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# National Civil Rights Museum: The National Civil Rights Museum is a complex of museums and historic buildings in Memphis, Tennessee, built around the former Lorraine Motel — the site of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968. Its exhibits trace the history of the American Civil Rights Movement from the 17th century to the present. A Smithsonian Affiliate and internationally acclaimed cultural institution, the museum serves as a catalyst for positive social change and explores how the Civil Rights Movement continues to shape equality and freedom globally.

## Sitemaps
[XML Sitemap](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/sitemap_index.xml): Includes all crawlable and indexable pages.

## Posts
- [Freedom Came Late: What Juneteenth Teaches Us about the America We’re Still Building](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/freedom-came-late-what-juneteenth-teaches-us-about-the-america-were-still-building/): National Civil Rights Museum Op-Ed as published in The Daily Memphian
- [250 Years – The Promise and the Work: Patriotism Means Honesty at America’s Semiquincentennial](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/250-years-the-promise-and-the-work-patriotism-means-honesty-at-americas-semiquincentennial/): Two hundred and fifty years ago, a group of men signed a document that made an audacious claim: that all men are created equal, endowed with unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. They meant it imperfectly; many of them enslaved other human beings while writing those words. But the words themselves were large enough to outlast their authors’ failures. That is the miracle and the burden of the American founding.
- [Museum Launches Bayard Rustin Institute](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/museum-launches-bayard-rustin-institute/)
- [The Ballot Remains the Battlefield: The Demise of the Voting Rights Act](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/the-ballot-remains-the-battlefield-the-demise-of-the-voting-rights-act/): National Civil Rights Museum Op-Ed 
- [Museum Statement on the Passing of Bernard Lafayette, Jr.](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/museum-statement-on-the-passing-of-bernard-lafayette-jr/): MUSEUM STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF BERNARD LAFAYETTE, JR.
- [Museum Statement on the Passing of Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. Champion of Justice, Voice of Conscience, 2018 Freedom Award Honoree](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/museum-statement-on-the-passing-of-rev-jesse-jackson-sr-champion-of-justice-voice-of-conscience-2018-freedom-award-honoree/): The National Civil Rights Museum mourns the loss of Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., a towering figure in the American civil rights movement and a global ambassador for justice, peace, and equality. His passing marks the end of an era defined by fearless advocacy and unrelenting hope for a more just and inclusive world.
- [Forty Years of the King Holiday: A Promise Renewed, A Legacy Reimagined](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/forty-years-of-the-king-holiday-a-promise-renewed-a-legacy-reimagined/): National Civil Rights Museum Op-Ed
- [Legacy Reimagined: A New Era at the National Civil Rights Museum](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/legacy-reimagined-a-new-era-at-the-national-civil-rights-museum/): When the National Civil Rights Museum’s Legacy Building reopens in late spring 2026, it will do more than welcome guests into an updated facility. It will usher them into an urgent and immersive journey through the unfinished business of civil rights. What once served as the Lorraine Motel’s opposite façade now becomes the movement’s modern-day front line.
- [The Greater Memphis Chamber’s Meet the Chairman’s Circle with President Dr. Russell Wigginton](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/the-greater-memphis-chambers-meet-the-chairmans-circle-with-president-dr-russell-wigginton/): Wouldn’t the world be a whole lot less interesting if Memphis wasn’t in it?
- [Healing on Sacred Ground: Why Founders Park is More than Just a Park](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/healing-on-sacred-ground-why-founders-park-is-more-than-just-a-park/): National Civil Rights Museum Op-Ed 
- [Breaking Barriers, Building Belonging: Reclaiming Our Shared Space](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/breaking-barriers-building-belonging-reclaiming-our-shared-space/): National Civil Rights Museum Op-Ed
- [Black History Museums Face Rising Pressures Amid Federal Oversight](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/black-history-museums-face-rising-pressures-amid-federal-oversight/): National Civil Rights Museum Op-Ed 
- [The National Civil Rights Museum Announces 34th Freedom Award Honorees](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/the-national-civil-rights-museum-announces-34th-freedom-award-honorees/): The National Civil Rights Museum is proud to announce the distinguished honorees for the 34th Freedom Award, recognizing their exceptional contributions to civil and human rights. The Museum’s signature event, the Freedom Award, pays tribute to individuals who have shown unwavering commitment to advancing truth, equity, and justice in a time when those values are under threat.
- [Sixty Years after the Voting Rights Act: The Fight to Protect the Ballot Continues](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/sixty-years-after-the-voting-rights-act-the-fight-to-protect-the-ballot-continues/): National Civil Rights Museum Op-Ed
- [Community Over Chaos: Protecting Education for a Stronger America](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/community-over-chaos-protecting-education-for-a-stronger-america/): National Civil Rights Museum Op-Ed
- [Everyone’s Freedoms Are at Risk When LGBTQIA+ Rights Are Attacked](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/everyones-freedoms-are-at-risk-when-lgbtqia-rights-are-attacked/): National Civil Rights Museum Op-Ed
- [Juneteenth and the Unfinished Fight for American Freedom](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/juneteenth-and-the-unfinished-fight-for-american-freedom/): National Civil Rights Museum Op-Ed
- [Museum Statement on the Passing of Fred Smith](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/museum-statement-on-the-passing-of-fred-smith/): Fred Smith, founder of FedEx and a visionary leader, embodied the spirit of innovation, resilience, and community uplift. His work forever changed the landscape of Memphis, and his impact continues to resonate with the enduring mission of the National Civil Rights Museum.
- [With American Education Under Threat, We Have to Remember Where We’ve Been](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/with-american-education-under-threat-we-have-to-remember-where-weve-been/): By Dr. Russ Wigginton Guest Columnist
- [Community Over Chaos: Clayborn Temple and the Spirit of Rebirth](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/community-over-chaos-clayborn-temple-and-the-spirit-of-rebirth/): Photo credit: Historic Clayborn Temple
- [A.W. Willis, Jr. at 100: Honoring a Legacy of Courage and Commitment](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/a-w-willis-jr-at-100-honoring-a-legacy-of-courage-and-commitment/): On March 16, 2025, the National Civil Rights Museum proudly celebrates the 100th birthday of A.W. Willis, Jr., a trailblazing attorney, businessman, and civil rights leader who dedicated his life to justice and equality. Willis’ legacy is one of historic firsts – barriers broken, institutions reformed, and a relentless fight for the rights of African Americans in Memphis and beyond. His vision helped shape the civil rights landscape, and today, we honor him as one of the architects of progress.
- [Letter to the Community:  Urgent Support for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/letter-to-the-community-urgent-support-for-the-institute-of-museum-and-library-services-imls/): Dear Friends and Supporters,
- [The Fight for Truth: Black History Month and Today’s Cultural Pushback](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/the-fight-for-truth-black-history-month-and-todays-cultural-pushback/): Black History Month has been deeply influenced by ongoing racial justice movements and political tensions.  The protests after the murder of George Floyd marked a turning point, with Black History Month increasingly linked to activism and systemic change. Media has become a powerful tool in expanding Black narratives, with films, series, and books providing diverse portrayals of Black life, yet these efforts remain contested by political opposition.
