Podcasts about william frantz elementary school

For the first week of Black History Month 2024, Madigan covers the life story of Ruby Bridges, the six year old girl who integrated the William Frantz Elementary School in 1960. This episode was brought to you by Nutrafol! Go to Nutrafol.com and enter the promo code "ANGRY" to save $10 off your first month's subscription AND free shipping! JOIN ME ON PATREON!! https://www.patreon.com/angryneighborhoodfeminist Do you have a topic that you want the show to take on?    Email: neighborhoodfeminist@gmail.com Social media:     Instagram: @angryneighborhoodfeminist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On November 14th, in the context of legal history, the story of Ruby Bridges stands out as a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement, particularly in the desegregation of American schools. Born on September 8, 1954, in Tylertown, Mississippi, Ruby Bridges became a symbol of the civil rights movement on November 14, 1960, when she became the first African American child to integrate an all-white elementary school in the South, specifically William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, Louisiana.At the tender age of six, Bridges' entry into the school was not just a simple walk through its doors. Escorted by federal marshals amidst a hostile crowd, her brave step was a significant action following the landmark 1954 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education, which declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional.Bridges' integration of the school was the result of hard-won legal battles led by the NAACP, which sought to enforce the Supreme Court's decision. Her courage became a national symbol of the struggle to end segregation, challenging the status quo and societal norms of the time.Despite facing daily harassment and isolation (she was the only student in her class as others were pulled out by their parents), Ruby's perseverance was remarkable. Her teacher, Barbara Henry, from Boston, was the only one willing to teach her, and together they spent a year in a classroom, just the two of them.Her story highlights not only the legal struggles associated with civil rights but also the human element within these battles. The image of young Ruby, depicted in Norman Rockwell's painting "The Problem We All Live With," has become an iconic symbol of the civil rights movement.Ruby's journey was not just a legal milestone but also a deeply personal story of courage and resilience. It underscored the power of law to bring about social change and challenged Americans to confront their prejudices and work towards a more equitable society.In later years, Ruby Bridges has continued to be an active voice in the civil rights movement. She established the Ruby Bridges Foundation in 1999, promoting the values of tolerance, respect, and appreciation of all differences.On November 14th, we remember not just a legal victory in the annals of American history, but also the extraordinary courage of a little girl who stood up against racial segregation and in doing so, helped to change the course of history. Her legacy serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for racial equality and the importance of education in shaping a more just society.The U.S. Supreme Court has adopted its first-ever code of conduct in response to recent ethics controversies involving its justices. The code primarily consolidates existing principles and doesn't significantly change how the justices operate. It lacks a public complaint system or external review for alleged violations, aiming instead to clear up misconceptions about the justices being exempt from ethical rules. The move follows reports of Justice Clarence Thomas receiving extravagant gifts from a Republican megadonor, raising questions about the court's impartiality.Critics, like Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, have welcomed the step but point out the need for enforceable mechanisms to ensure compliance. The new code incorporates some rules from the Judicial Conference, like broader disclosure requirements for private plane flights and commercial property lodging, but stops short of a complaint system like that for lower federal judges.Chief Justice John Roberts has directed a review of best practices, but no concrete enforcement process or timeline has been established. All nine justices, including Thomas, who has faced intense scrutiny for his financial dealings and conduct related to the 2020 election, have signed the new code. The court's decision reflects ongoing discussions among the justices, with some expressing support for the initiative in recent months.Supreme Court Adopts Code of Conduct Amid Ethics Revelations (2)Under fire, US Supreme Court unveils ethics code for justices | ReutersU.S. Special Counsel Jack Smith accused former President Donald Trump of trying to create a "carnival atmosphere" at his trial over charges related to the 2020 election defeat. Smith argues that televising the trial, as Trump supports, would lead to distractions from the charges and a public relations campaign. This accusation follows Trump's behavior during a recent civil fraud case in New York, where he often evaded direct answers and made political statements. Trump's lawyers claim that not broadcasting the trial is part of a politically motivated effort by the Biden administration. Prosecutors oppose televising the trial, citing a longstanding rule against broadcasting criminal cases in federal court. Trump, facing four criminal prosecutions, has pleaded not guilty to all charges, including conspiring to illegally subvert the 2020 election results.Special counsel says Trump seeking 'carnival atmosphere' at 2020 election trial | ReutersThe Texas law firm Jackson Walker claims it was misled by former partner Elizabeth Freeman about her relationship with U.S. Bankruptcy Judge David Jones, who handled cases for the firm. Freeman had initially assured the firm that her relationship with Jones had ended, but it was later revealed they had been living together. This conflict of interest led to Jones' resignation in October after it became public. The U.S. Trustee is now seeking the return of millions of dollars Jackson Walker earned in cases presided over by Jones. The firm, however, did not disclose the relationship even after learning of it in March 2021, violating bankruptcy rules that require extensive disclosures of connections. Jackson Walker's lack of standard checks for relationships between its staff and judges has raised questions about the integrity of the bankruptcy system, with the U.S. Trustee arguing that the undisclosed relationship compromised the fairness of all cases involving the firm and Judge Jones. The situation further escalated when Freeman, after leaving Jackson Walker to start her own practice, was appointed by Jones to a lucrative position in a mediation case, without disclosing their relationship.Law firm tied to bankruptcy judge resignation says former partner lied | ReutersA lawsuit filed in Manhattan accuses the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) and over two dozen brokerages, including the Corcoran Group and Douglas Elliman, of conspiring to artificially inflate real estate agents' commissions in Manhattan residential sales. This follows a recent Missouri federal jury verdict awarding $1.78 billion in a similar case against the National Association of Realtors, which could potentially be tripled. The lawsuit claims that commissions in Manhattan remain at a stable 5% to 6%, despite soaring home prices, contrasting with more competitive markets like Brooklyn where commissions are lower and negotiated separately. The plaintiff, Monty March, argues that REBNY's listing service unfairly requires sellers to pay high commissions to buyers' brokers, citing his own experience of selling an Upper East Side apartment with inflated commissions. REBNY plans to change its rules from January 1, requiring sellers to directly pay commissions to buyers' brokers, aiming for more transparency. However, March questions if this will actually lead to lower commissions or create delays in sales negotiations. The lawsuit seeks damages for sellers who paid buyer brokers' commissions under REBNY rules in the last four years.Manhattan real estate brokerages are sued for inflating commissions | ReutersAmazon is facing a proposed class-action lawsuit alleging that it engaged in an "illegal internet gambling enterprise" by distributing casino-style apps and processing payments for virtual chips. The suit, filed by a Nevada resident who claims addiction to these online slot games, accuses Amazon of partnering with virtual casinos to offer over 30 illegal casino apps. This follows a 2018 U.S. appeals court ruling that deemed "social casino" apps illegal under Washington state law. The lawsuit alleges that Amazon, by offering these apps, effectively brought slot machines into consumers' homes continuously. Amazon has not yet responded to the lawsuit.Edelson, the law firm representing the plaintiff, is experienced in such litigation, having secured substantial settlements in related cases. The firm's Todd Logan, leading the gambling practice, expressed eagerness to bring the case before a jury. The games in question are free to play, offering virtual chips instead of cash payouts, but require users to purchase more chips to continue playing. The lawsuit contends that Amazon is aware of the illegality of these social casinos yet maintains a 30% financial interest in them. The plaintiff's lawyers estimate the class size to be tens of thousands, seeking damages and restitution. This case adds to ongoing legal challenges against tech giants like Apple, Meta, and Google over their roles in processing payments for social casino apps.Amazon sued over 'dangerous partnership' with virtual casino apps | Reuters Get full access to Minimum Competence - Daily Legal News Podcast at www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

