"Civil Rights in Modern America" Program
- Oral histories
- Civil rights
- Voting
- Segregation
- Desegregation
- Protests
- Youth
- Racism
- Race relations
- Current events
- 1960s
- Sanders, Bob Ray
- Kennedy, John F.
- King, Martin Luther, Jr.
- Texas Christian University
- Black Panther Party
- Fort Worth Star-Telegram
- Hotel Texas
- Dallas
- Civil Rights and Social Activism (OHC)
- Dallas and 1960s History and Culture (OHC)
- Authors, Filmmakers, and Researchers (OHC)
- Community Leaders (OHC)
- Fort Worth (OHC)
- Childhood Recollections (OHC)
- News Media (OHC)
This was the third of six programs in the "JFK: Five Decades of Progress" symposium series organized by the Fort Worth Opera, in partnership with The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, in support of the 2016 world premiere of the opera, JFK, composed by David T. Little with a libretto by Royce Vavrek. Little and Vavrek recorded an oral history in 2016 that may be accessed here: David T. Little and Royce Vavrek Oral History – Search vavrek (Objects) – Search – The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza.
Other public programs in the 2015-2016 symposium series focused on the Space Race (Space Race: Advances in U.S. Science and Transportation Technology), Cuba and Immigration (Cuba and Immigration), Journalism (Covering Tragedy: Journalism in a Changing World), and the Arts (The Arts: An Evening Dedicated to Ruth Carter Stevenson). Two symposiums focused on civil rights were presented, one in Dallas and this one in Fort Worth. The two civil rights panels featured the same moderator, Bob Ray Sanders, and two of the same panelists, Devoyd Jennings and Dr. James Riddlesperger. In Dallas, the civil rights activist on the panel was Ernest McMillan. In this program recorded in Fort Worth, civil rights activist Eddie Griffin took part. - Stephen Fagin, Curator
Panelist Devoyd Jennings passed away on July 24, 2021.
In addition to this 2015 panel discussion, activist Eddie Griffin recorded an oral history with the Museum in 2013 and also took part in a Living History public program in 2014, which may be viewed here: Living History with Eddie Griffin.
Moderator Bob Ray Sanders recorded an oral history in 2007, viewable here: Bob Ray Sanders Oral History – Search sanders (Objects) – Search – The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. In addition, he participated in a Living History public program in 2012 (Living History with Bob Ray Sanders), and he has moderated several Museum programs over the years, including this 2008 conversation about a 1964 civil rights demonstration at the Piccadilly Cafeteria in Dallas (28 Days At The Piccadilly) and a 2006 panel discussion on the Dallas chapter of SNCC, available for viewing here: Call To Action: The SNCC Experience in Dallas. - Stephen Fagin, Curator
