Fannie Lou Hamer Honored at New Obama Presidential Center
CHICAGO, Illinois – June 13, 2026 – More than five years after construction began, the opening of the Obama Presidential Center (OPC), which presents the remarkable story of America’s first Black president and First Lady will coincide with Juneteenth, the federal holiday on June 19 that commemorates the 1865 emancipation of enslaved Black Americans. The OPC marks a milestone for Chicago’s South Side – where the Obama’s journey began - creating a new civic, cultural, and educational destination rooted in community and public engagement.
As part of the broader vision for the campus and its surrounding public areas, a series of spaces have been created that honor the civil rights and democracy leaders who have inspired President and Mrs. Obama’s own leadership journeys. These include Mississippi-sharecropper and voting rights advocate Fannie Lou Hamer. The signage of the Fannie Lou Hamer Walkway at the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, IL
OPC officials said individuals like Hamer represent those “on whose shoulders we stand” as people across the country and around the world seek to advance progress, dignity, and inclusion in our societies.
Situated at the entrance to the campus, the Fannie Lou Hamer Walkway serves as a “park within a park" that blends lush plantings and stone hardscapes to provide a contemplative transition between the Library and Forum buildings. The space honors Hamer, the co-founder of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP) as well as the National Women’s Political Caucus, who brought national attention to the indignities faced by Black Americans and demonstrated the power of determination in the fight for voting rights.
“President and Mrs. Obama have always been clear that their ability to make change was made possible through the example of leaders, who, through their commitment, sacrifice, and passion, fought for a world where everyone has a voice,” said Valerie Jarrett, CEO of The Obama Foundation. “The honorees we are naming today are giants of democracy who showed us all that one voice can change a room and together we can change the world.”
Hamer’s niece, Monica Land, who produced the award-winning film, Fannie Lou Hamer’s America and oversees its educational website, said the Obama’s recognition of Hamer’s struggle is both humbling and telling.
“Deep down, Aunt Fannie Lou wondered if what she was doing really made a difference,” Land said. “She sacrificed so much and she missed so much time with her family because she was constantly traveling on behalf of others. She had regrets. But it’s moments like this that prove that she did make a difference and she would be so proud to see these advancements.”
Additional signage honoring Hamer appear on the north facing wall just inside the courtyard and features one of her quotes: “And it’s no easy way out. We just got to wake up and face it, folks. And if I can face the issue, you can too.”
The Fannie Lou Hamer Walkway was made possible through the generous support of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois.
A fearless organizer, Hamer became one of the most important grassroots voices of the 1960s freedom movement by helping thousands to register to vote despite intimidation and violence. After being viciously beaten in a Winona, Mississippi jail at the hands of local law enforcement in June 1963, she recounted her experience a year later during the nationally televised Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City. Following that emotionally charged testimony, Hamer became one of the most sought-after speakers of her time.
Hamer died of breast cancer, hypertension and the aftereffects of the jailhouse beating on March 14, 1977.
Other dedicated spaces at the $380 million 19.3-acre OPC include the Claudette Colvin Program Room, the Dorothy Height Sky Room Vista, the Thurgood Marshall Courtyard and the Rosa Parks Courtyard Lounge. Officials said, “these named spaces will serve as lasting tributes to the giants of history, reminding every visitor that they, too, have the power to leave a lasting mark on the world.”
A dedication and official grand opening ceremony for family members of the dedicated spaces and select guests will be held on Thursday, June 18.
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About the Obama Presidential Center: A one-of-its kind museum, the OPC is the first fully digital museum and combines high-tech and hands-on exhibits spanning the campaigns, key moments of Obama's presidency and life at the White House, art installations, a Chicago Public Library branch, athletic facilities and community gathering spaces.
About The Obama Foundation: The Obama Foundation is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to inspire, empower, and connect people to change their world. That mission begins on the South Side of Chicago, where The Foundation is building the Obama Presidential Center. But that approach extends to all our work, whether it’s holding leadership training sessions in communities throughout the U.S., bringing local leaders together in countries around the world, working to support the global education of girls, or ensuring young men of color have pathways to opportunity. From every corner of the globe, our program participants are working together to address some of the biggest challenges of our time—from renewing our democratic institutions, protecting LGBTQ+ rights, fighting climate change, and so much more.