Ruby Bridges was a 6 year old African-American child, who desegregated the all-white William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1960.Audio Onemichistory.comPlease support our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/user?u=25697914Buy me a Coffeehttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/Countryboi2mThrough My Eyes By Ruby Bridgeshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby_Bridgeshttps://www.britannica.com/biography/Ruby-Bridgeshttps://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/ruby-bridges

On November 14, 1960, Ruby Bridges desegregates the William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ruby Bridges was just six years old in 1960 when she became the first Black child to desegregate the all-white William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans. She was escorted by four federal marshals and greeted by a mob of angry white protesters. Today, Bridges is a civil rights activist and author, and she is sharing her experience with a new generation of kids in her latest children's book, I Am Ruby Bridges. Bridges tells her story through the eyes of her six-year-old self and talks about what today's children can learn from her experience.In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment to help you make sense of what's going on in your community.Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

Along with former 10-Year Major League Baseball star and MLB Hitting Coach, Jacque Jones, San Diego native who attended the University of Southern California, Future Hall-of-Famer, Kenny Lofton, and USA Today writer, Bob Nightengale, we're so honored to welcome on Ruby Bridges' birthday, one of the most feared power hitters of his era, Rhino, The Big Piece, Ryan Howard. In case you forgot, Ruby Bridges was the first African-American child to desegregate in New Orleans in 1960. (the all-white William Frantz Elementary School in Louisiana during the New Orleans school desegregation crisis on November 14, 1960) Ryan played Major League Baseball for 13 years, all with the Philadelphia Phillies. He was the fastest major leaguer to 100 home runs, 200 home runs and 1,000 RBI He was born the same day as Ted Turner, founder of CNN and former owner of the Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Hawks. He was born the same year as former Major League Baseball Players Adrien Beltre and Luis Gonzales, His favorite team growing up was the St. Louis Cardinals He had 3 All-Star appearances,(2006, 2009, 2010). And was the first National Leaguer to win the Rookie-of-the-Year award and MVP in back-to-back seasons And in 2008, he along with his incredible teammates, won the ultimate team prize, the World Series. He's an author of numerous children's books He's an entrepreneur and investor He worked for ESPNs Baseball Tonight One of his rookie baseball cards is currently going for nearly $400 He's a #girldad a brother, and a husband He has a fraternal twin He's been on a number of shows including Entourage and The Office You can find him on Instagram @ryanhoward_006 THE SPORTS DELI PODCAST www.thesportsdelipodcast.com (Now on) AUDIBLE: https://lnkd.in/gXAwci_9 Google: https://lnkd.in/gDN-XnKU iHeart: https://lnkd.in/e8SzqHz Apple: https://lnkd.in/gDdqxh8bSpotify: https://lnkd.in/gzR3peVj Check out the Video Podcast at: YOUTUBE: https://lnkd.in/gdUy4iH Instagram: @MikeHootner https://www.instagram.com/mikehootner/ Tik Tok: @MikeHootner https://lnkd.in/gc_dyuwX Twitter: @MikeHootner https://twitter.com/MikeHootner LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/gnFZGVfH Snapchat: https://lnkd.in/eNdH-YN6 Thanks for the Support! MUCH LOVE! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-sports-deli/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-sports-deli/support

In this episode we remember the anniversary of Ruby Bridges who was the first African-American child to desegregate the all-white William Frantz Elementary School in Louisiana during the New Orleans school desegregation crisis on November 14, 1960; The Infrastructure Plan gets signed; Keith sees The Eternals; Macy's Thanksgiving Parade to celebrate 95th year; We remember Roy Clark & ‘Hee Haw' on TV; Jon Gruden sues the NFL; This Week in Music & more + personal insults of course! Find us on your favorite podcast platforms including Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts & more! Ask your home assistant device to “Play the It Came From GenX Podcast!” Video versions on our YouTube channel (It Came From GenX). All show links & info can be found on our new website: itcamefromgenx.wordpress.com Keep up with us also on our Facebook page (@Itcamefromgenx). All show links also on Link Tree: linktr.ee/ItCameFromGenX Find us on Instagram, Twitter & TikTok! Email us at: itcamefromgenx330@gmail.com Enjoying the show? Consider becoming a patreon! https://www.patreon.com/ItCameFromGenX It'd be gnarly to hear from you! Tell us how we're doing, suggest topics or just say hello. Stay strong friends! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brian-fisher98/support

Treat yourself to a conversation with Civil Rights Icon, New York Times Bestselling Author, and Speaker Ruby Bridges who at the age of six was the first Black student to integrate an all-white elementary school in New Orleans in 1960. Her walk through the front doors of William Frantz Elementary School on Nov. 14, 1960, was immortalized in Norman Rockwell’s painting The Problem We All Live With in Robert Coles’ book The Story of Ruby Bridges, and in the Disney movie Ruby Bridges. Published in November 2020, This is Your Time is her first book in over twenty years following the publication of her award-winning autobiography, Through My Eyes. She established the Ruby Bridges Foundation to provide leadership training programs that inspire youth and community leaders to embrace and value the richness of diversity. Bridges is the recipient of numerous awards, including the NAACP Martin Luther King Award, the Presidential Citizens Medal, and honorary doctorate degrees from Connecticut College, College of New Rochelle, Columbia University Teachers College, and Tulane University. She recently named one of 100 iconic Women of the Century by USA Today. **Please note that the N-word is used once in this episode in a historical context** Ruby Bridges Foundation: www.RubyBridges.com Purchase Ruby Bridges’ New York Times bestselling book This Is Your Time: https://bit.ly/3wM97c5 Disney's Ruby Bridges (movie): https://bit.ly/3a5Pn9U Instagram: rubybridgesofficial

This spring we're airing the winning entries from the Black History Essay Contest, sponsored by the City of Bloomington and its Human Relations Commission. Here is the essay from second-place elementary school winner Aaliyah Trice from Irving Elementary School. Learn more about the other winners and the Human Relations Commission . "Ruby Bridges is an African American civil rights activist. Bridges was born on Sept. 8, 1954. She was the oldest of five children. On Nov. 14, 1960, Ruby Bridges went to a white children's school called William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans. She was afraid but didn’t show it. She walked through a crowd with federal marshals on the sides of her. There were white people yelling at her, saying threats, and protesting that she shouldn't be there..but she kept on walking. She entered the school and walked down the hallway going to her classroom seeing no children, no laughter, no yelling, nothing. When she entered her classroom, the only person there

Ruby Bridges was the first African American child to desegregate the all-white William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans when she was only six years old. She and her family endured great hardships in order to support the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s and provide better education for African American children. In this episode, Leona and Matthew discuss Ruby's courage and extraordinary ability to forgive those who bullied and persecuted her. Ruby Bridges is truly a hero!

