Trayvon Martin’s Parents Speak About Zimmerman’s Trial

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Trayvon Martin was 17-years-old when he was fatally shot by George Zimmerman in Sanford, Florida. On the evening of February 26, 20012, Martin had travelled with his father to visit his father’s fiancee. Martin went out to purchase some items from a convenience store. On his way home, Zimmerman, a … Continue reading

Toni Morrison
Toni Morrison On Her Motivation For Writing

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Toni Morrison is an American novelist and professor best known for her novels The Bluest Eye, Song of Solomon and Beloved. In 1993, Morrison received the Nobel Prize for Literature. In this video, Morrison discusses how her life and experiences led her to write The Bluest Eye and what she … Continue reading

American Civil Rights Movement
Survivors Recall The Orangeburg Massacre

Survivors Recall The Orangeburg Massacre

The Orangeburg massacre took place on February 8, 1968, when a group of about 150 protestors from South Carolina State University had gathered to protest racial segregation at the local bowling alley. South Carolina Highway Patrol Officers responded to the scene and opened fire on protestors, killing three and wounding … Continue reading

Apollo Theater
Gladys Knight On The Importance Of The Apollo

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The Apollo Theater on 125th street in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, is a famous venue that has launched the careers of many African-American performers. The Apollo Theater opened on January 26, 1934. The Apollo went on to host Showtime at the Apollo, which was a nationally … Continue reading

Alvin Ailey
Alvin Ailey’s “Revelations”

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Alvin Ailey was a choreographer and activist who is credited with popularizing modern dance. He founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City, and his company, The Alvin Ailey Dance Company, toured extensively. His piece “Revelations” is considered to be the best known and most seen modern … Continue reading

Selma to Montgomery Marches
Carmen Ejogo On Playing Coretta Scott King

Carmen Ejogo On Playing Coretta Scott King

Actress Carmen Ejogo plays Coretta Scott King in the 2014 movie “Selma”, which is based on the 1965 Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches. Ejogo had previously played Coretta Scott King in the HBO production “Boycott”, and in this video she discusses portraying Scott King at different points in her … Continue reading

Martin Luther King Jr.
Dr. Clarence B. Jones Remembers MLK’s Assassination

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On April 4, 1968, at the age of 39, Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. In this video, his friend, advisor and draft speechwriter Dr. Clarence B. Jones recalls hearing the news of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s death and speaks about his initial … Continue reading