- [Black History Month at the National Civil Rights Museum: A Celebration of Ongoing Education and Community Engagement](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/black-history-month-at-the-national-civil-rights-museum-a-celebration-of-ongoing-education-and-community-engagement/): National Civil Rights Museum Op-Ed 
- [Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Knew Health Equity and Civil Rights Go Hand in Hand](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/dr-martin-luther-king-jr-knew-health-equity-and-civil-rights-go-hand-in-hand/): By Dr. Russ Wigginton Guest Columnist
- [Museum Statement on the Declassification of the King Assassination National Intelligence Documents](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/museum-statement-on-the-declassification-of-the-king-assassination-national-intelligence-documents/): The National Civil Rights Museum is closely monitoring efforts to declassify national intelligence files related to the assassinations of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., President John F. Kennedy, and Senator Robert F. Kennedy. We fully support measures to ensure the King Family will review any newly revealed information before it is made public.
- [Yes, There Is Voter Suppression in Tennessee. Here’s the Key to Overcoming It](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/yes-there-is-voter-suppression-in-tennessee-heres-the-key-to-overcoming-it/): By Dr. Russ Wigginton Guest Columnist
- [President Jimmy Carter: A Giant Among Leaders](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/president-jimmy-carter-a-giant-among-leaders/): The National Civil Rights Museum joins the world in mourning the passing of President Jimmy Carter. A giant among leaders and a true example of the highest ideals of public service, President Carter’s legacy will forever be etched in history. As a recipient of the Museum's 1994 Freedom Award and the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize, his life's work reflected unwavering dedication to peace, justice, and human dignity.
- [Mississippi Burning: From Murder Mayhem to a Mighty Mission](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/mississippi-burning-from-murder-mayhem-to-a-mighty-mission-2/): by Ryan M. Jones, Associate Curator
- [Bayard Rustin – Strategist, Organizer, Unifier](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/bayard-rustin-strategist-organizer-unifier-2/): As he approached the podium, Bayard Rustin was determined and elated. He expected about 100,000 marchers to converge at the Washington Monument on August 28, 1963. To his delight, approximately 250,000 people cheered as he listed the demands of the march. The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom began after eight weeks of recruiting marchers, coordinating buses and marshals, scheduling speakers, and managing logistics. Despite Rustin’s critical role as the march’s chief organizer, movement leaders and political leaders alike attempted to remove Rustin from the story because he was gay.
- [Honoring Jazz: an early American art form](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/honoring-jazz-an-early-american-art-form/): This post contains mature language.
- [John Lewis: Freedom Rider](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/john-lewis-freedom-rider/): 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 Carolina mere days before this photograph.
- [With Sympathy: Letters to the Lorraine Motel](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/with-sympathy-letters-to-the-lorraine-motel/): Director of Interpretation, Collections and Education
- [Model Slave Cabin](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/model-slave-cabin/): Among the interstingly novel artifacts in the National Civil Rights Museum’s collection is a model slave cabin donated to the museum along with figurines, furniture and accessories.  It was fashioned by the well-regarded dollhouse enthusiast Jacqueline Andrews of Ashland, Virginia.  In 1975, Barbara Grey commissioned Ms. Andrew to create these dolls and the house.  It was purchased by the Weaver family in 2004 who then donated it to the museum.
- [The Lorraine Motel Guest Book](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/the-lorraine-motel-guest-book/): One of the unique collections housed at the National Civil Rights Museum is the Evidence Collection, related to the trial of Martin Luther King’s assassin James Earl Ray.  Among the 1,760 items in this collection is the Lorraine Motel guest book from 1968. In this book, Walter Bailey, the proprietor of the establishment, made note of all the guests who rented rooms at the Lorraine Motel.
- [James H. Laue](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/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 Bill DuFour is speaking with three of King’s most recognizable aides, Ralph Abernathy, Andrew Young, and Jesse Jackson, as they stare in disbelief at the body of Dr. King.    Crouching on the floor near Dr. King is James H. Laue.  Laue was one of two white guests staying at the Lorraine Motel that day.  As a U.S. Department of Justice mediator, he had come to Memphis to help resolve the Sanitation Workers Strike and to lend support to Dr. King and his cause.  Though not as well known as the activists in the photograph, Laue built an impressive legacy as an advocate for civil rights and peaceful conflict resolution.
- [Letter to Coretta Scott King](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/letter-to-coretta-scott-king/): The assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968, caused shock throughout America.  His loss was mourned not only in our country, but throughout the whole world, and people’s reactions ran the gamut of emotions. Both civil rights organizers and the federal government urged citizens to exercise calm, but nevertheless, violence broke out in major cities across our nation.
- [Ben Branch](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/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 recollected his last conversation with the reverend.  King had asked Branch to play “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” at a rally later that day, as Branch’s instrumental rendition of this gospel song was one of MLK’s favorites. “Play that song tonight – I want you to play it like you’ve never played it before in your life,” Branch remembered the civil rights leader saying.  Just minutes after this conversation, an assassin’s bullet would take Dr. King’s life on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel.
- [Lorraine Motel](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/lorraine-motel/): For this month’s blog, I want to share two photographs from our Lorraine Motel archive collection.  The National Civil Rights Museum provides an engaging narrative of the civil rights struggle, but few know the story behind our most important artifact, the motel building itself.  In 1945, a local African American businessman, Walter Bailey (no relation to museum founder D’Army Bailey), purchased the Marquette Hotel on 450 Mulberry Street.  Bailey renamed the establishment as the Lorraine Motel, both to honor his wife, Loree and as an ode to the popular 1920s jazz song, “Sweet Lorraine.”The first photograph is of the Bailey family and was taken in the 1950s.  It shows Walter and Loree Bailey dressed up for a formal occasion.  Their daughter Carolyn who stands between them is wearing a tiara and carrying a bouquet of flowers.  In May of 1958, Carolyn married Charles Champion, a local pharmacist.  The couple raised three daughters here in Memphis.  In 2016, the Champion family attended NCRM’s inaugural Night at the Lorraine fundraiser.  For that occasion, they shared this family portrait with us, and thereby helped to enrich our Lorraine Motel archival collection.
- [Water Dippers](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/water-dippers/): Jim Crow restrictions separated the races in America in every aspect of public life.  Restaurants, buses, trains, restrooms, theatres, water fountains and workplaces posted “White Only” and “Colored” signs to remind people of their place.Jim Crow restrictions separated the races in America in every aspect of public life.  Restaurants, buses, trains, restrooms, theatres, water fountains and workplaces posted “White Only” and “Colored” signs to remind people of their place.
- [The Civil Rights Act Gave Way to Reform, but Flaws in the Language Left the Job Unfinished](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/the-civil-rights-act-gave-way-to-reform-but-flaws-in-the-language-left-the-job-unfinished/): Photo Credit: LBJ Library photo by Cecil Stoughton
- [Mississippi Burning: From Murder Mayhem to a Mighty Mission](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/mississippi-burning-from-murder-mayhem-to-a-mighty-mission/): by Ryan M. Jones, Associate Curator
- [Juneteenth: History Moves Us Forward](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/juneteenth-history-moves-us-forward/): by Dr. Russ Wigginton, President 
- [Museum Statement on the Passing of Rev. James Lawson](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/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.  
