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 Act without technically saying so. In a 6-3 decision written by Justice Samuel Alito in Louisiana v. Callais, the Court effectively rendered […]
Tag: Voting Rights
Follow the fight for the ballot, from the 1965 Voting Rights Act to the battles over access today. These posts trace how the right to vote was won, weakened, and defended across six decades. The ballot remains contested ground, and this history explains why.
Museum 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. Dr. Bernard Lafayette, Jr., one of the most influential strategists and organizers of the modern Civil Rights Movement and a […]
Sixty 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. Nearly a century after the 15th Amendment promised Black men the right to vote, the VRA responded to relentless efforts to deny African […]
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 […]
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 14: Voting Rights: Power to the People!
What is needed now is direct action to revitalize interest in the power of the vote. Low voter turnout is inexcusable in the face of decades of sacrifices made to earn this inalienable right that is so vital to our democracy. Without equal voting, this country cannot truly live out its creed of freedom and […]
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 29: Justice – Ban the Box: 2nd Chance Too Many?
“ Over 150 cities and 29 states have adopted “Ban the Box,” which makes up over two thirds of the U.S. population. To support the continuation of this policy being adopted across the U.S, support your state and local efforts to enact fair-chance policy. Here are a few steps that you can take take to […]
Yes, 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. As published in The Tennessean, October 15, 2024, 10:26 am CT The right to vote is the cornerstone of democracy, but the […]
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 […]
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 […]
Stacey Abrams: Champion of Voting Rights Honored at the National Civil Rights Museum
Every year, the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee, bestows its prestigious Freedom Award upon individuals who have made significant contributions to the advancement of civil and human rights. In 2023, one of the distinguished honorees is none other than Stacey Abrams, a dedicated advocate for voting rights. Abrams has dedicated her life to […]