Sunday Sermon • Doug Dortch 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 • “The Worst Bankrupt of All” New Sermon Series • “Virtues That Keep Us Stable – Love” Years ago, I served a church in a community where the local newspaper had a section in each Sunday’s edition in which they printed public records. You could see who got married and who got divorced. You could see who bought property and who sold property. You could see who got arrested and for what reason they got arrested. And worst of all, at least in my mind, you could also see who had filed for bankruptcy. It was all the laundry hung out to dry, both clean and dirty, and you can imagine how each Sunday morning people went rushing out to their driveways to pick up their newspapers to see, in particular, who taken the bankruptcy route, given its “white collar” shame. I, of course, was among the inquiring minds, especially in light of how I might be called upon to do some extra pastoral care either with the filers or the gossipers, or in most cases, both. Over that period of time I learned more about bankruptcy than I ever wanted to know – from a legal perspective and a business perspective and a tax perspective, but primarily from a personal one. I learned that one size of bankruptcy didn’t fit all. There were some forms that were more embarrassing than others, and that while some were used without blinking an eye, there were other forms of bankruptcy that were to be avoided at all costs. It was, I have to say, quite an education. So, I can sympathize with the Apostle Paul as he looked for the best way to extend pastoral care to a community of faith that, if they were not careful, were on the verge of closing up shop because of how they were overvaluing certain spiritual assets, assets that would not be able to sustain them in the long run, while at the same time they were ignoring more valuable ones that were more firmly rooted in the essence of the gospel. And for Paul, the spiritual asset that was by far and away the most valuable of them all was the asset, or, what he called the gift of agape love. Here is how Paul elevates this particular gift. “Though I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” Obviously, the word that jumps off the page of this most famous passage of Scripture to me is the word “nothing.” Unlike so many words in the Bible that we’re not really sure what they mean, this one is clear as crystal. It means exactly what you think it means. It means naught, nada, zero, ziltch. It means that you don’t have a leg to stand on or a pot to cook in. It means that your situation is empty, barren, desolate, and bleak. It means that from a spiritual way of seeing things, you, my brother and sister, are the worst bankrupt of all. We like to think of this passage of Scripture as among the “sweet words” of the Bible, maybe even the sweetest. After all, who could get his or her feelings rubbed raw by such a treatise to love? My soul, it gets read at weddings and emblazoned on coffee cups and printed on posters. But the fact of the matter is that Paul intended for these words not to lull people into a state of rest; he meant them instead to be a wake-up call, one that might arrest them from their spiritual stupor before they found themselves in a position from which they could never recover. One of the reasons we tend to miss that point is because of how, unlike the word “nothing,” which we do understand, we think we know what Paul was talking about when he invoked the word “love,” when the fact of the matter is that we may have the wrong interpretation. Ask most people to define love and they will answer in a way that suggests some kind of emotional response. But that’s not the way Paul intended his teaching on love to be understood, which is why he opted for the Greek word “agape” instead of the Greek word “eros” for romantic love or “philos” for brotherly love. Agape love was a God-ordained type of love. It was a love that expressed itself in unconditional regard for others. It wasn’t a “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours” kind of love. It was a love based on grace, which is why the King James Version translators rightly rendered it as “charity.” You can never pay back this kind of love, certainly not to God. You can only channel it so that God’s love in Jesus Christ flows through you to bring value and worth to the lives of others. Perhaps you can understand now why our world needs such a witness today more than ever. After all, has our world ever been more polarized than it is today? From where I sit it sure doesn’t seems that it has. As someone has said, “The human ego tends to go after two things: it wants to be separate and it wants to be superior” (Richard Rohr, “Just This,” pp. 90-91). It wants to be left to itself and it wants to consider itself better than everyone else. But as Paul reminds us in this most famous passage of Scripture, understanding that your life is not about you is the first step in the journey of discovering the fountain from which abundant life consistently flows. I think about when Paul himself made the discovery. We read the story in the book of Acts. Paul, then known as Saul, had been a part of the mob that had come together to interrogate Stephen, one of the early members of the Jesus community, who had just been selected as one of the seven deacons of the church. It wasn’t so much an interrogation of Stephen as it was a kangaroo court that had degenerated into a bloodthirsty mob, with their sights set on Stephen. As they dragged Stephen out of the city to be stoned, the mob members laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. After Stephen’s death, Paul made his way from Jerusalem to Damascus to see if he could identify any others who were a part of what Jesus followers called “the Way.” Little did he know that just before he would enter Damascus he would run smack dab into the Risen Jesus himself. It was a light from heaven that first got his attention and then the sound of a voice that he would never forget. “Saul, Saul,” said the voice, “why do you persecute me?” Knowing that in fact if it was Jesus, Saul deserved to be sentenced to death himself. But instead of being judged for his bias and his sense of supremacy, the Risen Jesus instead showed Saul an unconditional love, an agape love, so that his life was never again the same. As Paul would later write to the church at Philippi, he came to see what a bankrupt he had been so that he would say, “For whatever gains were to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. And what is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Phil. 3:7-8). Have you made that discovery in your life? Have you come to see how much you are missing when you focus on yourself and how much you stand to gain when you direct your attention to Jesus? Have you been so seized by the power of Jesus’ unconditional affection for you that you now recognize that the best way for you to show your gratitude is by expanding your horizon to see a much broader and wider universe because you are no longer at the center of it – much broader and wider universe that includes scores of other people who are in desperate need of the same sort of love that changed you for the better? Ruby Bridges was a six year old black child who was the first African-American to attend the predominately white William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans. The year was 1961. As you can imagine, her first day at Frantz Elementary was no walk in the park. There was an angry mob that had turned out to do their best to intimidate her and cause her to back down. But as she showed up for her first day at the new school, reporters couldn’t help but notice that Ruby had the most peaceful expression on her face. There was something else they noticed – that even though she was surrounded by federal marshals, she took the time to stop and face the mob, silently opening and closing her mouth in their direction for about a full minute. Was she mocking them? Was she taunting them? No, as it turned out, Ruby was praying for them. As she explained it, she didn’t have time to pray for them that morning before she left for school, and so she stopped on her way in to say a brief prayer. When asked by the psychologist what in the world was it she prayed for, the psychologist had to admit that her prayer dumbfounded him and in many ways changed him. “She prayed because the people needed praying for,” the psychologist learned. And so Ruby Bridges took the time to pray a prayer that her parents and her pastor had taught her to pray: “Please God, try to forgive them, because they don’t know what they’re doing.” As she explained it, “when Jesus had that mob in front of him, that’s what he said too” (“When Ruby Bridges Prayed for Her Enemies,” The Christian Century, 3/24/17). You may remember that the famous American artist Norman Rockwell immortalized that scene in American history with his painting, titled, “The Problem We All Live With.” It’s been almost 60 years and we’re still living with that problem. Maybe if we had bothered to pray for one another in that way, the same way Jesus prayed for us, our world would be much different today. It wouldn’t be as empty. It wouldn’t be as barren. It wouldn’t be as morally bankrupt. But you can change that. And you can be certain that when you do, it will be front page news in the Book of Life, where all of heaven will see it and rejoice. And on that day when you stand before Jesus, you can be certain that he will have seen it too, so that you can stand before him without shame, because you chose to love others unconditionally, which in the economy of the Kingdom of Heaven is without question the greatest asset of them all. