Annie Lee Cooper
African-American civil rights activist / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Annie Lee Cooper?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
Annie Lee Wilkerson Cooper (born Annie Lee Wilkerson; June 2, 1910 – November 24, 2010) was an African-American civil rights activist. She is best known for punching Dallas County, Alabama Sheriff Jim Clark in the face during the 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches.[1][2] Cooper's lasting legacy is recognized as her activism in the Selma Voting Rights Marches and her role as a female leader in the civil rights movement.[3][4]
Annie Lee Wilkerson Cooper | |
---|---|
Born | Annie Lee Wilkerson (1910-06-02)June 2, 1910 Selma, Alabama, US |
Died | November 24, 2010(2010-11-24) (aged 100) Selma, Alabama, US |
Occupation | Civil rights activist |
Known for | Selma to Montgomery marches |
Annie Lee Cooper was a civil rights activist who believed that the collective effort of the black community could change the laws made to segregate them. She helped mostly with the voting rights in Selma and helped many African Americans register to vote. Though she was a key player in the voting rights movement, her efforts were often relegated to the background because of her gender. She was very misrepresented in the media, especially newspapers, who often presented her as an "aggressor." Some popular headlines in newspapers such as the Lodi News Sentinel would be "Selma Sheriff Slugged by Hefty Negro Woman."[5]