Marie Foster | |
|---|---|
| Born | Marie Priscilla Martin October 24, 1917 Wilcox County, Alabama, United States |
| Died | September 6, 2003 (aged 85) Selma, Alabama, United States |
| Occupation(s) | Activist Dental assistant |
| Known for | Being "the mother of the voting rights movement" |
| Spouse | James Foster (m,1931-1939) |
| Children | 3
James Foster (son, 1931-2008) Rose Foster (daughter) |
| Parent | Squire (Square) Martin (father) Virginia Pettiway (mother) |
| Relatives | Sullivan Jackson (brother)
Tom Martin (brother) Irene Pettiway (sister) Thelma Jackson (sister) |
Marie Priscilla Martin Foster (October 24, 1917 – September 6, 2003) was a leader in the Civil Rights Movement in the U.S. during the 1960s. Her successful voter registration in Dallas County, Alabama fueled her to become an activist, and she began teaching adult classes to help people pass the required literacy tests. She was a member of the Dallas County Voters League, the Alabama foot soldier that convinced Martin Luther King Jr. to come to Selma, Alabama and helped organize the Selma to Montgomery marches in 1965. Her dedication gave her the moniker "The Mother of the Voting Rights Movement," which was shortened to Mother Foster.[1]
- ^ "2020 Honorees". National Women's History Alliance. Retrieved January 8, 2020.