Annie Lee Cooper

Annie Lee Cooper

Annie Lee Cooper (June 2, 1910 – November 24, 2010) was an African-American civil rights activist whose efforts to secure voting rights for African Americans in the 1960s were instrumental in the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. She is best known for her role in the Selma to Montgomery marches and her confrontation with Sheriff Jim Clark in Selma, Alabama.

Early Life

Annie Lee Wilkerson was born on June 2, 1910, in Selma, Alabama. She was one of ten children in her family. Cooper left school in the seventh grade to help support her family. In 1928, she moved to Kentucky to live with an older sister and later relocated to Ohio, where she worked in various jobs, including as a nurse's aide.

Civil Rights Activism

In 1962, Cooper returned to Selma to care for her elderly mother. It was during this time that she became involved in the civil rights movement. Cooper attempted to register to vote several times, but was denied due to discriminatory practices such as literacy tests and poll taxes.

The Selma Voting Rights Movement

Cooper became actively involved in the Dallas County Voters League and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). On January 25, 1965, during a voter registration drive at the Dallas County Courthouse, Cooper had a confrontation with Sheriff Jim Clark. When Clark ordered her to leave, Cooper refused, and in the ensuing altercation, she punched Clark in the face. This act of defiance became a symbol of the struggle for voting rights and highlighted the violent resistance faced by activists.

Legacy

Annie Lee Cooper's actions and the events in Selma were pivotal in raising national awareness about the injustices faced by African Americans in the South. Her story was featured in the 2014 film Selma, where she was portrayed by Oprah Winfrey.

Cooper's efforts, along with those of many others, contributed to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which prohibited racial discrimination in voting.

Later Life and Death

After the passage of the Voting Rights Act, Cooper continued to live in Selma, where she worked in a nursing home until her retirement. She passed away on November 24, 2010, at the age of 100.

References

• Fox, Margalit (November 26, 2010). "Annie Lee Cooper, Civil Rights Activist, Dies at 100". The New York Times.

External Links

• Selma to Montgomery March on History.com