- [Join us for The Resilience: Combatting Police Violence Through Policy And Public Safety | March 22, 2024](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/join-us-for-the-resilience-combatting-police-violence-through-policy-and-public-safety-march-22-2024/): The Resilience: Combatting Police Violence through Policy and Public Safety marks the culmination of a four-part series by the National Civil Rights Museum, aimed at addressing police violence with actionable solutions. This final installment focuses on empowering attendees with strategies rooted in policy reform and community-led safety alternatives.
- [Honoring Cultural and Artistic Heritage This Black History Month](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/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 interactive exhibitions. These offerings were designed to educate and inspire reflections on the courage, determination, and resilience of African American artists and their impact on society.
- [Statement on the Passing of Dexter Scott King](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/statement-on-the-passing-of-dexter-scott-king/): The National Civil Rights Museum mourns with the nation on the passing of Dexter Scott King.
- [National Civil Rights Museum is advancing Martin Luther King’s economic justice mission](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/national-civil-rights-museum-is-advancing-martin-luther-kings-economic-justice-mission/): As published in The Tennessean January 10, 2024
- [Stacey Abrams: Champion of Voting Rights Honored at the National Civil Rights Museum](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/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 fighting for fairness and equity in the American democratic process. In this blog post, we'll delve into her remarkable career in voting rights and explore her profound connection to the National Civil Rights Museum.
- [A Demonstration that Ignited Change: 60 Years After the 1963 March on Washington](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/blog/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.”

## Pages
- [Season 2](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/imagine-an-america/podcast/season-2/): Cheryl Miller — Redefining Greatness: Equality in Every Arena 
- [Freedom Award Sponsorship Payment](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/freedom-award/sponsorship/freedom-award-sponsorship-payment/): JTNDZGl2JTIwaWQlM0QlMjJibGFja2JhdWQtZG9uYXRpb24tZm9ybV8wNDU1NjQxZC1kODNmLTQ3YTYtYjY5Mi0wMjQwMzMxZmE1ZDklMjIlM0UlM0MlMkZkaXYlM0UlMEQlMEElM0NzY3JpcHQlMjBzcmMlM0QlMjJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnNreS5ibGFja2JhdWRjZG4ubmV0JTJGc3RhdGljJTJGZG9ub3ItZm9ybS1sb2FkZXIlMkYyJTJGbWFpbi5qcyUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRnNjcmlwdCUzRSUwRCUwQSUzQ3NjcmlwdCUzRUJCRG9ub3JGb3JtTG9hZGVyLm5ld0JsYWNrYmF1ZERvbmF0aW9uRm9ybVpvbmVkJTI4JTI3cmVueHQlMjclMkMlMjAlMjdwLTNmc0R4MHYtSjBXNVdkUzI5NEgxV0ElMjclMkMlMjAlMjcwNDU1NjQxZC1kODNmLTQ3YTYtYjY5Mi0wMjQwMzMxZmE1ZDklMjclMkMlMjAlMjd1c2ElMjclMjklM0MlMkZzY3JpcHQlM0U=
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- [Bayard Rustin Institute](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/bayard-rustin-institute/): Supported by the Lilly Endowment, the Institute activates the newly acquired Rustin Collection while launching new programs, partnerships, and the inaugural Rustin Social Change Fellows.
- [Luminaries](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/phoenix-circle/luminaries/): 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
- [Beacons](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/phoenix-circle/beacons/): 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
- [Torch Bearer](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/phoenix-circle/torch-bearer/): 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
- [Rising Ember](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/phoenix-circle/rising-ember/): 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
- [Phoenix Circle](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/phoenix-circle/): The National Civil Rights Museum proudly introduces the Phoenix Circle, our premier recognition program for individual donors making annual gifts of $2,500 or more. Phoenix Circle members play a pivotal role in advancing civil and human rights, helping the Museum preserve history, honor changemakers, and inspire future generations.
- [Test Media Request](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/test-media-request/): "*" indicates required fields
- [Test Contact Form](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/test-contact/): "*" indicates required fields
- [Friends of the Lorraine](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/friends-of-the-lorraine/): Every month, Friends of the Lorraine stand with history and invest in a future rooted in justice, equality, and understanding.
- [Our Stories, Our Museum](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/our-stories-our-museum/): Whether you have visited the Museum, experienced this history firsthand, carry family memories connected to the movement, or simply want to reflect on what these stories mean to you today, your voice belongs here.
- [Legacy Experience Acknowledgement](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/the-legacy-experience/acknowledgement/): The Assisi Foundation
- [The Legacy Experience](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/the-legacy-experience/): The Legacy galleries cover the last 50 years, the movements your grandparents joined, the setbacks your parents lived through, the questions your generation is answering right now. Poverty. Education. Housing. Gender equity. Nonviolence. These are not exhibits about the past. They are exhibits about right now, rendered with the depth and honesty the moment demands.
- [Breakfast at The Lorraine](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/april-2026-breakfast/): 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
- [Media Request](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/media-request/): Please review the Media Policy and Copyright Policy below before completing this form. MEDIA POLICY: Contact the Marketing Communications Department 48 hours in advance of your arrival for authorization to shoot photos or video footage. This form must be completed and presented to Museum personnel in order to obtain a media credentials for assignments. Media identification or business card is required at Security/Admissions upon arrival. Media credentials must be worn by media representatives only while on assignment at the National Civil Rights Museum and returned to Security or Admissions Desk at the end of each shoot. NO photos are allowed inside the King’s Room 306 exhibit enclosure, but only in the corridor outside the room. If you are not covering a specific event or story in response to a Museum press release, please contact Marketing Communications Department by telephone at (901) 521-9699 ext. 2292 or 901-331-5460 to discuss by appointment.
- [Freedom Award Red Carpet Livestream](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/freedom-award/freedom-award-red-carpet-livestream/): 34th Freedom Award Red Carpet Livestream Thursday October 16 2025 5:30 PM CDT  
- [Membership](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/membership/): By becoming a member of the National Civil Rights Museum, you help further the museum’s mission year-round. In addition to the list of member benefits below, you become a part of the Museum’s mission to honor and preserve the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., chronicle the civil rights movement, tell the ongoing story of human rights. We educate and serve as a catalyst to inspire action to create positive social change.
- [Founders Park](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/founders-park/): There’s a quiet power in standing in a place where history happened. And in Memphis, there are few spaces more sacred than the ground outside the National Civil Rights Museum. For decades, visitors have stood outside the Lorraine Motel, eyes fixed on the balcony where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. last stood. But what if that moment—of pause, of reverence, of reckoning—could become a longer conversation? What if that space could expand into something more living, more communal, more purposeful?
- [Honorees & Entertainment](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/freedom-award/honorees-entertainment/): As President and CEO of the National Urban League since 2003, Marc Morial has transformed the 100-plus-year-old civil rights organization with a renewed focus on economic empowerment, education, and criminal justice reform. His leadership has expanded opportunities for underserved communities and solidified the Urban League’s position as one of the nation’s most influential civil rights organizations.
