit uafwomen.blogspot.com/2011/11/civil-rights-activist-fannie-lou-hamer or contact the UAF Women's Center at 474-6360 or fywoc@uaf.edu.