Welcome to the History Tricks, where any resemblance to a boring old history lesson is purely coincidental.

And here's your 30-second summary.

Fannie Lou Hamer began life as a small child whose hard labor was key to her family's survival.

She grew up to become a fiery civil rights activist who would not be silenced by intimidation,

violence, or the personal wishes of the President of the United States himself.

Let's talk about Fannie Lou Hamer.

But first let's drop her into history.

In 1962, Rwanda and Jamaica both became independent countries.

The elite military force, the U.S. Navy Seals, were established.

An anxiety-induced psychogenic illness that was not funny at all,

called the laughter epidemic spread across modern day Tanzania.

First Lady Jackie Kennedy gave her famous televised tour of the White House.

The Beatles, Barbara Strysanth, and the Osmond Brothers began their professional careers,

and Walter Cronkite began anchoring the CBS evening news.

The Jetsons, the Lucy Show, Johnny Carson's Tonight Show, and the Beverly Hillbillies all made their TV debut.

Rachel Carson's Environmental Science book, Silent Spring, was first published.

Jim Carrey, Cheryl Crow, Steve Irwin, Matthew Broderick, Tom Cruise, and Jody Foster were all born.

Marilyn Monroe and Ellen Aruseville died.

And in 1962, Mississippi and Fannie Lou Hamer learned that she could vote, and it changed her life.

Fannie Alma Louise Dubois Townsend was born on October 6th, 1917, the youngest of the 20.

That's a 2-0, you heard me.

Children of James and Louwella Townsend in Montgomery County, Mississippi.

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