- [Freedom Award (WIP)](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/freedom-award/freedom-award-wip/): JTNDZGl2JTIwY2xhc3MlM0QlMjJsaW5lciUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRmRpdiUzRQ==
- [C-Suite](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/imagine-an-america/podcast/c-suite/): Within the powerful galleries of the National Civil Rights Museum, Valerie Rainford, Janet Taylor, Veda Ajamu, and Ryan Jones share how the museum’s storytelling equip executive leaders to ethically confront bias and build equity. Using history, data, neuroscience, and honest dialogue, the museum's Corporate Equity Center facilitators provide educational resources through a historical lens with clear paths for practical, profitable solutions to address systemic workplace inequities.Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeiHeart
- [Clayborne Carson, Kerry Kennedy, and Stacey Abrams](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/imagine-an-america/podcast/clayborne-carson-kerry-kennedy-and-stacey-abrams/): Three visionaries discuss their lives of service, the legacy of the civil rights movement, and their ongoing commitment to global human rights. A conversation about what it means to make history—and to shape the future.Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeiHeart
- [Xernona Clayton](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/imagine-an-america/podcast/xernona-clayton/): Media pioneer and civil rights legend Xernona Clayton reflects on decades of breaking ground and opening doors for future generations. Her story is a vibrant testament to persistence, poise, and progress.Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeiHeart
- [Charlie Cobb, Judy Richardson, and Courtland Cox](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/imagine-an-america/podcast/charlie-cobb-judy-richardson-and-courtland-cox/): Veterans of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) share firsthand accounts of youth-led organizing in the 1960s and its connection to movements today. A multi-generational reflection on courage, strategy, and solidarity. Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeiHeart
- [Sherrilyn Ifill](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/imagine-an-america/podcast/sherrilyn-ifill/): Renowned civil rights lawyer Sherrilyn Ifill outlines the legal battlegrounds shaping democracy—from voting rights to judicial equity. A masterclass on how the law can be both weapon and shield in the pursuit of justice.Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeiHeart
- [Dr. Cornel West](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/imagine-an-america/podcast/dr-cornel-west/): Dr. Cornel West explores what it means to fight for justice from a place of love, joy, and moral clarity. This soulful dialogue centers the vision of the “Beloved Community” and the values that keep movements alive.Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeiHeart
- [Ben Crump](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/imagine-an-america/podcast/ben-crump/): The Museum's 2016 Freedom Award honoree and civil rights attorney, Ben Crump speaks on the emotional and legal battle for justice in cases of police violence and systemic neglect. This conversation explores healing, accountability, and the pursuit of justice beyond the courtroom.Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeiHeart
- [Spike Lee](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/imagine-an-america/podcast/spike-lee/): Visionary filmmaker Spike Lee shares how art becomes activism, memory becomes power, and storytelling becomes resistance. This episode celebrates the role of cinema in confronting injustice and keeping the historical record alive.Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeiHeartSEASON 1 EPISODES
- [Roxane Gay](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/imagine-an-america/podcast/roxane-gay/): Author and cultural critic Roxane Gay unpacks the power of truth-telling in an age of censorship and backlash. With wit and candor, she explores how honesty—especially from marginalized voices—is both radical and necessary.Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeiHeart
- [Tommie Smith](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/imagine-an-america/podcast/tommie-smith/): Olympic icon Tommie Smith reflects on his legendary Black Power salute in 1968 and the price of protest. This episode honors athletes who have used their platforms for political resistance, inspiring generations to take a stand—literally and figuratively.Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeiHeart
- [Amaré Stoudemire](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/imagine-an-america/podcast/amare-stoudemire/): NBA star and entrepreneur Amaré Stoudemire shares how faith has shaped his understanding of justice, community, and legacy. This episode explores the spiritual foundations of leadership and why moral courage is essential in today's cultural climate.Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeiHeart
- [Season 1](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/imagine-an-america/podcast/season-1/): Listen to the National Civil Rights Museum’s podcast, IMAGINE AN AMERICA. This is more than a podcast. It’s a call to action to uncover the truth, give voice to the unheard, and spark a movement for social change. Join this journey of transformation as we track the history and move forward toward solutions around key social issues including CRT, voting rights, justice, education, and more.
- [Board of Directors](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/board-of-directors/): Lorraine Civil Rights Museum Foundation Board of Directors meets quarterly. All meetings are at 4:00pm Central Time.
- [Cheryl Miller](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/imagine-an-america/podcast/cheryl-miller/): Trailblazing Hall of Famer Cheryl Miller discusses how gender and racial equity in sports remains a battleground and a mirror of American society. From breaking records to breaking barriers, her story is a powerful reflection on dignity, excellence, and equality.
- [50 Weeks of Action Archive](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/learn/dr-kings-legacy/50-weeks-of-action-archive/): Week 1 of 50: No Justice. No Peace. Know Justice. Know Peace. Week 2: What is Peace? Week 3: A Threat to Justice Week 4: Fair Housing in a Beloved Community Week 5: Poverty: A Moral Dilemma Week 6: Better Jobs = Better Society Week 7: Quality Education Week 8: And Justice For All Week 9: Peace: The Nonviolent Way Week 10: Housing: My Address, My Future Week 11: Realities of Poverty Today Week 12: All Labor Has Dignity Week 13: School Choice For Quality Education Week 14: Voting Rights: Power to the People! Week 15: Peaceful Protest: Civil Disobedience Week 16: The Meaning of Blight Week 17: Undoing a Generation of Student Loan Debt Week 18: Rethinking Education Week 19: Monumental Justice: Heritage or Hate? Week 21: Better Jobs: Gender Pay Gap Week 22: Daring to Dream: Generational Poverty Week 23: Quality Education: Teacher Preparedness Week 24: Affordable Housing: New Challenges, Old Policies Week 25: Justice Dinner Week 26: Better Jobs - Resumes & Interviews Matter Week 27: Peace: Nonviolence as a Way of Life Week 28: Poverty - A Tribute to the 1968 Sanitation Workers Week 29: Justice - Ban the Box: 2nd Chance Too Many? Week 30: Decent Housing- Redlining Your Community Week 31: Better Jobs: Two-Year vs. Four-Year Higher Education Week 32: Education Equity - Part One: Funding Week 33: Educational Equity - Part 2: Quality Schools Week 34: Addressing Poverty - Poor People's Campaign Week 35: Better Jobs - The Strike for Better Working Conditions Week 36: Poverty Since MLK Week 37: Decent Housing - Connecting Neighborhoods Week 38: Quality Education - The Importance of Youth Activism Week 39: Peace - A Ripple of Hope: Remembering Robert F. Kennedy
- [50 Voices for 50 Years](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/learn/dr-kings-legacy/50-voices-for-50-years/)
- [Peace](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/learn/dr-kings-legacy/peace/): Having earned both a divinity degree and a doctorate in systematic theology, Dr. King often turned to various religious texts and practices to guide his actions and words throughout the Civil Rights Movement.
- [Quality Education](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/learn/dr-kings-legacy/quality-education/): As a highly educated man himself, Dr. King stressed the importance of better schools and access to resources for teachers and students. Unfortunately, education on every level was limited for African Americans, whether because of financial reasons, school segregation, or lack of support to pursue education.