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Today, we celebrate the brave girls out there that help change the world for the better. Shelby tells the story of Jazz Jennings - one of the youngest publicly documented people to be identified as transgender. Amy covers Ruby Bridges - the first black student to attend William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans.  Intro Song: What I Do by Kristy Krüger © ℗Just Like Freddy Music ASCAP Instagram: herstorythepodcast  

Today, we celebrate the brave girls out there that help change the world for the better. Shelby tells the story of Jazz Jennings - one of the youngest publicly documented people to be identified as transgender. Amy covers Ruby Bridges - the first black student to attend William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans.  Intro Song: What I Do by Kristy Krüger © ℗Just Like Freddy Music ASCAP Instagram: herstorythepodcast  

There's a lot we can learn from Ruby Bridges, the first African-American child to desegregate the all-white William Frantz Elementary School in Louisiana in 1960.

When first graders Leona Tate, Gail Etienne, Tessie Prevost, and Ruby Bridges attended school on November 14, 1960, the schools in the city of New Orleans were officially no longer segregated. Yet it wasn't quite that simple. This was six years after the decision in Brown v. Board of Education that required school desegregation across the nation, and politicians in Louisiana were hoping to go even longer before integration. Most importantly, integration was contested even after the official moment of desegregation. Leona Tate, Gail Etienne, and Tessie Prevost went to McDonogh No. 19 Elementary School, causing many white students to be pulled out rather than attending with African-American children. Ruby Bridges had it worse as she went to William Frantz Elementary School; she was the only black student, meaning she was accompanied by US Marshals and taught by just one teacher that was willing to teach her the whole year. Outside the school, a group of white parents known as the "New Orleans Cheerleaders" protested Bridges walking to school. New Orleans would not have fully integrated schools for over a decade.

Do you recognize the names of Emmett Till, Melba Patillo, Gloria Ray, David Richmond or Ruby Bridges?   Perhaps you recognize some but not others. Perhaps none.   That’s okay. They weren’t seeking fame or fortune. They just wanted to get an education, vote or just eat at a cafeteria lunch counter. You might not know their names but they made a difference for all of us. In this podcast show, you’re gonna here EXACTLY what they did.   Hi, I’m Robin Lofton, the Chief In-house Historian and host of this great and groundbreaking show that can inspire YOU and your FAMILY with true stories, real experiences, practical lessons, cultural traditions, and fun celebrations—all inspired by African American history. I find history to BE inspirational, instructional and entertaining. And African American history fits the bill in all of these ways. Personally, I hate boring stuff. So boring stuff is not allowed at rememberinghistory.com or at this Wiki history podcast show.   This was planned as the third and final podcast in our series on civil rights and the civil rights movement. But the rememberinghistory.com team decided that a change was necessary: This show about student activists has been divided into TWO parts. Why? Because this is a FASCINATING topic (you’re gonna here some great stores) and we wanted to make it practical too. So we’ve added a section on ways that young people and students TODAY can also help to make changes and have an impact in their communities, the country and world. So, that’s what we’ll discuss in part II of the series.   In the previous podcast shows, we discussed lessons we can STILL learn from Martin Luther King. If you haven’t heard that show, I really encourage you to do so because there were great lessons—yes, we can still learn from Dr. King and it stirred up a lot of interesting discussion. Spoiler alert: The first lesson was called “be maladjusted.” People really had a lot to say about that and I’m sure that you will too. The other podcast show was about voting rights in America. Yes, there is still a lot of discrimination in voting—in deciding how districts will be formed, in the voter registration process, even directly at the polling stations. And we presented specific and doable ways to fight discrimination in voting. The types of voter discrimination actions were shocking but it was also an empowering show. So be sure to listen so that you are ready to fight for your right to vote. And, of course, we made great animated videos to summarize the issues and entertain you as well. You can find them at rememberinghistory.com and on our YouTube channel. Remember, we don’t “do boring” here so prepare to be entertained AND learn a little something useful.   Today’s show refocuses on the people in history: a very special group of people who participated—and gave special momentum—to the civil rights movement. Young people and students. I planned to focus on college students. Yes, they did a lot. But as I thought about it more, I remembered that high school students and even elementary school students played an important part in the movement. So, we gonna include them in this discussion too. You see, even a CHIEF inhouse historian can change her mind and learn something new.   This is a particularly important show. Often, young people feel they can’t make a difference that they can’t have an impact and that decisions are being made only by the adults. This show will prove that this is simply not true. And I hope that it will convince young people and students that they do have a voice and an important role to play in protecting civil rights or in any cause that they’re passionate about. That’s important to remember. While these shows focus on civil rights, there are many causes that need and deserve attention and action. But protecting civil rights is an urgent focus right now—perhaps now more than in any time since the civil rights movement of the 1960s. And this show will suggest some ways in which they can get involved in protecting the civil rights—of people of color, of the economically disadvantaged, of refugees and immigrants and frankly of any group under attack or suffering injustice. Remember those famous words of Dr. Martin Luther King: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”   Well, let’s get to the show, “The Youth and Students in the Civil Rights Movement”*           Is it strange of think of young people and students focused, committing and working for civil rights? If you find it hard to imagine that children were brave enough, that high school students were focused enough and that college students were concerned enough to work together for civil rights, then it’s time to grab a chair and get comfortable. Perhaps even grab your kids to listen with you. This is history at its finest! This is the story of young people from elementary school—the youngest was only 7 years old!—through the college who showed commitment and courage under fire. And the “fires” that they faced were real and deadly—beatings, dog attacks, imprisonment, threats, and yes murder as well. Yet these young people stood up for their rights to equality and justice—and they stood up for your rights too. In one youth-led movement in 1963, Martin Luther King told the students who had been jailed (in Birmingham, Alabama) : “What you do this day will impact children who have not yet been born.” Wow. Sooo true. And these kids DID forge a path for us. Stay tuned—remember in Part II, we will present ways that young people can continue to be involved in social activism and have an impact on kids that are not yet born.   *[Applause break here]   Many of the young people involved in the Civil Rights Movement actively joined and participated in the meetings, marches, demonstrations and other nonviolent activities to draw attention to their cause. Others became involuntary victims of the racist and oppressive culture of segregation. However, both groups—whether actively participating or involuntarily drawn in-- made an invaluable contribution to the cause.                         We are gonna begin today’s journey by discussing a name whom I hope is familiar. Very familiar. Sadly familiar. But don’t worry if it’s not because we’re learning here together. The name: Emmett Till.   Personally, I don’t remember the first time that I heard the name of Emmett Till. I must have been too young. But he was a name that was always deeply embedded in me—not the details of his horrific claim to fame. But the feeling his fate stirred up: sadness, anger, disbelief, fear. I’m sure that all of these feelings came from my parents and I picked them up as an impressionable child. But his name is a part of my life story. Why? Because ALL Black children could have been young Emmett. Actually, I know that there were other Emmetts but HIS terrible experience changed everything. I’m jumping ahead of myself. Let’s hear the story.   In the summer of 1955, Emmett was just like any other 14-year old Black kid. Just finished the 7th grade at his Chicago school. High-spirited. Fun-loving. Growing into manhood. Polite. Looking forward to a great summer. Adored by his mother. Emmett was especially excited because he would spend the summer with his cousins in Mississippi. Emmett had never visited the segregated south so his mother counseled him about how to behave around white people.   The rest of the story has become a sad legend. Emmett enjoyed his first few days in Tallahatchie County, Mississippi. Worked in the cotton fields during the day and played with his cousins in the evening. On his third day there, he went to a grocery store with his cousins and that’s when the trouble started. There is no clear account of what happened but Emmett might have whistled at the wife (who was white) who owned the store. A few nights later, her husband and brother-in-law went to house of Emmett’s uncle in the dead of night mind you, snatched Emmett out of bed and drove off with him into the night. Three days later, Emmett’s horribly mutilated body was discovered in a river. I won’t go into details, but young Emmett had been tortured, beaten and shot in the head. Witnesses recounted hearing a young boy screaming and calling for help from a barn. He was mutilated beyond recognition.         His grieving but brave mother firmly decided on an open casket at his funeral in Chicago. Thousands of mourners filed past the casket. Jet Magazine and several other Black publications printed the graphic photos of Emmett’s body. I have seen the horrific almost gruesome pictures and I will never forget them. Several of older friends actually went to Emmett’s funeral and viewed his body. I can see the pain and sadness still in their eyes—from 1955.   The murderers of Emmett Till were quickly tried and acquitted. I think that it took only an hour. Is that scenario familiar today? One of the killers even gave an interview to LOOK Magazine detailing how they killed Emmett.   Many people say that the murder of Emmett Till sparked the modern Civil Rights Movement. It brought light to the brutality and regularity of lynching in the south, the effects of segregation and the vulnerability of Black lives. Emmett Till could have been any Black man, woman or child in the Jim Crow south. African Americans demanded justice for Emmett. And young Black children and students were especially outraged and fearful because Emmett was only 14 years old so they connected with this movement perhaps feeling that their lives hung in the balance. The Civil Rights Movement was on—and young people were a committed and focused part of it. Emmett was not a voluntary student-activist but his name will be remembered as someone who started a movement.   The first real student-involved movement (that we’ll discuss) took place in 1957, just two years after the lynching of Emmett Till.   It involved 9 brave African Americans kids attempting to attend a white high school in Little Rock, Arkansas. These kids became known as the Little Rock Nine. Let’s back up just a bit to 1954.   The United States was in chaos. (More was to come, of course, but most people didn’t know that.) Interesting thing about history—it’s not the story of people living in the present. It’s the story of people living in the present, THEIR present. So, in 1954, many people didn’t know or didn’t accept that change prompted by the civil rights movement was looming in their future. Hmm…gotta think about that one. Anyway, in 1954, the landmark case of Brown v. Board of Education had just been decided by the Supreme Court. The decision that desegregated public schools.   Remember that’s where we got the “separate but equal is inherently unequal” quote and that THIS violated the 14th Amendment. So, segregated schools were declared illegal and ordered to integrate “with all deliberate speed.” (another great quote). But many school districts especially in the southern states refused to accept this decision. They fought back. Some just ignored the decision and dared the federal government to try to enforce it. Others closed down schools rather than integrate them. Let’s jump from the immediate aftermath of the Brown case back to the summer of 1957, Little Rock Arkansas.   The NAACP (Arkansas Branch) was determined to integrate the high schools, beginning in Little Rock, the state’s capital. Daisy Bates, president of the Arkansas Branch of the NAACP recruited nine high school students whom she believed possessed the strength and determination to face the RESISTANCE to integration. During that summer, the students participated in intensive counseling sessions on what to expect and how to respond to the reaction from the white community--students AND parents.   Just before school opened in September, Arkansas Governor Oval Faubus ordered the National Guard to bar the African American students from entering the state’s schools. He claimed that it was for “their own protection” (quote. Don’t we hear that one a lot today?) The next day, a federal court judge issued a counter-ruling that desegregation would proceed.   As the nine Black students attempted to enter the school, a huge crowd of angry white students and adults as well as the Arkansas National Guard (ordered by the Governor) barred the students’ from entering. White protesters threatened the students, screamed racial slurs and spit on them. They were not able to enter the school that day.   Days later, the students tried to enter the school again with a police escort. However, more than a thousand white protesters appeared and again blocked the students’ from entering the building. President Eisenhower finally sent federal troops to enforce the integration order. Army troops actually had to escort the students to their first day of class.       But that wasn’t the end of the story. Protests against integration continued. The 101st Airborne Division stayed at the school to protect the students for an entire year. The nine kids faced verbal and physical abuse. One student had acid thrown in her face. Another was pushed down the stairs. The threats were constant and real. Both teachers AND students were hostile. But the kids survived and even thrived at their high school. All graduated and held distinguished careers. However, they only stayed at Little Rock Central High School for a year. The school board voted by 3 to 1 to close the school rather than officially integrate (of course, they cited budget cuts as the reason for the school closure.) But the brave high school students had stood up for their rights in a hostile and dangerous situation. Just imagine having to be escorted to school by federal guards. Imagine parents shouting ugly remarks at you. Imagine being spat upon, pushed around or down stairs, ignored by teachers and facing a large hostile crowd in the school cafeteria. This was definitely courage under fire and these kids deserve to be recognized and respected for their great achievement. And I want to say their names because they should become a familiar part of African American history:   Elizabeth Eckford Ernest Green Thelma Mothershed Melba Patillo Minnijean Brown Gloria Ray Terrence Roberts Jefferson Thomas Carlotta Walls   [Break for applause.]   