By Nicquel Terry Ellis, CNNThey stood up against racism and inequality – some risking their own lives – to launch the fight for many of the rights and freedoms we enjoy today and some we continue to fight for.Yet, these icons have been largely overlooked, their stories untold in many history books, classrooms and documentaries.
Annie Lee Cooper did the unthinkable — she fought back — an act of resistance that turned her into an icon in the voting rights movement. Cooper was arrested and charged with assault and attempted murder for punching the sheriff, according to the Selma Times Journal. She was released from jail just after 11 hours for fear that Clark would try to hurt her, newspapers reported.
Salaam told CNN he believes Cooper galvanized the voting rights movement because she stood up against a White sheriff -- something many Black Americans were afraid to do in the Jim Crow South. He later became one of the first Black players for the Baltimore Colts, and in 1954, was named Kansas' deputy highway commissioner where he encouraged Black businesses to compete for government contracts.
After college, Fletcher, who had studied sociology and political science at Washburn University and played football there, struggled to get a high school football coaching job in Kansas because he was Black, Golland said. He settled for building tires at Goodyear to make ends meet.
CNN is great at further trying to divide this country based on monetary gains
Racism is alive and well. It's so sad and stupid. God made us all and is not Partial.