Conventions Week: Hamer vs. Johnson (1964) [Archive Episode]

This Day

Jody Avirgan & Radiotopia

History

4.6 • 982 Ratings

🗓️ 22 August 2024

⏱️ 22 minutes

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Summary

**Come to our first ever live show! In Boston, on Friday, September 13th. Tickets are available now!**

Welcome to Conventions Week! From time to time this election year, we're going to do some special series that highlight the rhythm of an election cycle. This week, as the Democrats are meeting in Chicago, we are looking at conventions, which are very strange affairs! Today, an episode from the archives about a legendary DNC moment.

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It’s August 23rd. On this day in 1964, Mississippi activist Fannie Lou Hamer gave a speech at the Democratic National Convention about her efforts to be recognized as part of the MS delegation. President Lyndon B Johnson, sensing that Hamer’s speech was getting attention, scheduled impromptu remarks.

Jody and Niki are joined by Kellie Carter Jackson of Wellesley to talk about Hamer’s remarks, legacy, and whether dramatic showdowns like this are even possible at modern conventions.

This Day In Esoteric Political History is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX.

Get in touch if you have any ideas for future topics, or just want to say hello. Our website is thisdaypod.com Follow us on social @thisdaypod

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey everyone. It's Jody. As you surely know it is convention time here on the show and also in the political world where the Democrats are wrapping up their convention today.
0:11.0	We did a two-part series on notable convention moments, so go check that out.
0:15.0	And today we bring you one of our favorite convention stories from the archives.
0:19.0	I've heard a lot of folks name-checking this week when the country is
0:22.8	nominating its first black woman for president.
0:25.9	People are remembering the moment 60 years ago,
0:28.6	the 1964 speech and activism
0:31.0	by a trailblazing black woman Fannie Lou Hamer.
0:34.0	So we thought we would bring you that episode that we did.
0:36.0	It was way back in 2020 in part because this is 60 years after that speech
0:41.0	and as it happens, Atlantic City just dedicated a
0:44.1	plaque on the boardwalk to commemorate Hammers speech so we love an anniversary we
0:48.8	love a plaque we love a news peg so good time to bring in this episode and the other thing that's kind of a nice little
0:54.4	tidbit is that Kelly is on this show, but you'll hear she's on as a guest. This was before she had come on as
0:59.7	one of the full-time co-hosts, but it's really cool to hear one of her first appearances on the show, and this is such a fascinating story.
1:07.0	So take a listen, enjoy a reminder that we have a live show on September 13th in Boston.
1:11.6	Tickets are available now. Okay, here we go. We'll be
1:15.0	back with a brand new episode real soon. Hello and welcome to this day in
1:18.9	esoteric political history from Radiotopia. my name is Jody African.
1:25.5	This day August 23rd, 1964, Fanny Lou Hamer appeared before the Credentials Committee at the Democratic
1:32.0	National Convention,
1:33.0	she was there as a representative of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party
	...

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