Common to produce Fannie Lou Hamer biopic

Common will officially give civil and voting rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer a new voice through a planned biopic project.

Fannie Lou Hamer biopic

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the Emmy, Grammy and Oscar winner is on board to produce “God’s Long Summer,” a feature film that “follows Hamer’s rise from oppressive plantation sharecropping system in 1962 Mississippi, where at age 44, she fought against the Southern political establishment and systemic racism.”

Prior to her death in 1977 at age 59, Hamer was one of the most prolific voices of the civil and voting rights movement, who fought for greater opportunities for African Americans.

“Fannie Lou Hamer is a revolutionary figure we should all know,” Common, whose real name is Lonnie Rashid Lynn, said. “Her story and impact is evidence that Black history is American history. We have all benefited from her work and dedication. I feel blessed to be working with this incredible group of producers to bring this story to the screen.”

She was certainly the voice for the voiceless.

“She fought against the Southern political establishment, systemic racism and misogyny by exercising her right to vote and fighting for the rights of others,” the project’s synopsis states.

“Labeled as plain spoken and unfit to lead the movement, Hamer captivated the nation with her powerful voice, sheer will, and faith in her fight against leaders at the highest levels of state and federal government and within the Civil Rights Movement itself to help secure passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.”