Christmas in Mississippi Flyer (1964)

Flyer with green ink that pictures a table with a turkey on a platter with a gravy boat and canned cranberry sauce on a plate. In the background is a cozy fire burning in the fireplace. The flyer reads: Will Christmas in Mississippi be like Christmas in America? Act with Dick Gregory to airlift 20,000 turkeys from the heart of Chicago to Mississippi for Christmas. $5,00 buys a family Christmas dinner in memory of Medgar Evers, Mickey Schwerner, James Chaney, and Andrew Goodman. Give now to: Christmas for Mississippi Box 7797, Chicago 77, Illinois. Call 624-7500. Did you give thanks that your Thanksgiving was not spent in Mississippi?

In 1964, comedian and civil rights activist Dick Gregory created flyers asking Chicagoans for donations to buy turkeys for needy families in Mississippi. The donations would be made in the memory of deceased civil rights workers James Chaney, Medgar Evers, Andrew Goodman, and Mickey Schwerner.

According to an Associated Press article, Gregory wanted to draw attention to poverty in Mississippi and around the country. Six thousand pounds of turkey were distributed around Mississippi to all families in need regardless of race or location. Gregory had to deny some donations because he was unable to arrange sufficient transportation to distribute the food. More information about his efforts can be found here.

This flyer is found in the Rabbi David Z. Ben-Ami Papers (M65). If you are interested in looking at this flyer or Special Collections, please contact Jennifer Brannock at or 601.266.4347. To see more Items of the Month, click here.

Text by Jennifer Brannock, Curator of Rare Books and Mississippiana