Unita Zelma Blackwell was a Civil Rights activist and the first African American elected mayor in America, in the state of Mississippi. Her attributes towards Civil Rights includes being project director for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. She helped organize voter drives for African Americans in Mississippi. She was a member of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. Unita Blackwell was instrumental in starting “Head Start” for black kids in the Mississippi Delta. She became an advocate for educational rights after 300 students were suspended for wearing a “Freedom Pin” which depicted a white hand and a black hand, clasped. Blackwell was the recipient of the “For My People Award”, presented by Jackson State University.
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Church Affiliation:Rose Hill Baptist Church
Role in the Movement:Unita Zelma Blackwell was a Civil Rights activist and the first African American elected mayor in America, in the state of Mississippi.
Birth Place:Lula, MS
Born Date:March 18, 1933
Deceased Date:May 13, 2019
Place Lived as Adult:West Helena, AK; Lula, MS; Mayersville, MS; Biloxi, MS
Church Location:Mayerville, MS