Mississippi Harmony: Memoirs of a Freedom Fighter

by Winson Hudson, Constance Curry

In 1963, Winson Hudson finally registered to vote in Leake County, Mississippi, when she interpreted part of the state constitution by saying, â It meant what it said and it said what it meant.â Her first attempt had been in 1937. A lifelong native of the rural, all-black community of Harmony, Winson has lived through some of the most racially oppressive periods in her stateâ s history--and has devoted her life to combatting discrimination. With her sister Dovie, Winson filed the first lawsuit to desegregate the public schools in a rural county. Helping to establish the county NAACP chapter in 1961, Winson served as its president for 38 years. Her work has included voting rights, school desegregation, health care, government loans, telephone service, good roads, housing, and childcare--issues that were intertwined with the black freedom struggle. Winsonâ s narrative, presented in her own words with historical background from noted author and activist Constance Curry, is both triumphant and tragic, inspiring and disturbing. It illustrates the virtually untold story of the role that African American women played in the civil rights movement at the local level in black communities throughout the South.

Genres: Race, Biography Memoir, History

176 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2002

Reviews

[Rebecca McPhedran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winson Hudson was an unassuming woman who lived in Leake County, MS. She was an unknown hero of the Civil Rights Movement, at least to most outside of Mississippi. She and her sister, Dovie, along with their husbands fought for basic rights, like the right to vote, the right to get an FHA loan for land, and the right to go to school.

This is her memoir, told with minimal historical intrusion. It is obvious she lived her life in quiet grace. She fought for what was important, and she loved her community. All of these things shine through in her stories. What a woman of strength. I feel like Winson Hudson was only one of the women who have been forgotten throughout history. These women fought for what was right, no matter the danger, and for that, they should be remembered.

[Sha-shonda Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book was like sitting at your elder's feet learning the most important lessons life has to offer!

[Candy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mrs Hudson deserves to be remembered for her community work. I liked reading the story in her own words, aided by the historical context. I worked at Job and Family services from the 70's - the 2000's, so Winson and I were able to help people via many of the same programs that are still helping people today.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Winson is articulate and tells her important story that speaks to struggles unimaginable to this reader who grew up in the California. She vividly shares the life of a woman growing up in segregated and brutally racist south, her account gives a solid framework of the continuing suffering of black Americans.

[Sarah Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Those radicals from out west wanted to organize a big march on the Nixon Administration. That’s when I raised sand, and told them that people were dying where I came from, and we had lost faith in this society.”
-Winson Hudson 1973, regarding health care access in African American communities

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

After finishing this book and Wolf Hall, I'm ready for some brain candy.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

"So you see, fighting is an everyday thing—don’t never
rest. "