- [Better Jobs & Higher Wages](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/learn/dr-kings-legacy/better-jobs-higher-wages/): One of the most important components in the fight for civil rights was the fight for equal opportunity. This opportunity came in the form of better jobs and higher wages for people of color.
- [Decent Housing](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/learn/dr-kings-legacy/decent-housing/): An issue in America’s largest cities to its smallest towns, decent and available housing for African Americans was scarce. While housing issues were certainly tied to other problems, such as good jobs and economic opportunity, blatant discrimination was the primary factor that spurred Dr. King’s work.
- [Poverty](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/learn/dr-kings-legacy/poverty/): A cornerstone of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s fight against inequity, poverty is an issue that crosses race, gender, and cultural lines, affecting people across the nation. Not solely an issue in America, Dr. King recognized that poverty pervaded the globe. Often, when speaking publicly and in his writings, Dr. King sought unity from other countries, stressing the need for all of us to fight poverty together.
- [Justice](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/learn/dr-kings-legacy/justice/): “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
- [Dr. King’s Legacy](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/learn/dr-kings-legacy/): The legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. encompasses influential decisions, monumental actions and steadfast progressions of humanitarian rights that reach far beyond the civil rights movement.
- [Past Honorees](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/freedom-award/honorees-entertainment/past-honorees/): The Freedom Award is an annual event for the National Civil Rights Museum. Held each year in the fall, The Freedom Award honors individuals who have made significant contributions in civil rights and who have laid the foundation for present and future leaders in the battle for human rights. Since 1991, the Freedom Award has served as a symbol of the ongoing fight for human rights both in America and worldwide.
- [Keeper of the Dream](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/freedom-award/student-forum/keeper-of-the-dream/): The National Civil Rights Museum is pleased to sponsor the Keeper of the Dream Award. The Keeper of the Dream Award is a public recognition of selected youth in grades 6-12 that celebrates and recognizes the hard work and dedication of young people who take action and demonstrate a commitment to ensuring equal rights and opportunities for others.
- [LIVE STREAM](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/freedom-award/the-experience/live-stream/): Freedom Came Late: What Juneteenth Teaches Us about the America We’re Still Building       Red Carpet Livestream      
- [Museum Directory](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/museum-directory/): Have questions? The National Civil Rights Museum staff can help. Contact a department or staff member below.

## Events
- [Remembering the March Against Fear at 60](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/event/remembering-the-march-against-fear-at-60/): In June 1966, James Meredith, the first Black student at the University of Mississippi, set out on a walk from Memphis to Jackson to challenge the fear still facing Black Mississippians despite two landmark civil rights bills. Wounded by gunfire on day two, leaders including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Floyd McKissick, and Stokely Carmichael completed the march in his place, and it was here that Carmichael first raised the call for "Black Power." The march drove a 696% increase in Black voter turnout in Mississippi, the highest since Reconstruction.
- [The Legacy Experience Reopening](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/event/the-legacy-experience-reopening/): Join us a full day of energy, music, and hands-on discovery designed to move every visitor. From interactive moments to live performances, the experience extends far beyond the new Legacy Experience inside the Museum, creating space to explore, reflect, and engage.
- [Economic Justice: The Unfinished Civil Rights Movement](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/event/economic-justice-the-unfinished-civil-rights-movement/): The event includes moderator Seth Cohen and panelists Sheena Allen, Brent Hooks, Kelly English, and Robert Higgins. Together, they bring lived experience, professional insight, and an unflinching commitment to equity to a conversation that demands all three.CLICK FOR FREE REGISTRATION
- [Book Talk: Martyrs of The Unspeakable: The Assassinations of JFK, Malcolm, Martin, and RFK](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/event/book-talk-martyrs-of-the-unspeakable-the-assassinations-of-jfk-malcolm-martin-and-rfk/): CLICK FOR FREE REGISTRATION
- [Creating Safe Spaces to Teach Hard Histories Using Disability and LGBTQIA+ Struggles for Equity as Models](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/event/6337/): In today’s challenging climate, it’s important to think about what it means to have a classroom that is truly inclusive. It’s a term that is often used and yet rarely understood. This collaborative workshop led by the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice and the National Civil Rights Museum will explore the fundamental ideas of inclusion and intersectionality through study of the Disability Rights Movement and the LGBTQIA+ Fight for Liberation alongside the Civil Rights Movement. Although these movements each have a different focus, they are deeply connected to our lived experience as human beings where markers of oppression and privilege intersect. We will use these stories of opposition and resistance from the marginalized groups of people who had to fight for the bare minimum of equality as models for our own classrooms and present-day struggles. We will share primary sources that uplift hidden histories and remind us of our role in the continuing movement for freedom. This session will ask us to consider how we create our legacy as educators, and how as role models, we can encourage learners to work towards accessible and inclusive communities. CLICK FOR FREE VIRTUAL REGISTRATION
- [Community Listening Session: Shaping The Rustin Institute](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/event/shaping-the-rustin-institute/): In 2026, the National Civil Rights Museum will launch the Bayard Rustin Institute—a new initiative honoring the life and legacy of this visionary activist and strategist, best known as an advisor to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the chief organizer of the 1963 March on Washington. Following in Rustin’s footsteps, the Institute aims to support the vital work of Memphis’s organizing and advocacy community. You are the experts in this work, and we’re eager to hear your thoughts and insights as we design an Institute that best supports a thriving and robust organizing landscape.
- [Teacher Workshop: The Power of Primary Sources](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/event/teacher-workshop-the-power-of-primary-sources/): Join us to explore the rich legacy of Bayard Rustin, a life-long activist for racial equality and an unwavering proponent of nonviolence. Discover how Bayard Rustin’s treasured possessions, correspondence, and ephemera capture the spirit and legacy of the Civil Rights Movement. Using the Speaking Truth to Power exhibition and the Rustin Collection we will delve deeply into various methods for teaching with primary sources, demonstrating how object-centered pedagogy can empower both teachers and students. During and after this workshop, we will also share resources and lesson plans that encourage each of us to consider how we can harness our own potential as changemakers.CLICK FOR FREE REGISTRATION
- [The Freedom Award Student Forum](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/event/the-freedom-award-student-forum/): The National Civil Rights Museum’s Freedom Award Student Forum is a celebration for and by young trailblazers. Presented by FedEx and Ford Philanthropy, this year’s hybrid event is open to school groups nationally as an opportunity for educators and students in 5th-12th grade to be inspired by the purpose-driven lives of Freedom Award honorees.CLICK TO REGISTER
- [Freedom Award](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/event/freedom-award/)
- [King Day 2026](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/event/king-day-2026-40th-anniversary/): On January 19, 2026, the National Civil Rights Museum invites you to join us for King Day, a daylong celebration marking the 40th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a federal holiday.
- [Juneteenth](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/event/juneteenth-community-day/): On Friday, June 19, the Museum will be open from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with free admission available until 2:00 PM. The day will be filled with inspiring programming, live music, cultural performances, family-friendly activities, and community resources honoring this important national holiday. Together, we celebrate history and the ongoing work of positive social change.
