New installment will be released on Aug. 21 becoming part of the Fannie Lou Hamer Digital Driving Tour, expanding the national civil rights story to Atlantic City
Atlantic City, NJ, August 21, 2026 - Visit Atlantic City has funded a new video spotlighting civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer’s powerful connection to the city. Part of the Fannie Lou Hamer Digital Driving Tour, the video will mirror the initiatives objective of using heritage tourism to invite visitors to experience Atlantic City through a deep cultural and historical lens. The video will be released on Friday, Aug. 21.
The eight-minute video will interpret Hamer’s historic appearance at the 1964 Democratic National Convention that took place at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, where she testified before the Credentials Committee on behalf of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party and challenged the nation to confront voter suppression, racial violence and unequal political representation. Her testimony, delivered on Aug. 22, 1964, became one of the defining moments of the civil rights movement, with the video release date coinciding with the anniversary of Hamer’s monumental testimony.
Partially told in Hamer’s own voice through archival footage, the video also highlights Atlantic City’s efforts to preserve Hamer’s legacy by featuring Stockton University’s Fannie Lou Hamer Event Room and statue at the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, the Civil Rights Memorial Garden, the African American Heritage Museum and the two historical markers dedicated to Hamer on the Boardwalk. The video helps broaden the city’s story beyond its well-known attractions and showcases its role in shaping national conversations about civil rights, democracy and social progress.
“Fannie Lou Hamer’s connection to Atlantic City is a powerful reminder that our destination’s story extends far beyond the beaches and Boardwalk,” said Gary Musich, President and CEO of Visit Atlantic City. “Her historic testimony at Boardwalk Hall helped bring the fight for equal representation to a national stage, and we’re proud to help share that history with audiences near and far. Through heritage tourism, we can invite visitors to experience Atlantic City from a new perspective and better understand the people, moments and movements that helped shape our nation.”
The Fannie Lou Hamer Digital Driving Tour is an online journey through 12 locations that shaped Hamer’s life, activism and enduring legacy. The Atlantic City video is the first featured outside Hamer’s home state of Mississippi and will add a New Jersey site to the tour, connecting viewers to the city where Hamer’s call for political representation for Blacks reached a national audience. Existing tour stops focus on Mississippi communities central to Hamer’s life and work, with additional sites, such as Chicago, planned beyond the state.
“Atlantic City is an essential stop in Aunt Fannie Lou’s story,” said Monica Land, Hamer’s niece and the producer of Fannie Lou Hamer’s America and the Driving Tour Videos. “Her testimony there still speaks to the urgency of equal representation and human dignity. And because of the generous support of Visit Atlantic City, this video will help bring that history to life for audiences worldwide regardless of where they are.”
Created as part of the award-winning film, Fannie Lou Hamer’s America, K-12 educational curriculum, the Digital Driving Tour features short videos and stories that guide audiences through key sites associated with Hamer’s organizing, speeches, faith, community leadership and advocacy for voting rights and her humanitarianism. The videos are available for viewing on the Fannie Lou Hamer’s America website and YouTube channel.
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About Fannie Lou Hamer’s Atlantic City Connection
Fannie Lou Hamer came to Atlantic City in 1964 as a representative and co-founder of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP), which sought to challenge Mississippi’s all-white delegation at the Democratic National Convention. Her televised testimony before the Credentials Committee described the violence and intimidation she endured for trying to register to vote and asked the unforgettable question, “Is this America?”
About Fannie Lou Hamer’s America
The award-winning film premiered on PBS and WORLD Channel in February 2022 and allows Fannie Lou Hamer to tell her own story in her own words - both spoken and sung – through rare and archival footage.
The Fannie Lou Hamer’s America website is the official site for the documentary film and the Fannie Lou Hamer Educational Resource Center. The family and scholar-led educational platform shares information about the film, educational resources, speeches, songs, biographies, teaching materials, the Digital Driving Tour and more to preserve the life, voice and legacy of Fannie Lou Hamer.
About Visit Atlantic City
Visit Atlantic City Is A 501(c)(6) Organization Formed And Funded As A Public-private Partnership By The Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (crda) To Create Economic Development Through Leisure Tourism, Conventions, Sporting Events, Film Production And Group Tourism.
Atlantic City is a premier travel destination on the East Coast with the first Boardwalk to open in the United States. Attracting visitors with its diverse array of tourism offerings, Atlantic City is home to nine casino resorts, an eclectic culinary scene, vibrant history, thrilling entertainment and family-friendly adventures, making it the ultimate destination where celebrations live on and inspire visitors to create memory making moments.
For complete Atlantic City tourism and convention information, visit www.visitatlanticcity.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
