𝐶𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐵𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑘 𝐻𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦 𝑀𝑜𝑛𝑡ℎ: 𝐻𝑜𝑛𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑃𝑒𝑔𝑔𝑦 𝐽𝑒𝑎𝑛 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑛𝑜𝑟

Peggy Jean Connor, a Hattiesburg native and 1950 graduate of Eureka High School, was a trailblazing civil rights activist whose dedication to justice and equality helped shape the fight for voting rights in Mississippi. As the owner of a beauty shop on Mobile Street, she used her business not just as a place of work but also as a meeting space to organize and empower Black voters during the civil rights movement.

In the early 1960s, Connor became deeply involved with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and played a key role in the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP), serving as its executive secretary. She worked tirelessly to challenge voter suppression and discrimination, helping organize grassroots efforts to register Black voters. In 1964, she was a delegate at the Democratic National Convention, where the MFDP challenged the legitimacy of the all-white Mississippi delegation. Despite intimidation and opposition, she remained steadfast in the fight for fair representation.

Connor also attended citizenship training workshops through the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), equipping herself with the tools to educate others on their voting rights. Her leadership extended beyond politics, as she worked alongside other local activists to create opportunities for Black citizens to fully participate in civic life.

On this last day of Black History Month, we honor Peggy Jean Connor for her unwavering commitment to justice and the advancement of civil rights