FMCF

Fannie Mae Crumsey was born on a plantation in Jefferson, GA on November 15, 1920.  Facing racism and oppression from birth, she used those hardships as fuel to fight for justice, equality, and unity in Chattanooga’s Black community. Affectionately known as Mrs. Fannie, she became a respected activist and advocate against racial violence, racial inequality, and racial injustice. 

On April 19, 1980, she was one of five women injured in a drive-by shooting by klansmen. On the state criminal level, only one klansman was convicted for this heinous crime.This caught the attention of New York City's Center for Constitutional Rights where a legal team took on the case.  The landmark federal case: Crumsey v. Justice Knights of the Ku Klux Klan emerged. Mrs. Crumsey was the lead plaintiff in this monumental case that resulted in a 1982 permanent injunction against the Klan, prohibiting assault, harassment, intimidation, interference or threats of violence against Black Americans nationwide.  

This case underscored the deep impact of community, intergenerational, and vicarious trauma. Mrs. Fannie knew this all too well. Known for her wisdom and open-door spirit, Mrs. Fannie uplifted others until her passing on April 25, 2005. One of her favorite sayings was, “Never rest until your good is better and your better is best.” She was the confidante and elder within multiple black communities. 

Unfortunately, community trauma has been and still is one of the top three types of traumas- alongside intergenerational and vicarious trauma in black communities. In 2013, the Fannie Mae Crumsey Foundation (FMCF) was established by her grandchildren to honor and continue her legacy. FMCF works to address community trauma, reduce stigma around counseling, and promote mental health awareness in communities, especially in black communities—building a better tomorrow for everyone’s good today.