Vernon Dahmer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vernon Dahmer
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| Born |
Vernon Ferdinand Dahmer
March 10, 1908 Kelly Settlement
Forrest County, Mississippi |
| Died | January 10, 1966 (aged 57) |
| Organization | National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) |
| Movement | Civil Rights Movement |
Vernon Ferdinand Dahmer, Sr. (born March 10, 1908 – died January 10, 1966) was an important leader in the Civil Rights Movement. He was the president of the NAACP chapter in Forrest County, near Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Mr. Dahmer worked hard to help African Americans register to vote. Sadly, he died because of his brave efforts to make voting fair for everyone.
Early Life and Family Background
Vernon Dahmer was born on March 10, 1908, in a place called Kelly Settlement in Forrest County, Mississippi. His parents were Ellen Louvenia (Kelly) and George Washington Dahmer. His father, George, was known as an honest and hardworking farmer. Vernon's mother, Ellen, had a mixed heritage.
Vernon Dahmer went to Bay Spring High School but left before graduating. Even though he had light skin and could have chosen to live as a white man, he decided to live as a Black man. This meant facing the daily challenges that Black people experienced in Mississippi during that time.
Mr. Dahmer was married three times. His last wife was Ellie Jewel Davis, a teacher. They met while working on the school board and married in 1952. Together, they had two children, Dennis and Bettie. Vernon also had six children from his first two marriages, making a total of eight children. Their family home was in the Kelly Settlement, named after Vernon's grandfather. Ellie Dahmer taught for many years and retired in 1987.
Vernon Dahmer was a member of the Shady Grove Baptist Church. He was a music director and a Sunday School teacher there. He also owned a grocery store, a sawmill, a planing mill, and a cotton farm. He wanted to earn a living for his family and also create jobs for others. He hired people from his community, both Black and white, showing he believed in fairness for everyone.
Fighting for Civil Rights
During the Civil Rights Movement, Vernon Dahmer was president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in Forrest County for two terms. He led efforts to help Black people register to vote in the 1960s. His wife, Ellie, said he was a "good progressive Christian man" who saw good in both white and Black people.
As NAACP president, he asked the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) to send workers to help with voter registration in Hattiesburg. This decision eventually led to him losing his NAACP presidency, but he continued his important work.
In 1949, Mr. Dahmer tried to re-register to vote, but Luther Cox, a white official in charge of voter registration, stopped him. Cox would often ask Black people unfair questions, like "How many bubbles are in a bar of soap?" to prevent them from registering. In 1950, Vernon Dahmer and fifteen other Black leaders in Forrest County filed a lawsuit against Cox. Twelve years later, in 1962, Dahmer testified in court. His testimony helped show how Black people were being unfairly treated when they tried to vote.
In the 1950s, Vernon Dahmer and Medgar Evers started a youth NAACP group in Hattiesburg. Even though it didn't last long, Dahmer continued to support the SNCC. His farm became a welcoming place for SNCC volunteers. They used his farm for voter registration projects, and he even hired some of the volunteers. Mr. Dahmer also worked closely with other groups like the Coalition for Free and Open Elections (COFO) and the Delta Ministry.
In late 1965, Mr. Dahmer kept a voter registration book in his grocery store. This made it easier for Black people to register to vote. He also announced on the radio that he would help local African Americans pay the poll tax if they couldn't afford it. A poll tax was a fee people had to pay to vote, which often stopped poorer Black citizens from casting their ballots. His famous saying was, "If you don't vote, you don't count." These words were even put on his gravestone.
Honors and Remembering Vernon Dahmer
After Vernon Dahmer's death, a street and a park in Hattiesburg were named in his honor. A special memorial was also dedicated at the park on July 26, 1986.
In 1992, Vernon's widow, Ellie Dahmer, was elected as an election commissioner for District 2 in Forrest County. She served in this role for over ten years. Both Black and white residents supported her in the same area where her husband had fought for voting rights.
On January 8, 2016, the Mississippi State Legislature honored Vernon Dahmer by making January 10 "Vernon Dahmer Day." A ceremony was held in Hattiesburg on the 50th anniversary of his death, attended by his wife and family. Today, his family still attends the Shady Grove Baptist Church, and its members are very active in the community.
In January 2020, a bronze statue of Vernon Dahmer was placed in front of the Forrest County Courthouse. This statue helps people remember his bravery and his important work for civil rights.
