<P> The Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party ( MFDP ) was an American political party created in 1964 as a branch of the populist Freedom Democratic organization in the state of Mississippi during the Civil Rights Movement . It was organized by African Americans and whites from Mississippi to challenge the legitimacy of the regular Mississippi Democratic Party , which allowed participation only by whites , when African Americans made up 40 % of the state population . </P>
why did the mississippi freedom democratic party emerge at the democratic party convention in 1964
to challenge the legitimacy of the regular Mississippi Democratic Party , which allowed participation only by whites , when African Americans made up 40 % of the state population