FSU professor's research helped with Fannie Lou Hamer documentary premiering on PBS

FSU Communications
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In “Fannie Lou Hamer’s America,” Hamer tells her own story “from beginning to end,” according to a press release, as opposed to a documentary created from secondary sources. In the 90 minutes, Hamer’s story is told in her own words with archives and video footage that has rarely been seen.
In “Fannie Lou Hamer’s America,” Hamer tells her own story “from beginning to end,” according to a press release, as opposed to a documentary created from secondary sources. In the 90 minutes, Hamer’s story is told in her own words with archives and video footage that has rarely been seen.

A documentary telling the story of Fannie Lou Hamer will make its national debut on PBS thanks to the contributions of a Florida State University professor, alumni and students.

“Fannie Lou Hamer’s America” will launch the landmark 10th season of America ReFramed with a special presentation on PBS at 9 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 22, followed by its broadcast on WORLD Channel Thursday, Feb. 24.

Davis Houck, FSU’s Fannie Lou Hamer Professor of Rhetorical Studies in the College of Communication and Information, helped assemble the project team and has served as a researcher and consultant for the production.

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Davis Houck, Fannie Lou Hamer Professor of Rhetorical Studies in the School of Communication, Florida State University
Davis Houck, Fannie Lou Hamer Professor of Rhetorical Studies in the School of Communication, Florida State University

“This project was hard — hard to research, hard to produce, hard to fund, hard to edit,” Houck said. “But with a wonderful and talented team, comprising of many FSU students and graduates, Fannie Lou Hamer will finally get to tell her own story. Her words are more urgent and relevant than ever.”

Airing during Black History Month, the film is produced by Hamer’s great-niece Monica Land and Selena Lauterer and directed by Joy Davenport, a two-time graduate of the School of Communication. Pablo Correa, a graduate of FSU’s School of Communication, is a videographer and producer on the film. Davenport and Correa were both Houck’s students at FSU.

“Fannie Lou Hamer’s America” focuses on the incredible life of one of the Civil Rights Movement’s greatest leaders and the injustices that made her work essential. Hamer tells her story in her own words in the 90-minute film through archival audio recordings and rarely seen video footage. Instead of relying on secondary sources and experts, the team of filmmakers and academics wanted Hamer to narrate her own story from beginning to end.

A co-production of WORLD Channel and American Documentary, Inc., America ReFramed is a documentary anthology series that brings compelling stories, personal voices and experiences to life. Since 2012, the series has premiered 170 films from more than 370 filmmakers.

For more information about America ReFramed and the new season premiere, visit worldchannel.org.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU team worked on 'Fannie Lou Hamer's America' documentary