Medgar Evers

Medgar Riley Evers was born July 2, 1925 in Decatur, Mississippi. Medgar Evers was an immense leader of the civil rights movement in the 50's and 60's. From his self-effacing beginnings in the small Mississippi town where he grew to become one of the greatest leaders of the movement to his tragic death in 1963, he was a born legacy. He was raised with strong religious values and a great work ethic by his parents. While still in high school Evers disenrolled from school to serve in the United States Army. The military would make a lasting impression on him after serving in WWII and dealing with the Nazi racism.

Once he returned from the war and discharged from the United States Army, he returned to Mississippi and received his high school diploma. He would then enroll into Alcorn A&M College being very active in many extracurricular activities such as football, track, the debate team and even singing in the choir. (Thinkquest.org) In recognition of all of his accomplishments at Alcorn, he was listed in Who’s Who in American Colleges.(olemiss.edu) While attending college he met Myrlie Beasley and they married. Shortly after being married to Myrlie they had three children. After, graduating from college Evers found a job selling insurance for Magnolia Insurance Company which was one of the few owned black businesses. During his employment at Magnolia Insurance Company Evers found out his boss was affiliated with the National Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and soon after that he got himself involved with the NAACP. Evers had always had a voice about how poorly black people were treated, so he knew this was the place he needed to be. He immediately began setting up local chapters and investigating black hatred crimes so that he could find a way to prevent them. In 1954 he witnessed yet another attempted lynching. “My father was on his deathbed in the hospital in Union Mississippi,” Evers related in Martyrs. “The Negro ward was in the basement and it was...