How to be notified of upcoming speaking events with civil rights heroes

November 13, 2024 1:27 PM

My family and I are greatly interested in events featuring people who were directly involved with the Civil Rights movement, specifically the fight against segregation and racism. I am keenly aware that time is limited for hearing them speak in person, and I want my kids to be able to meet them and hear their stories.

To give you an idea of the sorts of things I mean: over the past year, we have been able to book a tour of Selma with Joanne Bland (which was an incredibly wonderful experience!), and attend a panel discussion with Bernard Lafayette and other Freedom Riders.

Aside from repeatedly doing internet searches for names of people we would be interested in seeing, is there a way for us to keep track of upcoming events along these lines that we might be interested in? We're willing to travel, so we're looking for more than local options. And if you happen to know of upcoming events along these lines, please share!

Thanks in advance for any ideas you may have.

posted by greenmagnet to Society & Culture (3 answers total)

Charles Person is still alive and engaged. I would seek out where he will be speaking next. He's 80 and was the youngest freedom rider. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0cC77BFNFU
posted by beccaj at 2:12 PM on November 13, 2024 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I know you said you’d already been to Selma, but it looks like they’re having a big hoopla for the 60th anniversary of the bridge crossing in March 2025 with a lot of the speakers TBD. (That links to the schedule of events.) something to maybe keep an eye on if they book someone you haven’t seen yet.
posted by SomethinsWrong at 2:54 PM on November 13, 2024 [2 favorites]

Just suggesting that you include figures from the school bussing fights the followed Brown vs Board of Ed.. The late Jackie Robinson figured in that here in Stamford, CT. His wife, Rachel Robinson, is apparently still alive at the age of 102.
posted by SemiSalt at 5:09 AM on November 14, 2024