James Chaney

About

Field worker for the Congress of Racial Equality who was murdered by the KKK while working in Mississippi to organize voter education classes.

Before Fame

He only had a ninth grade education and at the age of 15 he started wearing paper patches reading "NAACP", to mark his support for the national civil rights organization.

Trivia

The 1988 film, Mississippi Burning, was loosely based upon the investigation into his murder.

Family Life

He was raised by his parents, Ben and Fannie Lee Chaney.

Associated With

Andrew Goodman was also murdered while in a car with him during the Freedom Summer.