By the way, during this podcast, you have heard and will continue to hear about people, places, events and issues. You will HEAR about them, but I completely understand if you want to actually SEE them, too. We got that covered on the Wiki History Podcast Page on Facebook. You will find pictures, animated videos and a community of history lovers. There is also a place for comments, which I hope that you will leave for us because we really appreciate them AND we do respond. Of course, we welcome all questions too.   Moving on…1960 was a BIG year for student activism. It’s really hard to know where to begin.   But I’ll adopt a “ladies first” position here—especially for this little lady named Ruby Bridges.   Ruby wanted to attend William Frantz Elementary School, which was an all-white school based in New Orleans. (I know what you’re thinking: you can’t have an all-white school because the Brown v. Board of Education case declared them illegal. Well, just like in Little Rock, the school boards were NOT going to give up their segregated lifestyle and institutions willingly. So the fight continued.) And little Ruby Bridges wanted to attend this school in her neighborhood school and for which she had passed a rigorous entry test. (This test had ACTUALLY been designed to screen out Black students and had been successful until Ruby.) So, she was excited to attend the kindergarten. Yes, that’s right little Miss Ruby Bridges was seven years old. She had to be escorted to school every day by 4 U.S. Marshals. She spent her first day in the principal’s office and watched as white parents removed their kids from school. A compromise was reached in which white students would return to school and Ruby would be isolated in a classroom on a floor separated from the other students. Only one teacher (Barbara Henry who was from Boston) agreed to teach her. For the remainder of the year, Mrs. Henry and Ruby would sit side-by-side going over lessons in the classroom. At recess, Ruby would stay in the classroom and play games or do calisthenics. At lunch, Ruby would eat alone in the classroom. Outside the school, the parents continued to protest against Ruby. One woman threatened to poison her every day. Another put a black baby doll in a coffin and left it at the school. Ruby said that scared her more than anything! Her father lost his job. Her mother was banned from shopping at the local grocery store.   This behavior seriously affected Ruby—as it would affect any 7-year old child. She began having nightmares. Stopped eating and started to have crying fits. She received counseling and gradually settled into a normal routine with the help of her teacher, Mrs. Henry. By the second year, Ruby started making friends and attending classes with the other students. Ruby attended integrated schools all the way through high school and went on to business school. (Interestingly, Ruby was reunited with Mrs. Henry on the Oprah Winfrey show.) That must have been an emotional reunion! Teachers really do make a difference. But it was Ruby’s strength and determination that helped her to succeed. Still--no one does it alone.   Remember to look for the pictures of Ruby Bridges and Barbara Henry on the Wiki History Podcast page on Face book. I’m really moved by two pictures of 7-year old Ruby marching into school escorted by 4 US Marshals. One is a real-life picture. The second is what has become an iconic portrait made by Norman Rockwell called “The Problem we all live with.”   We’re still in 1960 and now we have the Greensboro Four and their protest is marked as the beginning of student activism during the civil rights movement.   The group known as the Greensboro four was attending the North Carolina A & T State University. They were dedicated students who were fans of Mahatma Gandhi, believed in nonviolence and spent their evening studying and discussing current events. Like many other young people, they had been and still were deeply affected by the murder of Emmett Till 5 years earlier. They had also been very impressed and moved by the Freedom Rides in the Deep South led by the Congress of Racial Equality (or CORE). They acknowledged some progress but also recognized and refused to be distracted into thinking that this progress was good enough. Most businesses were privately owned and therefore not subject to federal law that banned segregation. They decided to take action.   On February 1, 1960 at 4:30pm, all four students walked into a Woolworth in Greensboro, North Carolina. Wearing their Sunday best, they sat at the whites-only lunch counter and requested service. They were denied. They continued to request service in a polite way but they were continuously denied by store manager. They were told to leave but they refused. Police were called but they didn’t arrest the students because they had not been violent or disorderly. Media arrived. Crowds developed. The students stayed at the lunch counter for the entire day until the store closed. Woolworth issued a statement to the press that it would continue to “abide by local custom”, meaning that it would continue to practice segregation.   The Greensboro Four went back the next day. More students joined the sit-in, this time from the Bennett College, which was an all-women’s college in Greensboro. Each day more students joined the protest—and it spread to other southern cities like Richmond and Nashville. By February 5th, hundreds of students joined in the lunch counter sit-ins. It paralyzed all business at the counter. The student protesters were verbally abused and threatened by white customers. THIS sit-in launched a nationwide movement at segregated lunch counters across the country. It also sparked a movement on college campuses that brought ATTENTION to the civil rights situation in the United States. The sit-in protests in Greensboro and other cities received lots of attention from the media and eventually the government. By the end of the year, many restaurants, lunch counters and privately-owned business had desegregated their facilities without any court action or marshals. And, yes, Woolworth in Greensboro also desegregated its lunch counters. Sit-ins were one of the most effective kinds of protests during the Civil Rights Movement. And it started with four intelligent, ambitious and civic-minded African American students and grew to more than 70,000 people protesting throughout the country. The protest ended on March 25th—lasting 5 months, 3 weeks and 3 days.   I absolutely love this story; it is SO inspirational on many different levels. The close friendship among the students. Their motivation, discipline and courage. Their education and reliance on a philosophy of non-violence and civil disobedience. The quick growth of the protests among college students who seemed ripe and ready to show their discontent and ability to fight for their rights. I could go on and on about this but I think that you see the same picture.* And because these students deserve our respect and have earned their place in history, I want to mention their names:   Ezell Blair, Jr. David Richmond Franklin McCain Joseph McNeil   *[Applause track here]       This story shows how a small but determined group can create a big and lasting change. As a follow up, although their protests were successful and many people praised them, both Black and White, all of the Greensboro Four had to leave the city because of harassment and death threats. They had been labeled as troublemakers so the local white population made life difficult and dangerous for the men to continue living there. Today there are several statues and remembrances of the protests initiated by the Greensboro Four. The February One statue of the four student-activists is located on the campus of North Carolina A & T State University. It is really moving. And you can find the original four lunch counter seats at the International Civil Rights Center and Museum in Greensboro. I also have pictures on the Wiki History Podcast Facebook page. I strongly encourage you to see them. I’m sure that you’ll be moved too.   Our last group of student-activists (in Part I) took the fight for civil rights to another level—the international level. They forged a CONNECTION with the civil rights movement in the United States and the anti-colonial movement that was sweeping across the continent of Africa. But I’m jumping ahead of myself; I’m just so excited to talk about this group. The group’s name: The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (or SNCC). Let’s start at the beginning.   Still--in 1960.   In April, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) sponsored a conference on student leadership and nonviolent resistance. This conference was partially initiated by the sit-ins in Greensboro and other cities. 