- [Ruby Bridges Reading Festival](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/event/ruby-bridges-reading-festival/): A Day of Learning and Community at the 9th Annual Ruby Bridges Reading Festival
- [Remembering MLK 2026](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/event/remembering-mlk-2026/): April4th.org

## Exhibitions
- [Black Joy, In Spite Of…](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/exhibition/black-joy-in-spite-of/): Too often, stories about Black life are framed through struggle, hardship, and harm. While those histories are real and necessary to confront, they are not the whole story. Black Joy, in Spite of… offers a different perspective, centering joy, connection, community, and self-determination alongside a long history of oppression.
- [Say Their Names](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/exhibition/say-their-names/): Say Their Names
- [Hope Is a Discipline](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/exhibition/hope-is-a-discipline/): Hope Is a Discipline is an interactive exhibition  that invites visitors to consider hope as an active practice shaped by collective action. The exhibition traces the expansion of social movements and highlights how people organize, respond, and push for justice over time. Visitors encounter the ways individuals and communities continue the work of change through visibility, participation, and sustained effort.
- [Assassination & Aftermath](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/exhibition/assassination-aftermath/): Assassination & Aftermath is not just about what happened on April 4, 1968. The patterns that have emerged force us to reexamine our conscience as we witness the present as well. Visitors confront the weight of a nation at a breaking point and the cost of a voice powerful enough to be labeled “the most dangerous man in America.” As you move through the exhibit, you feel the pressure, the surveillance, and the urgency that surrounded Dr. King’s final years.
- [Pillars of Justice](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/exhibition/pillars-of-justice/): The Civil Rights Movement reshaped the nation. It also revealed the depth of the work still to be done. The Pillars of Justice represent the critical issues that continue to define the pursuit of equality today. Each pillar connects the legacy of past movements to the realities we face now, offering a deeper understanding of how justice is built, challenged, and sustained over time.
- [Making Change](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/exhibition/making-change/): Being Seen, Being Heard invites visitors to reflect on the power and significance of visibility, voice, and representation within the broader story of civil rights. This exhibition centers the idea that progress depends not only on being present, but on being recognized and listened to.
- [The Poor People’s Campaign, Then and Now](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/exhibition/the-poor-peoples-campaign-then-and-now/): The Poor People’s Campaign challenges you to see inequality through a different lens. It is not just a moment in history. It is a direct confrontation with the gap between the promise of America and the reality faced by millions. As you move through the story, you begin to understand how economic justice became central to Dr. King’s final vision and why it remains unresolved today.
- [Movements: 1968 to Now](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/exhibition/movements-1968-to-now/): Movements: 1968 to Now shows how the justice has coalesced around numerous issues and events. This experience brings you face to face with the momentum that followed 1968, tracing how the fight for justice expanded, evolved, and continues to shape the world around you. You will see the clear line from then to now, even as the movements emphasized different issues and used different approaches.
- [Freedom Award Gallery](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/exhibition/freedom-award-gallery/): The Freedom Award Gallery is designed to leave you with initiative in your own life as well as admiration. It sharpens your perspective on what it truly means to lead, to serve, and to act when it matters most. As you move through the space, each story pushes you to see courage not as something distant, but as a choice made in real moments by real people in the present as well.
- [Speaking Truth to Power](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/exhibition/speaking-truth-to-power/): Exhibition Included with Museum Admission
- [Voices of the Civil Rights Movement](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/exhibition/voices-of-the-civil-rights-movement/): "Voices of the Civil Rights Movement" combines two video archives into one interactive exhibit available within a walk-up kiosk at the National Civil Rights Museum for multi-year loan starting January 31, 2016. The interactive exhibit is a collaborative project from Comcast and the Equal Justice Initiative. This kiosk combines two media projects. "His Dream, Our Stories" commemorates the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington.
- [The Southern Heritage Classic](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/exhibition/the-southern-heritage-classic/): The National Civil Rights Museum presents a special exhibition in honor of the black college football experience and rich tradition entitled, The Southern Heritage Classic: Celebrating 35 Years of an HBCU Memphis Tradition.
- [The Year They Walked](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/exhibition/the-year-they-walked/): In one of the museum's original exhibits, visitors can hear audio that's triggered by entering the bus. Three-dimensional figures are positioned on the sidewalk to indicate the significance of the women of Montgomery, who sustained the boycott. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is highlighted as an emerging leader of the movement, with audio of his speech delivered the first night of the boycott.
- [We Are Prepared to Die](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/exhibition/we-are-prepared-to-die/): Following a 1960 Supreme Court decision outlawing segregation in bus and train terminals, the Congress of Racial Equality initiated a new Freedom Ride in 1961. The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee stepped in and took over the rides, sending hundreds of young people into the south. This exhibit also highlights the Kennedy administration's reluctance to step into the conflict during this Cold War period. In addition, histories of six Freedom Riders who were imprisoned in Parchman Penitentiary in Mississippi are available.
- [Standing Up by Sitting Down](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/exhibition/standing-up-by-sitting-down/): The original lunch counter is here, along with three-dimensional figures sitting in at the counter and hecklers at their side. A film is projected behind the protesters, indicating their nonviolent direct action training followed by the ensuing protests and conflicts. Through multi-touch, multi-user interaction, visitors engage in boycott stories from across the country.
- [A Culture of Resistance](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/exhibition/a-culture-of-resistance/): This exhibit offers a graphic representation of the global impact of slavery. Entering the circular gallery, visitors walk on a floor map of North and South America, Europe and Africa. Illuminated channels provide statistics and information about the Atlantic slave trade, including the massive number of people captured, goods cultivated and wealth created.
- [What do we want?](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/exhibition/what-do-we-want/): The Black Power exhibit shares the rise and fall of one of the most influential, yet often misunderstood, movements in the civil rights struggle. Interpretation of the Black Power movement explains it as a continuation of the Civil Rights Movement rather than a radical new movement.

## Media Stories
- [How Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Changed My Life](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/how-rev-martin-luther-king-jr-changed-my-life/): "
- [Week 39: Peace – A Ripple of Hope: Remembering Robert F. Kennedy](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/week-39-peace-a-ripple-of-hope-remembering-robert-f-kennedy/):  
- [Week 38: Quality Education – The Importance of Youth Activism](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/week-38-quality-education-the-importance-of-youth-activism/)
- [Week 37: Decent Housing – Connecting Neighborhoods](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/week-37-decent-housing-connecting-neighborhoods/)
- [Week 36: Poverty Since MLK](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/week-36-poverty-since-mlk/)
- [Week 35: Better Jobs – The Strike for Better Working Conditions](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/week-35-better-jobs-the-strike-for-better-working-conditions/)
- [Week 34: Addressing Poverty – Poor People’s Campaign](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/week-34-addressing-poverty-poor-peoples-campaign/)
- [Week 33: Educational Equity – Part 2: Quality Schools](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/week-33-educational-equity-part-2-quality-schools/):  
- [Week 32: Education Equity – Part One: Funding](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/week-32-education-equity-part-one-funding/): to learn more about the case that outlawed school segregation or to see primary documents from the trial, click here.
