Registering to vote for Blacks was pretty much impossible in McComb county. The registrar had the power to choose from any of 285 sections of the state constitution, and have the registering voter give a "reasonable interpretation" of the law. Blacks would often be given the longer, legalistically complex sections of the exam. This made it incredibly embarrassing and demoralizing for people to attempt to vote. The literacy test was just one of the legally imposed restrictions on Blacks voting. Any Blacks who were able to register were constantly harassed and threatened. Those who succeeded in registering were considered, in the Black community, symbols of danger, and bravery at the same time.

C.C. Bryant introduced Moses to , leader of the Amite County . Setting up weekly meetings, which focused on registering local Blacks to vote, Steptoe and Moses were attacked on more than one occasion. One night, after a late meeting had ended, an assassination attempt was made on Moses. Shots were fired from another car into Moses', and a young driver was hit close to the spine. Despite the frightening opposition, Moses continued moving on with the Movement. The violence that his work brought upon himself and others he cared for had a deep impact on Moses and caused him to seriously consider relenting on more than one occasion.

By 1962, the SNCC in Mississippi had drawn together 20 young members. These students had worked over the summer using "direct action," conducting protests as boldly in McComb as had been conducted previously in other parts of the South. While many feared for the safety of the youngsters, they survived and were effective in arousing more and more awareness of the Movement and its arrival in Mississippi. The Movement was becoming popular not only among students now, but also with older groups of Blacks. Moses then recognized the need to organize with the entire community, linking parents and students alike. This concern eventually led to the formation of , an organization focused on uniting organizations of the Civil Rights Movement.

Moses' early work in Amite and McComb counties created a tipping point for the Movement. It opened some breathing space for activists, by causing a general awareness of the will of Blacks to fight oppression. The arduous early organizing that Moses achieved in McComb and Amite Counties was essential to the flood of progress that was achieved in the years following this work. His work allowed doors to be opened for the first time, and the people of Mississippi were on their way to gaining political access. The next step for Moses and the Movement was to take the message statewide, and eventually nationally.