300 students attended that conference. These students (who acted as delegates and observers) witnessed the formation of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. SNCC was born!   The members of SNCC joined the Freedom Riders that were sponsored by CORE (remember, Congress of Racial Equality). The Freedom Riders would take people all over the southern states to test the public facilities at the bus stations. However, the Freedom Riders started facing VERY intense attacks and violence. Buses were burned. People were assaulted with baseball bats, bombs and other weapons. Because of these attacks, in 1961, CORE suspended its Freedom Rides. SNCC decided to start running its own Freedom Rides. A SNCC member said, “There was so much at stake, we could NOT allow the segregationists to stop us. We HAD to continue that Freedom Ride EVEN if we were killed in the process.” So SNCC started making its own Freedom rides into the southern states.After numerous members of SNCC were beaten, tortured and imprisoned on false charges during the Freedom Rides, the government was forced to intervene and repeal the segregation laws that regulated interstate public transportation. SNCC had won—but at a great cost.   But the students wanted more. Their next campaign was for voting rights, which they started in 1963. Their slogan “one man, one vote” became the cornerstone of SNCC’s programs. SNCC demanded universal suffrage in the United States, continuing to parallel the efforts in the U.S. with the efforts taking place within the anti-colonial struggle in Africa. These were some serious students!   SNCC continued its sit-in protests and also met with the Oginga Odinga, the president of the newly independent government of Kenya. The racist image of the United States that SNCC’s work showed to the world was a sharp contrast to the picture of democracy painted by the politicians in Washington. And this became a problem.   In 1964, SNCC embarked on its most challenging effort with the Mississippi Summer Project. SNCC joined with other civil rights organizations in the state. (Like the SCLC and church organizations.) The coalition mobilized nearly a thousand volunteers from northern universities to travel to Mississippi to organize an independent Freedom Democratic Party and to register thousands of African Americans to vote. This was the famous Freedom Summer. The white protesters (including Klan members, law enforcement, policians and members of citizen’s councils) responded to SNCC’s civil rights activities with murder, beatings and imprisonment. If you’re wondering, this WAS summer that Cheney, Goodman and Schwerner kidnapped and killed were killed by police and the ku klux klan. More young lives cut short for trying to register Black voters. Unfortunately, the Freedom Democratic Party was never seated at the National Democratic Convention in 1964 and universal suffrage wouldn’t be guaranteed until the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965, but the work by SNCC brought many more people into the movement for political and economic equality.   Because SNCC had gained a high level of prominence from its consistent work and many successes, the student organization was invited to send a delegation to tour several independent countries in Africa during the fall of 1964. They visited the Republic of Guinea and received a special invitation to meet President Sekou Toure. One of SNCC’s leading members, John Lewis also visited Kenya, Zambia and other African countries. After this important trip, SNCC created an international affairs section, which made a powerful presentation before the United Nations Committee on Decolonization. The role of SNCC during this period illustrated the interconnectedness of the African American struggle for equality and the struggle for independence by the colonized countries on the African continent. Independence, equality, and civil rights were now expanded beyond U.S. borders into an international movement on two continents! Wow. That is huge! Students took the struggle to a new level—as only young people can do!   But SNCC never lost sight of its commitment and work in the cities, small towns and rural areas of the south, working with farmers and young activists on a daily basis to fight for civil rights.   SNCC was a strong and sophisticated organization. It took political activism to a new level while always staying true to its vision. And its members bravely put themselves in harm’s way to demand the right to vote and to demand equality in housing and education. They even faced the issue of police brutality together with its close ally, The Black Panthers. (Did you know that the Black Panthers’ full name was the Black Panthers for Self-Defense?) I just have to give a big shout out to the Black Panthers (who were made up mostly of young people and students) for their efforts in the civil rights movement and for Black empowerment. Everyone had a role. But I want to mention just a few names from the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee:   Ella Baker Marion Barry John Lewis Kwame Ture Julian Bond   [Applause here.]*   Julian Bond, who was a former founding member of SNCC and eventually served in the Georgia Senate and House of Representatives, remarked, "a final SNCC legacy is the destruction of the psychological shackles which had kept black southerners in physical and mental servitude; SNCC helped break those chains forever. It demonstrated that ordinary women and men, young and old, could perform extraordinary tasks."   This wise statement applies to all of these student and youth activists. And we’ll definitely see this in the next group of young people. Then in Part II, you will learn ways that YOU can make a positive difference in your own town, country or even the world. And, yes, it IS possible!   We’re gonna go back in time and back down south to Birmingham, Alabama, 1963. There was no Civil Rights Act. No Voting Rights Act. Segregation was still the law in many states in the south and whites fiercely defended this way of life in Alabama. Dr. Martin Luther King, the SCLC, SNCC and other civil rights organizations and churches are DETERMINED to release the racist grip that the Ku Klux Klan, law enforcement, white politicians and citizens’ councils hold on the city. In Dr. King’s words, it was a true symbol of “hard-core resistance to integration.” [pause]* May 1963. Birmingham, Alabama is “ground zero” in the fight for civil rights.   Civil rights leaders needed to take a stronger and more radical approach to their nonviolent protests. So, they decided to request the help and participation of students. They approached high school students and college students to volunteer in a march. And the students stepped up the plate. The students were trained in the tactics of non-violent resistance. Thus began the famous, never-to-be forgotten Children’s Crusade.   On May 2, 1963, 800 Black students skipped school and gathered at the 16th street Baptist Church, awaiting for instructions. They marched 10 miles to downtown on a mission to meet with Birmingham Mayor about segregation. As the students approached city hall, singing songs of freedom, they were corralled by police and arrested. Hundreds were put into paddy wagons and taken to jail.   But that wasn’t the end.   The march would eventually include 3,000 children.   The next day, May 3rd, the march resumed. But this time it was NOT met with a peaceful response. Police were waiting for them with clubs, water cannons and police dogs. The Birmingham Public Safety Commissioner—the infamous Bull Connor--ordered the men to immediately attack the students. They released the dogs and sprayed the students with the water cannons. The scene turned from a peaceful and quiet march of students singing along their way to city hall into a violent scene of terror with kids scattering and screaming as they were beaten and attacked by dogs.   The media captured the violent attack against the unarmed youngsters. Videos were shown around the country, actually the world. White-owned businesses and the white residents of Birmingham were criticized and ostracized by people across the country. On May 10, city leaders agreed to desegregate businesses and public facilities. It also captured the attention and sympathy of the President Kennedy who felt then compelled to public support federal Civil Rights legislation, leading to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Oh, yeah, and Martin Luther King negotiated having Bull Connor removed from public office!   