Dorie Ladner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dorie Ladner
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Ladner in 2015
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Dorie Ann Ladner
June 28, 1942 Hattiesburg, Mississippi, U.S.
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| Died | March 11, 2024 (aged 81) |
| Education | Tougaloo College (BA) Howard University (MSW) |
| Known for | Freedom Riders, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee |
| Children | 1 |
Dorie Ann Ladner (June 28, 1942 – March 11, 2024) was an American civil rights activist. She worked hard to end unfair treatment and segregation in the United States. She was a key figure in important events like the Freedom Riders and the Freedom Summer Project.
Early Life and Education
Dorie Ladner was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, on June 28, 1942. When she was in high school, she joined the NAACP Youth Council. This group worked to fight for equal rights. There, she met Medgar Evers, a very important leader of the NAACP in Mississippi.
In 1961, Dorie was expelled from Jackson State University. This happened because she supported a group called the Tougaloo Nine. They were students who protested against segregation. After this, Dorie and her sister, Joyce Ladner, were invited to study at Tougaloo College. Dorie earned her bachelor's degree from Tougaloo College in 1973. Later, in 1975, she earned a master's degree in social work from Howard University.
Fighting for Civil Rights
Dorie Ladner became very involved in the Civil Rights Movement in 1961. She joined the Freedom Riders. These brave people rode buses into the segregated Southern states. They wanted to challenge unfair laws that separated Black and white people.
She also joined the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). This group was made up of young people who used peaceful protests to fight for change. In 1962, Dorie was arrested for trying to eat at a "whites-only" lunch counter. This happened at a Woolworth store in downtown Jackson, Mississippi.
Dorie was also jailed for protesting during the 1962 Jackson boycotts. These boycotts encouraged people not to shop at stores that treated Black customers unfairly. Dorie was one of the first to go to jail for picketing. This was a very brave act, as many feared punishment.
In August 1963, Dorie took part in the historic March on Washington. This huge protest happened after the assassination of Medgar Evers. It was a powerful moment for the Civil Rights Movement.
In 1964, Dorie became a main organizer for the Freedom Summer Project. This project aimed to register African American voters in Mississippi. It was a very dangerous but important effort. Dorie was the first woman to lead a project for the Council of Federated Organizations (COFO) in 1964. She directed the SNCC project in Natchez, Mississippi from 1964 to 1966.
Later Life and Recognition
After her work in the Civil Rights Movement, Dorie Ladner lived in Washington, D.C. She often spoke at events and was interviewed for documentaries. She shared her experiences and knowledge about the fight for civil rights. For example, in 2014, she was interviewed for a PBS documentary about Freedom Summer. She also spoke on panels with other important figures.
Dorie Ladner passed away on March 11, 2024, at the age of 81.
Throughout her life, Dorie Ladner received many honors for her dedication:
- In 2011, she received the "Humanitarian Award" from the Fannie Lou Hamer National Institute of Citizenship and Democracy.
- On May 18, 2014, Tougaloo College gave her an honorary doctorate degree.
- On October 23, 2015, Natchez, Mississippi, declared it "Dorie Ladner Day."
- In 2016, a documentary called "Well-Behaved Women Don't Make 'Her-Story': The Dorie Ladner Story" was made about her life.
- In June 2017, the University of the District of Columbia also awarded her an honorary doctorate.
Dorie Ladner's life showed great courage and commitment to justice. She appeared in several documentary films, sharing her story and the history of the Civil Rights Movement.
