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. Key among them is a young activist named John Lewis, a member of SNCC who had been attacked by the Ku Klux Klan in Rock Hill, South […]
Tag: The Movement
Read about the people and campaigns that built the civil rights movement, from the Freedom Riders to the March on Washington. These posts cover the organizers, marches, and turning points that changed the country. Each one connects a documented event to the struggle that continues now.
James 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. Martin Luther King, Jr. was shot on the balcony outside Room 306. In the first photo, Shelby County Sherriff’s Deputy […]
Ben 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. Martin Luther King to participate and play at an upcoming rally. In an interview for the Library of Congress oral history project, Branch […]
Mississippi 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 vote. Following the events of the year 1963, in which Americans were horrified by witnessing the attacks […]
Museum 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. Lawson has been a lifelong mentor of the movement and among a panel of respected scholars for the National Civil Rights Museum. He is […]
Honoring Cultural and Artistic Heritage This Black History Month
This past Black History Month, the National Civil Rights Museum dedicated its focus to celebrating the significant contributions of African Americans to the nation’s cultural and artistic heritage. Through a variety of events and on-demand content, the museum highlighted the pivotal role of arts and culture in the Civil Rights Movement, featuring evocative lectures, performances, and […]
Statement on the Passing of Dexter Scott King
The National Civil Rights Museum mourns with the nation on the passing of Dexter Scott King. Dexter King, the youngest son of slain civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is remembered for his commitment to preserving his father’s legacy. He was the strategist and visionary who led the King Estate and chaired The […]
A Demonstration that Ignited Change: 60 Years After the 1963 March on Washington
“We cannot walk alone. And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back.” ? Martin Luther King Jr. Sixty years ago, one of the “greatest demonstrations for freedom in the history of this country” took place on the Washington, DC Mall, according to Dr. Martin Luther […]
Museum Statement Regarding the Passing of Harry Belafonte
The National Civil Rights Museum joins the world in grieving the loss of a civil rights activist, cultural legend, and its 1999 Freedom Award honoree, Mr. Harry Belafonte. Belafonte was a charismatic, candid, and compassionate activist who used his platform to advance civil and human rights in America and abroad. From his early years of meteoric […]
Museum Statement Regarding the Passing of Bill Russell
The National Civil Rights Museum mourns the passing of 2011 Freedom Award honoree and sports pioneer, William Felton Russell. Following baseball legend Jackie Robinson’s example, Bill Russell believed it was his responsibility as a celebrity to use his platform to stand up for positive social change. Bill Russell was an outspoken advocate for civil rights. […]
Museum Statement Regarding the Passing of Sidney Poitier
The National Civil Rights Museum joins the world in grieving the loss of a great icon and its 2001 Freedom Award honoree, Mr. Sidney Poitier. Poitier was a trailblazing thespian and staunch civil rights activist that remained true to his principles. His art reflected his convictions. Because of that, the world reimagined Black culture during […]
Museum Statement on the Passing of Bob Moses
The National Civil Rights Museum mourns the passing of civil rights icon Bob Moses, a visionary leader, innovative educator and champion for voting rights. Moses received the museum’s Freedom Award in 2014. Bob Moses was born Robert Parrish Moses in Harlem, NY. He understood that access to the ballot for the most underserved required educating […]