Freedom Came Late: What Juneteenth Teaches Us about the America We’re Still Building
National Civil Rights Museum Op-Ed as published in The Daily Memphian Dr. Russ Wigginton, President On June 19, 1865, a Union general arrived in Galveston, Texas, and read aloud four sentences that changed lives: the…
Read moreReclaiming King
By HASAN JEFFRIES Few people are more deserving of the praise they receive than Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His commitment to social justice and racial equality was unshakable. His belief in nonviolence was unwavering.
Read moreWhat Would King Do? Learning from King's Approach to Black Power
BY ASHLEY FARMER By 1966, calls for “Black Power” electrified the nation. In the preceding year alone, black Americans had witnessed the assassination of Malcolm X, riots it Watts, the black section of Los Angeles, and…
Read moreDr. King's Dream Deferred: Poverty, & Economic Human Rights
By Amy Nathan Wright In May 1967, Dr. King announced to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), “We have moved from the era of civil rights to the era of human rights,” from a “reform movement,” into “an…
Read morePicking up King's Legacy: Reverend William Barber and the Launching of a New Poor People's Campaign
By Jeanne Theoharis The air was hot and sticky. Surrounded by clergy, Rev. William Barber lambasted the voter suppression that had compromised the 2016 presidential election. “Long before Russia hacked our election, our…
Read moreMartin Luther King's 'Creative Maladjustment' Resonates Today
By Yohuru Williams Seeking perspective on the current chaotic state of U.S. politics, I reread a powerful speech delivered fifty years ago by the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in September 1967.
Read moreBlack Women, Civil Rights and the Struggle for Bodily Integrity
By Danielle L. McGuire On September 3, 1944, Mrs. Recy Taylor, a slender, copper-colored and beautiful twenty-four-year-old mother and sharecropper, walked home from a church revival in Abbeville, Alabama.
Read moreDefining the Dream
Each generation looks at history from a different perspective. As someone who came of age in the 1960s, I followed King’s agenda closely. When he urged young men to refuse the draft, I became a conscientious objector.
Read moreReclaiming King II
By Ibram X. Kendi When Americans remember Martin Luther King Jr., we first and foremost remember his “dream” that “my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of…
Read moreMartin, Sidney, and Oscar
By Aram Goudsouzian As Sidney Poitier strode across the stage of the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, the audience erupted in cheers. People stood, they clapped, they whistled and roared, they yelled Bravo!
Read moreThe Legacy of King's Influence from Black Power to Black Lives Matter
By Jakobi Williams Several political and media pundits have drawn parallels between activists of the Black Power movement of the 1960s and the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement of today.
Read morePoverty, Racism, and the Legacy of King's Poor People's Campaign
By Keri Leigh Merritt Reflecting back upon the fifty years since the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one singular point always stands out, a searing reminder of what was (and still is) America’s grossest…
Read moreThe Harbinger of Housing & Human Rights in the 21st Century
By Rhonda Y. Williams Wherever I turn, housing is. Obvious, you might say. But, I am not talking simply about housing in the most apparent sense of literal wood, steel, or brick-and-mortar structures, but housing as a…
Read moreA Dream Deferred
By Jim Johnson In his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. envisioned a future American society in which black children would no longer “be judged by the color of their skin but [rather] by the…
Read moreMartin Luther King Jr., and the Black Athlete Protest Tradition
By Louis Moore Hank Aaron knew he needed to step up to the plate. By 1966, thousands of Black men and women his age had risked their lives fighting in the Civil Rights Movement. And high-profile athletes like Jackie…
Read moreWhere There's a Will, There's a Way
On January 2, 1965, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood in front of a crowd of seven hundred people, packed into the pews of Brown Chapel AME Church in Selma, Alabama. “Today marks the beginning of a determined, organized…
Read more250 Years – The Promise and the Work: Patriotism Means Honesty at America’s Semiquincentennial
National Civil Rights Museum Op-Ed Dr. Russ Wigginton, President Two hundred and fifty years ago, a group of men signed a document that made an audacious claim: that all men are created equal, endowed with unalienable…
Read moreMuseum Launches Bayard Rustin Institute
Museum Launches Bayard Rustin Institute
Read moreThe Ballot Remains the Battlefield: The Demise of the Voting Rights Act
National Civil Rights Museum Op-Ed Dr. Russ Wigginton, President On April 29, the Supreme Court of the United States did what it has been seeking to do for over a decade. It diluted the integrity of the Voting Rights…
Read moreMuseum Statement on the Passing of Bernard Lafayette, Jr.
MUSEUM STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF BERNARD LAFAYETTE, JR. Key Civil Rights Strategist, Organizer, and 2012 Freedom Award Honoree left an imprint on the Museum The National Civil Rights Museum mourns the passing of Rev.
Read moreMuseum Statement on the Passing of Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. Champion of Justice, Voice of Conscience, 2018 Freedom Award Honoree
The National Civil Rights Museum mourns the loss of Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., a towering figure in the American civil rights movement and a global ambassador for justice, peace, and equality.
