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: Education
Track the long struggle over who gets to learn and how, from Brown v. Board to the classroom battles of today. These posts cover school desegregation, education equity, and the threats facing public schools now. Education has always been a civil rights issue, and it still is.
Healing 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 Civil Rights Museum. For decades, visitors have stood outside the Lorraine Motel, eyes fixed on the balcony where Dr. […]
Black 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. Such directives are a threat to undermine the integrity of fact-based historical interpretation and threaten to silence the very stories our institutions were built […]
The 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 Freedom Award, pays tribute to individuals who have shown unwavering commitment to advancing truth, equity, and justice in a time when those values are […]
Community 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. May 17th marked 71 years since the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision affirmed that education must be available […]
Everyone’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 protections for the LGBTQIA+ community. While some frame these moves as cultural or political battles, make no mistake: these actions […]
Juneteenth 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 they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had legally set them free. That delay wasn’t just a […]
Museum 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 enduring mission of the National Civil Rights Museum. In 1971, Fred Smith launched Federal Express in Little Rock and began operations in […]
With 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 democracy weaken. as published in The Tennessean, May 28, 2025, 5:03 AM CT On the heels of a historic anniversary, our country is reminded of how […]
Week 7: Quality Education
As early as the nineteenth century there have been cases of families challenging education inequity in their communities. One example is Ruby Bridges. In 1960, first grader Ruby Bridges made history when she was the first African American student to integrate the William Franz Elementary School, a public school in New Orleans. Ruby Bridges was honored in 2015 […]
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 13: School Choice For Quality Education
“ Consider having a school supply drive to your school of choice forthis back to school season coming up or support an existing drive. Watch this PBS NewsHour’s “In My Humble Opinion” segment in school choice. Find out what your employer’s policies are on adopting a local school for the upcoming school year or find […]