Freedom Primer No. 1: The Convention Challenge and the Freedom Vote

In 1964, many Black Mississippians involved with civil rights organizing and voter registration formed the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP) to address the problem of all-white primaries in the South. Since the Democratic Party remained all-white, organizers affiliated with the Council of Federated Organizations (COFO) questioned the legitimacy of the state’s Democratic Party and formed the MFDP to both encourage Black political participation and demonstrate the exclusionary practices of the Mississippi Democratic Party.

The MFDP elected their own national convention delegates for the 1964 Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City and attempted to gain seats on the convention floor. President Lyndon B. Johnson, fearful of blowback that would cost him votes in the general election, acted against the MFDP and prevented their full inclusion in the convention.