Read moreForty Years of the King Holiday: A Promise Renewed, A Legacy Reimagined
National Civil Rights Museum Op-Ed Dr. Russ Wigginton, President As published in The Tennessean and The Commercial Appeal Forty years ago, after one of the longest legislative battles in modern U.S.
Read moreLegacy Reimagined: A New Era at the National Civil Rights Museum
National Civil Rights Museum Op-Ed Dr. Russ Wigginton, President When the National Civil Rights Museum’s Legacy Building reopens in late spring 2026, it will do more than welcome guests into an updated facility.
Read moreThe Greater Memphis Chamber's Meet the Chairman’s Circle with President Dr. Russell Wigginton
Wouldn’t the world be a whole lot less interesting if Memphis wasn’t in it? That’s how Chairman’s Circle investor Russ Wigginton describes his passion for Memphis, the hometown he eventually chose after he came here to…
Read moreHealing on Sacred Ground: Why Founders Park is More than Just a Park
National Civil Rights Museum Op-Ed Dr. Russ Wigginton, President There’s a quiet power in standing in a place where history happened. And in Memphis, there are few spaces more sacred than the ground outside the National…
Read moreBreaking Barriers, Building Belonging: Reclaiming Our Shared Space
National Civil Rights Museum Op-Ed Dr. Russ Wigginton, President For the past two years, a fence has surrounded the Legacy side of the National Civil Rights Museum campus. What began as a necessary safety barrier for…
Read moreBlack History Museums Face Rising Pressures Amid Federal Oversight
National Civil Rights Museum Op-Ed Dr. Russ Wigginton, President Black history museums across the country are confronting a growing wave of challenges fueled by recent executive orders and sweeping federal oversight.
Read moreThe National Civil Rights Museum Announces 34th Freedom Award Honorees
The National Civil Rights Museum is proud to announce the distinguished honorees for the 34th Freedom Award, recognizing their exceptional contributions to civil and human rights. The Museum’s signature event, the…
Read moreSixty Years after the Voting Rights Act: The Fight to Protect the Ballot Continues
National Civil Rights Museum Op-Ed Dr. Russ Wigginton, President On August 6, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act (VRA), one of the most consequential victories in American history.
Read moreCommunity Over Chaos: Protecting Education for a Stronger America
National Civil Rights Museum Op-Ed Dr. Russ Wigginton, President On the heels of a historic anniversary, our country is reminded of how far we’ve come and how much work remains through the lens of education.
Read moreEveryone’s Freedoms Are at Risk When LGBTQIA+ Rights Are Attacked
National Civil Rights Museum Op-Ed Dr. Russ Wigginton, President In recent years, we’ve witnessed an alarming rise in efforts to suppress expressions of gender identity, ban the use of pronouns in schools, and roll back…
Read moreJuneteenth and the Unfinished Fight for American Freedom
National Civil Rights Museum Op-Ed Dr. Russ Wigginton, President Juneteenth (June 19, 1865) is more than a date on the calendar. It marks the moment when the last enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas were told…
Read moreMuseum Statement on the Passing of Fred Smith
Fred Smith, founder of FedEx and a visionary leader, embodied the spirit of innovation, resilience, and community uplift. His work forever changed the landscape of Memphis, and his impact continues to resonate with the…
Read moreWith American Education Under Threat, We Have to Remember Where We've Been
By Dr. Russ Wigginton Guest Columnist When education is constrained, societies become more vulnerable to division and authoritarianism. When curiosity and empathy are discouraged, the foundations of community and…
Read moreCommunity Over Chaos: Clayborn Temple and the Spirit of Rebirth
Photo credit: Historic Clayborn Temple National Civil Rights Museum Op-Ed Dr. Russ Wigginton, President The recent fire that consumed Clayborn Temple is a devastating blow, not only to Memphis but to the nation.
Read moreA.W. Willis, Jr. at 100: Honoring a Legacy of Courage and Commitment
On March 16, 2025, the National Civil Rights Museum proudly celebrates the 100th birthday of A.W. Willis, Jr., a trailblazing attorney, businessman, and civil rights leader who dedicated his life to justice and equality.
Read moreLetter to the Community: Urgent Support for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)
Dear Friends and Supporters, The National Civil Rights Museum has been privileged to serve as a center for learning, remembrance, and dialogue about the civil rights movement. Thanks to the support of the Institute of…
Read moreThe Fight for Truth: Black History Month and Today’s Cultural Pushback
Black History Month has been deeply influenced by ongoing racial justice movements and political tensions. The protests after the murder of George Floyd marked a turning point, with Black History Month increasingly…
Read moreBlack History Month at the National Civil Rights Museum: A Celebration of Ongoing Education and Community Engagement
National Civil Rights Museum Op-Ed Dr. Russ Wigginton, President Every February, Black History Month serves as a time to reflect on the resilience, achievements, and ongoing struggles of African Americans in the United…
Read moreDr. Martin Luther King Jr. Knew Health Equity and Civil Rights Go Hand in Hand
By Dr. Russ Wigginton Guest Columnist King understood that poverty, inadequate healthcare, and systemic inequalities were barriers to individual well-being and national progress. as published in The Tennessean, Jan.