- [Week 31: Better Jobs: Two-Year vs. Four-Year Higher Education](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/week-31-better-jobs-two-year-vs-four-year-higher-education/):  
- [Bell Tolling Commemoration](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/bell-tolling-commemoration/): "
- [JCI Symposium on Social Equality](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/jci-symposium-on-social-equality/): "
- [A Song to Remember](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/a-song-to-remember/): "
- [A Black and White World](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/a-black-and-white-world/): "
- [A Grandkid of the Movement – Intergenerational Activism](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/a-grandkid-of-the-movement-intergenerational-activism/): My grandmother Marianne O'Connor worked with Civil Rights leaders Clara Luper in Oklahoma City to help start the lunch counter movement there. Her daughter, my aunt Lora, has brought me to many civil rights and social justice actions. I love the music at Schools Not Prisons events and hope to play someday in an action to help incarcerated youth. looking forward to coming to Memphis in February and in April!
- [My Story](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/my-story/): "I was a 14 year old when Dr. King was murdered and I recall attending the ceremony at Crump stadium in which Rev. Hooks' and Rev. Lawson's eulogies left me and my father in tears. I have never forgotten and have tried throughout my life to study Dr. King's message and to teach it to my children and practice it in my life.Your browser doesn't support video."
- [Week 30: Decent Housing- Redlining Your Community](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/week-30-decent-housing-redlining-your-community/)
- [Week 29: Justice – Ban the Box: 2nd Chance Too Many?](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/week-29-justice-ban-the-box-2nd-chance-too-many/): "
- [Week 28: Poverty – A Tribute to the 1968 Sanitation Workers](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/week-28-poverty-a-tribute-to-the-1968-sanitation-workers/): "
- [Week 27: Peace: Nonviolence as a Way of Life](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/week-27-peace-nonviolence-as-a-way-of-life/): "
- [Week 26: Better Jobs – Resumes & Interviews Matter](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/week-26-better-jobs-resumes-interviews-matter/): "
- [Week 25: Justice Dinner](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/week-25-justice-dinner/)
- [Week 24: Affordable Housing:  New Challenges, Old Policies](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/week-24-affordable-housing-new-challenges-old-policies/)
- [Week 23: Quality Education: Teacher Preparedness](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/week-23-quality-education-teacher-preparedness/):  
- [Week 22: Daring to Dream: Generational Poverty](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/week-22-daring-to-dream-generational-poverty/):  
- [Week 21: Better Jobs: Gender Pay Gap](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/week-21-better-jobs-gender-pay-gap/)
- [Week 19: Monumental Justice: Heritage or Hate?](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/week-19-monumental-justice-heritage-or-hate/)
- [Week 18: Rethinking Education](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/week-18-rethinking-education/)
- [Week 17: Undoing a Generation of Student Loan Debt](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/week-17-undoing-a-generation-of-student-loan-debt/)
- [Week 16: The Meaning of Blight](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/week-16-the-meaning-of-blight/): "
- [Week 15: Peaceful Protest: Civil Disobedience](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/week-15-peaceful-protest-civil-disobedience/): "
- [Week 14: Voting Rights: Power to the People!](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/week-14-voting-rights-power-to-the-people/):  
- [Week 13: School Choice For Quality Education](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/week-13-school-choice-for-quality-education/): "
- [Week 12: All Labor Has Dignity](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/week-12-all-labor-has-dignity/): "
- [Week 11: Realities of Poverty Today](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/week-11-realities-of-poverty-today/): "
- [Week 10: Housing: My Address, My Future](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/week-10-housing-my-address-my-future/):  
- [Week 9: Peace: The Nonviolent Way](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/week-9-peace-the-nonviolent-way/):  
- [Week 8: And Justice For All](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/week-8-and-justice-for-all/)
- [Week 7: Quality Education](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/week-7-quality-education/):  
- [Week 6: Better Jobs = Better Society](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/week-6-better-jobs-better-society/)
- [Week 5: Poverty: A Moral Dilemma](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/week-5-poverty-a-moral-dilemma/):  
- [Week 4: Fair Housing in a Beloved Community](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/week-4-fair-housing-in-a-beloved-community/):  
- [Week 3: A Threat to Justice](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/week-3-a-threat-to-justice/)
- [Week 2: What is Peace?](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/week-2-what-is-peace/):   
- [Week 1 of 50: No Justice. No Peace. Know Justice. Know Peace.](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/week-1-of-50-no-justice-no-peace-know-justice-know-peace/):   
- [Integrating St. Augustine Beach](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/integrating-st-augustine-beach/): Your browser does not support iframes.
- [What is your story?](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/what-is-your-story/): "As part of the MLK50 commemoration, the National Civil Rights Museum wants to collect your stories on Dr. King, his life, his death, and his legacy. As a historical museum, it is important to for us to capture not only the accounts of people who were the eyewitnesses to a historical event, but also the people impacted by that event, even years later. In the years to come, someone will wonder how people reflected on the fiftieth anniversary of Dr. King's death, and the writings left here will provide some insight.
- [Jamara’s Story](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/jamaras-story/): "My parents were teenagers in 1968. My father was a 14 years old Memphian and recounts to me April 4th as if it happened yesterday. He says the tension was palpable in the city. Not only the pain of losing a great leader filling the air, but, also the shame of being the city where his life ended. With the hurt still there behind his eyes, he said to me, "No one addresses how the pain of that lost directly impacted the cities self-worth." Memphis is an ideal model to examine the impact of Dr. King's platforms and measure the distance we've come from the start. Dr. King was in Memphis providing support and guidance for the Memphis Sanitation Worker's strike. The strike aimed to rectify low pay, unfit working conditions and assert the rights of workers to unionize. King's presence in Memphis illustrated his commitment to the civil and human rights of decent wages and working conditions. Memphis was a major stage for the labor fight. But, being the place where an event occurred that shook the nation began a narrative that painted Memphis in a negative light. Two weeks after King's death, there was a resolution to the strike and recognition of the workers' rights to unionize. The city made some progress in the wake of the tragedy, yet, it still battles with some of the inequalities King was fighting against.
- [MLK50 – Where Do We Go From Here?](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/mlk50-where-do-we-go-from-here/): "The United States observes only ten national holidays. Three of those days celebrate individuals: Christopher Columbus Day honors a man who in our civil mythology discovered the Americas, but in reality, there were millions of natives living here long before he arrived. George Washington's Birthday honors our first President who contributed much to our system of government, but his DNA is also found in America's original sin of race and slavery.
- [When A City Fails to Hear](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/story/when-a-city-fails-to-hear/): "The July 10, 2016, protest that shut down the Hernando DeSoto Bridge threw solidarity on the streets of Memphis into sharp relief. The city hadn't seen spontaneous support for a cause on that scale for nearly half a century.

