With an Even Hand: Brown v. Board at Fifty

Book Talk & Book Signing:

Juan Williams, My Soul Looks Back in Wonder, Sterling Publishing

May 13, 2004, Noon–1 p.m., Whittall Pavilion

[From the publisher] “From AARP, which has more than 35 million members, comes a major book, written by Juan Williams, about one of the most significant political and human rights movements in modern history. Deeply personal in tone, this book presents stirring, thought-provoking, eyewitness accounts from people who played active roles in the civil rights movement over the past 50 years. All the narratives are drawn from AARP's Voices of Civil Rights project. This volume showcases stories of personal transformation that bring a pivotal moment in American history vividly alive. Although the terrible age of segregation is covered, the powerful words and intimate experiences that unfold on every page reveal just how much the civil rights revolution remains a vital force today. Every speaker makes clear that the struggle for equality must continue now, and into the future. The various individuals who offer their unique perspectives come from every age group, and from a variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds. Taken together, their tales create a fresh, intimate view of history in the making and reveal just how much the battle for civil rights touched the lives of every American in the most profound way.”

Special Tours:

May 17, 2004, 8:30pm

Panel Discussion:

Eyewitness to History: Journalism and the Legacy of Brown

Co-sponsored by the Newseum

May 17, 2004, Noon–2 p.m., Coolidge Auditorium

Moderated by the Newseum's Frank Bond, a panel of scholars and journalists discussed the coverage of the Brown decision and subsequent civil rights demonstrations relating to public school integration.

Book Talk:

Sherryll Cashin, The Failures of Integration

May 21, 2004, noon, Whittall Pavilion

[From the Publisher] “Sheryll Cashin was born and raised in Huntsville, Alabama, where her parents were political activists. She was a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and served in the Clinton White House as an advisor on urban and economic policy. A Professor of Law at Georgetown University, she is a frequent television commentator on law, politics, and race relations.

“The Failures of Integration is a provocative look at how segregation by race and class is ruining American democracy. Only a small minority of the affluent are truly living the American Dream, complete with attractive, job-rich suburbs, reasonably low taxes, good public schools, and little violent crime. For the remaining majority of Americans, segregation comes with stratospheric costs. In a society that sets up “winner” and “loser” communities and schools defined by race and class, racial minorities in particular are locked out of the “winner” column. African-Americans bear the heaviest burden. Cashin argues that we need a transformation-a jettisoning of the now ingrained assumption that separation is acceptable-in order to solve the riddle of inequality in America.”

Choir Concert:

Sing Freedom

May 25, 2004, 10 a.m.–1:00 p.m., Coolidge Auditorium

LC Chorale performed and hosted a concert including several DCPS high school choirs.

Musical:

Children of Struggle

Produced by Library of Congress LIVE

June 3, 2004, 10 a.m. & noon, Coolidge Auditorium

An original musical play by local playwrite Raquis Petree, tells the story of Ruby Bridges, Ernest Green, and Claudette Colvin. First produced in 2002 at the Smithsonian Associates Discovery Theater. This warm and thoughtful musical play about the struggle and hope of young heros of the Civil Rights Movement was also directed by Raquis Petree, with music by Marion Johnson.

School Tours

Mon–Thurs 10:30 and 1 p.m.

Educational and interactive tours were led by Susan Mordan of the exhibition. Each tour was customized according to age and ability

Family Guide card and Children's labels

Available at exhibition

Were developed for use by families visiting the exhibition to make it a fun and educational experience

Teacher Institutes

August 25, 2004 and October 3, 2004

Done in cooperation with OSI/Learning Page the institutes brought together teachers from across the country to study, learn about and experience Brown v. Board using the Library's primary and web based materials so they could take them back to their school districts, schools, and classrooms.

Voices of Civil Rights

Voices of Civil Rights was a joint project between the Library of Congress, AARP, and the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR). The project collected and preserved thousands of personal stories, oral histories, photographs, and personal artifacts of the Civil Rights Movement in America. The collection forms the world's largest archive of personal accounts of America's struggle for justice and equality and will be permanently housed at the Library of Congress.

To add your story contact Voices of Civil Rights (follow link “Contact us” at bottom of page) online at //www.loc.gov/exhibits/civilrights/  or write to:

AARP
Voices of Civil Rights
601 E Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20049

Film Series

The film series that accompanied the exhibition were screened in the Mary Pickford Theater, James Madison Building. Films are free and open to the public, but require advance registration.

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