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. It will usher them into an urgent and immersive journey through the unfinished business of civil rights. What once served as the […]
Tag: Economic Justice
Examine the connection between civil rights and economic opportunity, from the 1968 sanitation workers’ strike to fair wages today. These posts cover jobs, labor, poverty, and the dignity of work at the center of Dr. King’s later mission. The fight for rights has always been a fight for a living.
Week 5: Poverty: A Moral Dilemma
Watch this video of Dr. King speaking about poverty while in Mississippi for the Poor People's Campaign. Watch historian Taylor Branch and theologian James Cone talking on what motivated Dr. King's fight in the Poor People's Campaign on the Moyers & Company show. During the Poor People's Campaign, SCLC developed an Economic Bill of Rights. […]
Week 6: Better Jobs = Better Society
LET'S GO! In 2016, PBS Newshour produced a quiz, Do you live in a bubble? Quiz. This quiz offers some perspective on how your position in American society is affected by numerous factors. What did the quiz reveal to you? Did it alter your perspective of where you stand in the American economic society? Share your […]
Week 11: Realities of Poverty Today
“ 43.1 million people in America (13.5 percent of the population) were poor in 2015. Majority of poor families (2/3) are working families in both urban and suburban communities. 36% of suburban poor own their homes Non – Hispanic whites are 44% of the poor population in the suburbs. 70% of poor whites in the […]
Week 12: All Labor Has Dignity
“ As the above issues are debated , identify the best entities responsible for changes to remedy racial and gender pay gap, living wages and “right to work.” Historically both unions and communities have come together to advocate for change. Think about how we are using the same strategies today, or discuss with others a new advocacy […]
Week 17: Undoing a Generation of Student Loan Debt
How can students achieve the American dream under these unfortunate circumstances? Some solutions include the government allowing students a grace period of at least one year post graduation before loans go into repayment. This would alleviate the stress and pressure of immediately beginning to repay student loans. Secondly, the federal government could stop charging interest on current student’s loans and remove all interest-bearing loans from […]
Week 21: Better Jobs: Gender Pay Gap
In the fight for economic equity, the gender pay gap – the difference between how much men and women are paid – is a key issue. The American Association of University Women conducted a study entitled “The Simple Truth About the Gender Pay Gap” which analyzed the differences in pay among men and women with […]
Week 22: Daring to Dream: Generational Poverty
LET’S GO! A Reality Check on Poverty Take the Poverty Quiz to learn more about the state of poverty in the U.S. It may be different than what you thought. Check out this infographic entitled “Breaking the Cycle of Poverty: Two-Generation Solutions.” What role or action can you participate in to help someone today? What […]
Week 25: Justice Dinner
Making more people aware of how mass incarceration is achieved through excessive sentencing for low level crimes will help to activate citizens to make changes. We must do more. LET’S GO! Check out this Sesame Street Interactive Toolkit for activities, videos and ideas on how to work through challenging issues like coping with incarceration. For […]
Week 26: Better Jobs – Resumes & Interviews Matter
“ Building a resume can be stressful and the content choices can make a difference. The qualifications and accomplishments listed on a resume can have a great impact on the recruiters’ hiring decisions. How well a person presents themselves in the interview is a huge factor. The chart below from Miami University research shows how commonly used resume […]
Week 28: Poverty – A Tribute to the 1968 Sanitation Workers
“ The Memphis Sanitation Workers strike was resolved on April 16, when the City Council agreed to meet the union’s demands. The City didn’t follow through quickly with their commitment, but with pressure from the union, the changes were finally implemented. People who wanted change came together and won! LET’S GO! Check out this timeline […]
Week 31: Better Jobs: Two-Year vs. Four-Year Higher Education
Do you know the field that you want to pursue through the two-year route? Learn about America’s College Promise Plan and find out which community colleges in your state offers this incentive. Check out collegechoice.net’s 50 Highest Paying Careers for College Graduates for ideas on choosing the best field of study for the job […]