Teach & remember
Awards named for Fannie Lou Hamer
Awards that carry Fannie Lou Hamer's name, from Maryland's Fannie Lou Hamer Awards to honors given by Black women's and political science organizations.
In short
Several organizations give awards named for Fannie Lou Hamer. They include the Fannie Lou Hamer Awards presented each year since the mid-1990s by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Committee of Anne Arundel County, Maryland, honoring women who advance civil and human rights; the Fannie Lou Hamer Award of the National Hook-Up of Black Women, presented at an annual breakfast since the 1970s; and the Fannie Lou Hamer Outstanding Community Service Award of the National Conference of Black Political Scientists.
- Anne Arundel County, MD
- Fannie Lou Hamer Awards, MLK Committee (annual)
- National Hook-Up of Black Women
- Fannie Lou Hamer Award breakfast (39th in 2014)
- NCOBPS
- Fannie Lou Hamer Outstanding Community Service Award
- This site
- Gives no awards and accepts no nominations
Which awards carry her name?
These are awards we could document from the organizations themselves or from news coverage.
| Award | Given by | Honors |
|---|---|---|
| Fannie Lou Hamer Awards | Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Committee of Anne Arundel County, Maryland | Women who have advanced civil and human rights in the region; held each fall |
| Fannie Lou Hamer Award | National Hook-Up of Black Women, Inc. | A person of vision who has shown courage and commitment to service; presented at an annual breakfast |
| Fannie Lou Hamer Outstanding Community Service Award | National Conference of Black Political Scientists | A member who has made exemplary contributions to African American communities |
What do we know about each one?
The Anne Arundel County awards are the longest-running local Hamer awards we found. CBS News Baltimore reported in 2021 that the event was the 26th annual reception, that a committee of residents chooses the honorees, that the women honored come from many backgrounds, and that the 2021 reception was held at the Banneker-Douglass Museum. The awards are held near her October 6 birthday.
The National Hook-Up of Black Women, a national nonprofit, held its 39th annual Fannie Lou Hamer Award breakfast in April 2014, according to WCCB Charlotte, which puts the award's start in the mid-1970s.
The National Conference of Black Political Scientists gives its community service award to members, with nominations that include a CV and letters about the nominee's service over the previous five years.
Other groups, including colleges, churches, unions and political organizations, have given Hamer awards at one time or another. Many are local and change from year to year. Before you cite one, check that the organization still gives it.
Are there honors she received herself?
Yes. For the honors Fannie Lou Hamer received in her lifetime and after her death, see her honors. For guidance on organizing your own event in her memory, see keeping her memory accurate.
Questions readers ask
Does FannieLouHamer.info give awards?
No. We are an independent educational site. We do not give awards, accept nominations or sell anything. Earlier owners of this domain had their own programs, which are unrelated to us.
How do I nominate someone for a Fannie Lou Hamer award?
Contact the organization that gives the award. Each sets its own rules. The National Conference of Black Political Scientists, for example, asks for a CV and letters describing five years of community service.
Why don't you list the winners?
Winners are listed by the organizations that choose them, and lists change every year. We link to the organizations so you get current, accurate information.
Sources
- 12 local women to be honored during Fannie Lou Hamer AwardsCBS News Baltimore, 2021
- National Hook-up of Black Women, Inc. 39th Annual Fannie Lou Hamer Award BreakfastWCCB Charlotte, 2014
- Fannie Lou Hamer Outstanding Community Service AwardNational Conference of Black Political Scientists
We checked every date and name on this page against the sources above. If you find an error, write to contact@fannielouhamer.info.
Continue in the archive
- Teach & rememberHer honorsThe honorary degrees, awards and national recognitions Fannie Lou Hamer received during her lifetime and the major honors given after her death, through 2025.
- Teach & rememberGuide for organizersPractical advice for schools, churches and groups planning a Fannie Lou Hamer event: checking quotes, dates and photos, crediting sources and respecting Ruleville.
- Her lifeLegacy and honorsHow Fannie Lou Hamer is remembered, from the words on her headstone to the Voting Rights Act renewal, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and places named for her.
- Teach & rememberCommemorationsHow Fannie Lou Hamer is commemorated, from birthday gatherings at her Ruleville grave to the 2017 centennial, Freedom Trail markers and 2024 anniversaries.