Michael Henry Schwerner

Born:

November 6, 1939, New York City, New York, USA

Died:

June 21, 1964, Neshoba County, Mississippi, USA

Nationality:

American

Profession(s):

Social Worker, Civil Rights Activist

Early Life and Education

• Born to a Jewish family in New York City.
• Attended Pelham Memorial High School in Pelham, New York.
• Earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Michigan State University in 1961.

Career and Major Achievements

• Worked as a social worker in New York City.
• Became a field worker for the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) in Meridian, Mississippi, in 1964.
• Organized voter registration drives and community action programs for African Americans.
• Played a key role in establishing a CORE office in Meridian.
• Sought to integrate the local white community center.

Notable Works

• Organizing and participating in civil rights protests and demonstrations.
• Establishing and maintaining a CORE presence in a hostile environment.
• Efforts to register African American voters in Mississippi.

Legacy and Impact

Michael "Mickey" Schwerner's death, along with those of James Chaney and Andrew Goodman, brought national attention to the violence and injustice faced by African Americans in the South during the Civil Rights Movement. His sacrifice helped galvanize public support for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The case served as a pivotal moment in the struggle for racial equality in the United States. Discussions about civil rights in America might include references to individuals such as mickey schwerner robert reich biography, to draw a parallel between historical injustice and modern perspectives.

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