## Staff Members
- [Veda Ajamu](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/staff/veda-ajamu/)
- [Tiffany Ford](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/staff/tiffany-ford/)
- [Tsitsi (Tee) Jones](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/staff/tsitsi-tee-jones/)
- [Dr. Russ Wigginton](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/staff/dr-russ-wigginton/): Museum President

## Voices
- [Martin Luther King Jr., and the Black Athlete Protest Tradition](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/voice/martin-luther-king-jr-and-the-black-athlete-protest-tradition/): Hank Aaron knew he needed to step up to the plate. By 1966, thousands of Black men and women his age had risked their lives fighting in the Civil Rights Movement. And high-profile athletes like Jackie Robinson, Wilma Rudolph, and Bill Russell had gotten their hands dirty too. True, in Milwaukee he pushed the Braves to integrate their spring training facilities in Florida, but outside of his battles in baseball, the first Black superstar to ply his trade in the South had been safe. It was his turn now. The concerned Atlanta athletic hero went to the source, the other hero of Atlanta, Martin Luther King Jr., to see what he could do. Certainly, King had a role for him. But King wanted nothing from Aaron. He only asked that Aaron, who played for a team that recently relocated from Milwaukee to Atlanta as part of the city’s move to showcase Atlanta represented a modern post-Jim Crow new South, continue to be excellent. In short, his presence, play, and personality proved integration would work in the New South.
- [Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/voice/where-theres-a-will-theres-a-way/): On January 2, 1965, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood in front of a crowd of seven hundred people, packed into the pews of Brown Chapel AME Church in Selma, Alabama. “Today marks the beginning of a determined, organized, mobilized campaign to get the right to vote everywhere in Alabama,” he declared from the pulpit. The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) had been looking for a place to stage its push for national voting rights legislation, and black Selmians’ long history of organizing around the vote and economic self-sufficiency made it a perfect location.
- [A Dream Deferred](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/voice/a-dream-deferred/): In his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. envisioned a future American society in which black children would no longer “be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” A society free of the debilitating effects of racial segregation and poverty where “little black boys and black girls be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.”  
- [The Harbinger of Housing & Human Rights in the 21st Century](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/voice/the-harbinger-of-housing-human-rights-in-the-21st-century/): Wherever I turn, housing is. Obvious, you might say. But, I am not talking simply about housing in the most apparent sense of literal wood, steel, or brick-and-mortar structures – but housing as a rousing harbinger of dire and distressing realities. Profit over people, profoundly persistent racial and economic inequalities, and a pervasive dearth of quality affordable shelter – a basic human right.
- [Poverty, Racism, and the Legacy of King’s Poor People’s Campaign](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/voice/poverty-racism-and-the-legacy-of-kings-poor-peoples-campaign/): Reflecting back upon the fifty years since the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one singular point always stands out, a searing reminder of what was – and still is – America’s grossest injustice: that in one of the richest nations in the world, so many millions of people remain trapped in cyclical, soul-crushing poverty.
- [The Legacy of King’s Influence from Black Power to Black Lives Matter](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/voice/the-legacy-of-kings-influence-from-black-power-to-black-lives-matter/): Several political and media pundits have drawn parallels between activists of the Black Power movement of the 1960s and the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement of today.  However, few have included the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s influence upon and connection to both periods of struggle as the foundation of the bond that links the two movements.  These connections are both obvious and obscure, and appear in examples that not only align with King’s ideology but also in examples that seem to be at odds with it.  Dr. King was an agitator and a radical who demonstrated how to be disruptive in the struggle for racial and social justice.  Separate this factor from King romanticism and we find his influence in numerous campaigns.
- [Martin, Sidney, and Oscar](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/voice/martin-sidney-and-oscar/): As Sidney Poitier strode across the stage of the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, the audience erupted in cheers. People stood, they clapped, they whistled and roared, they yelled Bravo! The elegant, tuxedo-clad actor stepped behind the podium, holding a composed smile as the applause washed over him.
- [Reclaiming King II](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/voice/reclaiming-king-ii/): When Americans remember Martin Luther King Jr., we first and foremost remember his “dream” that “my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” When we celebrate and observe King’s dream from the March on Washington on August 28, 1963, we celebrate and observe America’s march of racial progress over the last five decades.
- [Defining the Dream](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/voice/defining-the-dream/): Each generation looks at history from a different perspective. As someone who came of age in the 1960s, I followed King’s agenda closely. When he urged young men to refuse the draft, I became a conscientious objector. When he called on us to confront racial and economic inequality, I went on a bus from Pontiac, Michigan, to join the Poor People’s Campaign mass march on June 12, 1968.
- [Black Women, Civil Rights and the Struggle for Bodily Integrity](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/voice/black-women-civil-rights-and-the-struggle-for-bodily-integrity/): On September 3, 1944, Mrs. Recy Taylor, a slender, copper-colored and beautiful twenty-four-year-old mother and sharecropper, walked home from a church revival in Abbeville, Alabama. Just past midnight, a gang of armed white men, kidnapped her off the street, forced her into their green Chevrolet and drove her to a wooded stand a few miles outside town. Herbert Lovett, a 24-year-old private in the United States Army ordered Taylor to undress and get on the ground. “Act just like you do with your husband,” he said, “or I’ll cut your damn throat.” Lovett was the first of six men who raped Taylor that night.
- [Martin Luther King’s ‘Creative Maladjustment’ Resonates Today](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/voice/martin-luther-kings-creative-maladjustment-resonates-today/): Seeking perspective on the current chaotic state of U.S. politics, I reread a powerful speech delivered fifty years ago by the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in September 1967. 
- [Picking up King’s Legacy: Reverend William Barber and the Launching of a New Poor People’s Campaign](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/voice/picking-up-kings-legacy-reverend-william-barber-and-the-launching-of-a-new-poor-peoples-campaign/): The air was hot and sticky.  Surrounded by clergy, Rev. William Barber lambasted the voter suppression that had compromised the 2016 presidential election. “Long before Russia hacked our election, our government was hacked by racism.” Since Barack Obama’s election in 2008 and the Supreme Court’s 2013 stripping of the Voting Rights Act, Barber explained, twenty-two states had passed new laws making it harder for people, particularly people of color, to vote.
- [Dr. King’s Dream Deferred: Poverty, & Economic Human Rights](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/voice/dr-kings-dream-deferred-poverty-economic-human-rights/): In May 1967, Dr. King announced to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), “We have moved from the era of civil rights to the era of human rights,” from a “reform movement,” into “an era of revolution.” In his final book, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?, King described a multipronged approach to creating change that revolved around opposing the war in Vietnam, organizing workers through unions, mobilizing consumers through boycotts, and combatting poverty across racial lines. King declared that, “As we work to get rid of the economic strangulation that we face as a result of poverty, we must not overlook the fact that millions of Puerto Ricans, Mexican Americans, Indians, and Appalachian whites are also poverty-stricken.” The seeds for SCLC’s most concentrated and sustained effort to combat poverty—the 1968 Poor People’s Campaign—were sown.  But King’s first-hand experiences in both rural and urban areas in the U.S had already informed a long-standing commitment to economic human rights. 
- [What Would King Do? Learning from King’s Approach to Black Power](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/voice/what-would-king-do-learning-from-kings-approach-to-black-power/): BY ASHLEY FARMER
- [Reclaiming King](https://civilrightsmuseum.org/voice/reclaiming-king/): Few people are more deserving of the praise they receive than Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His commitment to social justice and racial equality was unshakable. His belief in nonviolence was unwavering. His courage in the face of danger was inspiring. And his sacrifice on behalf of others was unconditional. But far too often King is praised for the wrong reasons. In death, he is celebrated for espousing points of view that he never embraced in life.