Read moreMuseum Statement on the Declassification of the King Assassination National Intelligence Documents
The National Civil Rights Museum is closely monitoring efforts to declassify national intelligence files related to the assassinations of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., President John F. Kennedy, and Senator Robert F.
Read moreYes, There Is Voter Suppression in Tennessee. Here's the Key to Overcoming It
By Dr. Russ Wigginton Guest Columnist Every vote counts, every voice matters, and we must ensure that all Americans (especially young and marginalized people) are fully engaged in the democratic process.
Read morePresident Jimmy Carter: A Giant Among Leaders
The National Civil Rights Museum joins the world in mourning the passing of President Jimmy Carter. A giant among leaders and a true example of the highest ideals of public service, President Carter’s legacy will…
Read moreMississippi Burning: From Murder Mayhem to a Mighty Mission
by Ryan M. Jones, Associate Curator Sixty years ago, the state of Mississippi was a hotbed for civil rights. It led the nation in racially motivated violence, and less than 3% of the black population was registered to…
Read moreBayard Rustin – Strategist, Organizer, Unifier
As he approached the podium, Bayard Rustin was determined and elated. He expected about 100,000 marchers to converge at the Washington Monument on August 28, 1963. To his delight, approximately 250,000 people cheered as…
Read moreHonoring Jazz: an early American art form
This post contains mature language. April is National Jazz Appreciation Month. Jazz remains a highly celebrated art form and inspires artists in other genres to this day. Jazz music had a critical role in the Civil…
Read moreJohn Lewis: Freedom Rider
In a 1961 strategy meeting, members of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) gather in Alabama to discuss their next moves.
Read moreWith Sympathy: Letters to the Lorraine Motel
By Dr. Noelle Trent Director of Interpretation, Collections and Education In 2020, we respond to news and events within seconds on Social Media; however, in 1968 the American public responded to news and events through…
Read moreModel Slave Cabin
Among the interstingly novel artifacts in the National Civil Rights Museum’s collection is a model slave cabin donated to the museum along with figurines, furniture and accessories.
Read moreThe Lorraine Motel Guest Book
One of the unique collections housed at the National Civil Rights Museum is the Evidence Collection, related to the trial of Martin Luther King’s assassin James Earl Ray. Among the 1,760 items in this collection is the…
Read moreJames H. Laue
Photographs taken at the Lorraine Motel on April 4, 1968, have indelibly etched our museum’s landmark in America’s collective memory. These famous images were taken in the midst of the chaos that ensued after Dr.
Read moreLetter to Coretta Scott King
The assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968, caused shock throughout America. His loss was mourned not only in our country, but throughout the whole world, and people’s reactions ran the gamut of…
Read moreBen Branch
Musician Ben Branch was at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis on April 4, 1968. He had returned to his hometown at the behest of the Southern Christian Leadership Council (SCLC) and Dr.
Read moreLorraine Motel
For this month’s blog, I want to share two photographs from our Lorraine Motel archive collection. The National Civil Rights Museum provides an engaging narrative of the civil rights struggle, but few know the story…
Read moreWater Dippers
Jim Crow restrictions separated the races in America in every aspect of public life. Restaurants, buses, trains, restrooms, theatres, water fountains and workplaces posted “White Only” and “Colored” signs to remind…
Read moreThe Civil Rights Act Gave Way to Reform, but Flaws in the Language Left the Job Unfinished
Photo Credit: LBJ Library photo by Cecil Stoughton By Dr. Russ Wigginton Guest Columnist The Civil Rights Act Did Not Solve Racism The enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 did not diminish the racial violence…
Read moreMississippi Burning: From Murder Mayhem to a Mighty Mission
by Ryan M. Jones, Associate Curator Sixty years ago, the state of Mississippi was a hotbed for civil rights. It led the nation in racially motivated violence, and less than 3% of the black population was registered to…
Read moreJuneteenth: History Moves Us Forward
by Dr. Russ Wigginton, President In the vast tapestry of American history, Juneteenth stands as a profound testament to the resilience, fortitude, and enduring struggle of Black Americans for freedom and equality.
Read moreMuseum Statement on the Passing of Rev. James Lawson
The National Civil Rights Museum is deeply saddened by the passing of civil rights philosopher and strategist, Rev. James M. Lawson, Jr. Participating in several museum events and programs, Rev.
Read moreJoin us for The Resilience: Combatting Police Violence Through Policy And Public Safety | March 22, 2024
The Resilience: Combatting Police Violence through Policy and Public Safety marks the culmination of a four-part series by the National Civil Rights Museum, aimed at addressing police violence with actionable solutions.
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