Marie Foster facts for kids

Marie Priscilla Martin Foster (October 24, 1917 – September 6, 2003) was an important leader in the Civil Rights Movement during the 1960s in the United States. She worked hard to help people register to vote. Marie taught classes to help adults pass the difficult tests needed to vote.

She was a key person who convinced Martin Luther King Jr. to come to Selma, Alabama. She also helped plan the famous Selma to Montgomery marches in 1965. Because of her strong dedication, she was known as "The Mother of the Voting Rights Movement," or simply Mother Foster.

Marie Foster's Early Life and Education

Marie Foster was born Maria Priscilla Martin on October 24, 1917. She grew up near Alberta, Alabama, in a region called the Black Belt. At that time, places like Wilcox County, Alabama were segregated. This meant Black students had very few chances for a good education.

Marie's mother wanted her children to get the best education possible. So, she moved Marie and her siblings to Selma, even though Marie's father did not want her to.

Marie left school after she got married. She had three children. After her husband passed away, she raised her children by herself. Marie was determined to finish her education. She went back to school and graduated one year after her daughter, Rose, did.

After high school, Marie went to a local college. She studied to become a dental hygienist. She then worked for her brother, Dr. Sullivan Jackson, in his dental office in Selma. Her strong belief in education helped her fight against the unfair Jim Crow laws. These laws stopped Black people from registering to vote across the South.

Fighting for Civil Rights

Starting the Fight for Voting Rights

In the South, Black voters faced many unfair rules. White officials made it very hard for them to register. They had to pass difficult literacy tests and pay poll taxes. Most Black people could not pass these tests or pay the taxes. This was because they did not have equal pay or good schools.

Sometimes, people who tried to register had their addresses printed in the newspaper. This put them in danger. They could face violence or lose their jobs.

Marie Foster worked for her brother, who owned his dental practice. This gave her more freedom. She was not as likely to face the same dangers as others. She was still at risk, but her job meant she could fight for her right to vote. In 1961, in Dallas County, Alabama, only about 156 Black people were registered to vote. There were 15,000 Black people living there.

Marie Foster tried to pass the voter registration test eight times. She finally passed and got her right to vote. From that moment on, she decided to dedicate her life to the Civil Rights Movement. She said, "I had a vision that we could do something about the bias conditions in Selma."

Marie's own education and experience with the tests were very helpful. She knew how to prepare other Black residents to pass the test. She printed flyers inviting people to her literacy classes. Many people were afraid to come at first. Marie's first class had only one student, a 70-year-old man. He had never learned to read or write. Marie patiently taught him how to write his name. Soon, more and more people joined her classes. They trusted her to help them learn without making them feel bad.

Marie Foster's Role as a Movement Organizer

Marie Foster became very involved in the Civil Rights Movement in the early 1960s. She felt that "race relations were so bad in Selma." She helped restart the Dallas County Voters League. This group of African Americans worked to improve voter registration. Marie was one of the eight main leaders of this group. They were known as the "Courageous Eight."

The Selma to Montgomery Marches

As the Civil Rights Movement grew, Marie Foster became an organizer for the Dallas County area. She took part in the march on March 7, 1965. This day became known as Bloody Sunday. As the marchers reached the Edmund Pettus Bridge, police and state troopers stopped them. They violently beat many of the people marching.

Marie Foster was at the front of one of the lines with Amelia Boynton. A state trooper hit her with a club, leaving her with swollen knees. Even with her injuries, Marie marched again two weeks later. This time, the march made it all the way to Montgomery, Alabama. They walked fifty miles over five days. Marie Foster was one of only two women who completed the entire march.

It is said that Martin Luther King, Jr. was at Marie Foster's house when he learned that Lyndon B. Johnson would sign the Voting Rights Act. He reportedly cried with joy at the news while with Marie.

Marie Foster's Later Life and Lasting Impact

After the Voting Rights Act became law, Marie Foster continued to work as a dental assistant. In 1984, she worked on Rev. Jesse Jackson's campaign for president. In her free time, she taught children how to read. She kept fighting for change. She campaigned for public housing for poor people in Selma. She also spoke out against the behavior of white bus drivers. She even asked for a statue of a Klan founder to be removed from a public park.

Marie helped create the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute. She also ran in many elections to try and replace the mayor of Selma, Joseph Smitherman. He was mayor during the Selma to Montgomery marches.

Marie Foster passed away on September 6, 2003. She is buried at Serenity Memorial Gardens in Selma, Alabama.

In 2020, the National Women's History Alliance honored Marie Foster after her death.

See also

• List of civil rights leaders
• National Voting Rights Museum in Selma, which has a room named for her.