The Children’s Crusade was an essential part of the Civil Rights Movement. Not just because it happened in what was called the “most racist city in the South.” But also because the children were so determined and focused. They were prepared to face violence. Many of the adults didn’t want to face arrest and imprisonment so they refused to participate. (Please understand that I’m not making any judgments about them.) But the kids were simply fed up and refused to back down. Many of them were arrested multiple times, had been beaten on numerous occasions and faced expulsion from school. Yet they kept coming back in greater and greater numbers. Why would they do that? Here are the words of one of the high school student activists:         Jessie Shepherd, then 16, was soaking wet (from the fire hoses) when she was loaded up in a paddy wagon. “I was told not to participate,” says Shepherd, now a retired clinical diet technician. “But I was tired of the injustice.”     “I couldn’t understand why there had to be a colored fountain and a white fountain,” says Shepherd. “Why couldn’t I drink out the fountain that other little kids drank out of? As I got older, I understood that’s just the way it was, because my skin was black, and we were treated differently because of that.” So she marched.   And that march changed the nation.   As we end Part I of this podcast show on student-activism in the civil rights movement, I would ask that if you participated as a student-activist in this march or any of the numerous other marches, sit-ins, Freedom Rides or any other protests, please contact rememberinghistory.com and tell your experience. We want to hear YOUR story. Please add your story and experiences on the comment page. Or you can send me a personal email message to robin@rememberinghistory.com. And please tell your story to YOUR children, your nieces, nephews and other children that you. They NEED to know that young people and students CAN make a difference. That they HAVE power and influence. And knowing YOUR experience and knowing African American history (no matter about yours or the child’s cultural background) shows proof of the power that young people hold in their hands.   On that high note, we will turn to present ways that YOU can get involved, ways that YOU can help. I hope you’ve seen that everyone can contribute. And that everyone has reserves of strength and courage that they probably never knew existed…until they are called to show it. That’s exactly what the young people and students did during the Civil Rights movement. And the young people and students TODAY also have the strength and courage to make a positive impact in the lives of their families, communities, the country and even the world. And, as 2017 begins, it IS clear that strength and courage as well as integrity, passion and vision are going to be needed. As Dr. King remarked, what they do now will impact children who have not yet been born. Please join us in Part II to start making an impact. We have reached the end of this podcast show. Are you feeling inspired? I really am! And I hope that you too.   Please remember to look at the Wiki History Podcast page on Facebook so you can actually SEE these brave kids and for really candid scenes of their experiences. I have deliberately decided NOT to put the mutilated picture of Emmett Till on the page but you can find a picture of him as a promising and eager young man who was the apple of this mother’s eye. You will also see other scenes from Money, Mississippi. And definitely don’t miss the picture of Ruby Bridges being escorted into school surrounded by federal marshals. It’s all there on the Wiki History Facebook page.   Also, if you enjoyed this show, please let others know about it. They might like it, find it inspirational too. We are growing a community of historians of all ages, backgrounds and interests. Everyone is welcome. Let’s change the way people think about history—one good friend at a time.   And we have a special announcement and offer to make to all Wiki History podcast listeners in the next show. Especially for Black History month.   So,come back soon to Remembering History where we ARE remembering history and we’re making it. Every day!                                             At the end of the show: Finally, I just want to remind you that 2017, the Wiki History podcast show is dedicated to the National Museum of African American History & Culture. Located in Washington, DC, the National Museum of African American History & Culture opened in 2016. This kind of museum was long overdue but it finally happened and it is a place that everyone should visit and explore. Museums are a great way to bring history to life and to keep it alive for future generations. Wiki History is honored to be a part of this important process. For every person that listens to this podcast show, rememberinghistory.com will donate $1 to the National Museum of African American History & Culture.   And we have a special announcement and offer to make to all Wiki History podcast listeners.   Come back soon to Remembering History where we ARE remembering history and we’re making it. Every day!   Bye for now!           ************************************************************   But what TO do? How can YOU have a positive impact?   Recognize that there are major problems and challenges around the world. Some problems that existed and led to the Civil Rights Movement STILL exist. Problems like discrimination in voting, education, job and housing still exist. Police violence, poverty and cultural and religious intolerance STILL exist. There are more than * refugees around the world. The environment is under threat. I don’t want to even try to list all the problems on a worldwide scale, but I just recognize that the world is a far from perfect place. There’s a lot that you can do to have an impact. But awareness is the first step.   Get your education. Learn history. The rememberinghistory.com team is committed to keeping history alive and spreading the word so that we can avoid the mistakes of the past, learn the lessons of great people from the past. The world needs more people with education and insight. This doesn’t only mean an “academic” education. Learn a trade. Develop a skill. Read a lot. Okay, these were 2 good ways to prepare yourself to save the world. Now, let’s look at some specific things that you can do.   Do you have a cell phone? Well, you can use it to document racist behavior, threatening behavior or anything that is unacceptable. The camera on your phone can save a life. Remember, the world would never have known about the police beating of Rodney King. You can also use your phone to call for assistance from family, friends or the police. Trayvon Martin used his phone to report that he was being followed. Your phone can be a powerful tool.                                                         After the first discussion:   Also, if you enjoy this show, please let others know about it. They might like it, find it inspirational too. Let’s change the way people think about history—one good friend at a time.     At the end of the show: Finally, I just want to remind you that 2017, the Wiki History podcast show is dedicated to the National Museum of African American History & Culture. Located in Washington, DC, the National Museum of African American History & Culture opened in 2016. This kind of museum was long overdue but it finally happened and it is a place that everyone should visit and explore. Museums are a great way to bring history to life and to keep it alive for future generations. Wiki History is honored to be a part of this important process. For every person that listens to this podcast show, rememberinghistory.com will donate $1 to the National Museum of African American History & Culture.   And we have a special announcement and offer to make to all Wiki History podcast listeners.   Come back soon to Remembering History where we ARE remembering history and we’re making it. Every day!   Bye for now!    

Ruby Bridges crossed the threshold of William Frantz Elementary School on November 14, 1960, when she was six-years-old and single-handedly initiated the desegregation of New Orleans' public schools. Each day that she trudged up the stairs of the school praying, "Please God, try to forgive those people, because even if they say those bad things, they don't know what they're doing." The book The Story of Ruby Bridges by child psychiatrist Robert Coles tells the story of Ruby's strength and courage in the face of prejudice, anger, and rejection. She graduated from Francis T. Nicholls High School in New Orleans, and today she heads the Ruby Bridges Foundation, a non-profit that provides funding to schools for supplies and resources for children and parents.