After a week of training in Oxford, OH, the first group of volunteers left for their Freedom Summer assignments on June 20, 1964. Three of those volunteers were James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner, who left Oxford separately from the others in order to investigate a church burning in the locality of Philadelphia, located in Neshoba County, MS. On June 21, word reached Oxford that Chaney, Goodman and Schwerner were missing in Meridian, MS, after failing to check in with local volunteers. By June 23, Steve Schapiro, who was photographing training activities in Oxford, OH, was in Meridian with his camera. He stayed in Mississippi for several weeks as the search for the missing men unfolded, capturing some of the most poignant and striking moments of the investigation.
Schapiro’s work in Mississippi during the investigation allowed the rest of the country to see what was happening in the South. His photographs became a testament to the importance of photojournalism in documenting what developed in Mississippi, particularly after the disappearance of Chaney, Goodman and Schwerner.
The Mississippi Freedom Project resulted in the development of Freedom Schools and community centers, supporting learning and engagement for disenfranchised Blacks. Most importantly was the advocacy and support for voting rights, which coupled with the national attention on the murders of Chaney, Scherner and Goodman, led to the passing of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
