Carpenters for Christmas facts for kids
Carpenters for Christmas was a special project created to help churches in Mississippi. These churches had been bombed or burned during and after the Freedom Summer in 1964. During that summer, a group called the Council of Federated Organizations (COFO) led a big effort. They wanted to challenge the unfair separation of people by race in Mississippi's main political party. They also wanted to help black citizens gain their right to vote.
Churches were very important in this movement. They often hosted "Freedom Schools," which taught people about their rights. They also served as places where people could vote in "freedom elections" and hold large meetings. Because churches played such a big role, people who supported segregation started attacking them. They also attacked civil rights workers.
During Freedom Summer, there were many acts of violence. This included bombings, burnings, and beatings against people working for civil rights. Many activists were also arrested.
In the fall of 1964, many churches in Mississippi and other Southern states were attacked. Students from Oberlin College and others started a project to rebuild these churches. They wanted to show the country how serious the problem was. They chose the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Blue Mountain, Mississippi as an example. In December 1964, this church was rebuilt with help from volunteers and donated materials. This happened right after civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer gave a speech there.
The rebuilding project got a lot of attention from news outlets across the country. This helped more people understand that Southern churches supporting the civil rights movement needed protection.
Fighting for Rights in Mississippi
In the 1960s, Holly Springs, Mississippi, and Rust College were important places for civil rights activities. Rust College is one of the oldest colleges for African Americans in the United States. Its leaders and students strongly supported civil rights. Even before white civil rights workers arrived, students at Rust College began to challenge unfair rules that separated people.
A COFO office and a Freedom School were set up near the college. This place was called Freedom House. It became the main office for the voter registration movement in northern Mississippi. It was also the headquarters for the local Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). Civil rights workers at Freedom House connected with local movements in Holly Springs and nearby areas.
What Was Freedom Summer?
Civil rights groups in Mississippi were frustrated by how slowly things were changing. So, they decided to start a big program. This program would involve many Americans who wanted to end unfair treatment based on race. This project was called Freedom Summer.
Freedom Summer planned to create 25 freedom schools and set up community centers. It also aimed to take strong legal actions against the unfair rules of the state of Mississippi. In the spring of 1964, law enforcement and a state group called the Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission began preparing for Freedom Summer.
Investigators from the Sovereignty Commission visited local officials across Mississippi. They wanted to get ready for possible protests. One report described visits to Tippah and Alcorn Counties. It said that officials in these areas were very worried about the expected protests. They were relying on help from the state if demonstrations started in their counties.
Helping People Vote
A main goal of Freedom Summer was to remove barriers that stopped black citizens from voting in Mississippi. Historians have often focused on efforts to vote in presidential elections. But it was also very important to help black citizens participate equally in local elections.
Because of this, COFO workers in northern Mississippi worked to increase black participation in Agricultural Stabilization Committee (ASC) elections. These elections were very important for small farmers. This was because of a government program that helped cotton farmers.
