Houston Retraces the Civil Rights Movement

“Freedom Now: Houston Retraces the Civil Rights Movement”

Photography Exhibit and Event Presentations at The African American Library at The Gregory Shool

The Houston Public Library’s (HPL) African American Library at the Gregory School is one of several local organizations participating in the much-anticipated educational initiative commemorating the 50th anniversary of the year that galvanized the American Civil Rights Movement. This community initiative is called “Freedom Now: Houston Retraces the Civil Rights Movement.” In honor of this historic year, HPL will be presenting many free diverse programs and activities to educate and remind the community of the impact the Civil Rights Movement made in our nation. These programs will be held March 5 through August 20, 2011. The community is invited to help launch HPL’s “The Whole World Was Watching” photography exhibit at an Opening Reception on Saturday, March 5 at 2 PM with a performance by Thomas Meloncon. The African American Library at the Gregory School is located at1300 Victor St. 77019, in Freedmen’s Town, Fourth Ward. This event and all HPL presentations are free and open to the public. For more details please visit www.thegregoryschool.org or call 832-393-1440. For a complete list of upcoming partner events visit freedomnowhouston.org or “like” Freedom Now: Houston on Facebook for additional updates.

“The Whole World Was Watching” photography exhibit at HPL chronicles a crucial period in American social and political history showing both the struggle and victories of those fighting for Civil Rights in the 1960s. Poignant and deeply profound, the photographs in this exhibition portray historical turning points such as the Freedom Rides to the Deep South, the March on Washington, and the Selma-to-Montgomery March. The exhibit features 44 images by six photographers and will be on display March 5 through August 20, 2011.

About “Freedom Now”

The social protests of the 1960s, one of the most tumultuous periods in American history, changed our nation. In 1961, the Freedom Riders began their historic efforts to integrate interstate bus travel, the Voter Education Project was established to bring African Americans into the country’s political system, and boycotts and sit-ins became regular events. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of this watershed year, a group of Houston organizations have joined together to remember and preserve the history of activism in our city. This yearlong community initiative is called Freedom Now: Houston Retraces the Civil Rights Movement.

Other partnering organizations involved in the project include: HoustonPBS, Houston Holocaust Museum, KUHF Houston Public Radio, The Menil Collection, Tour de Hood, The University Museum at Texas Southern University, and Writers in the Schools (WITS). These organizations will present a variety of educational activities and programs throughout the city. Events span over photography exhibits, film screenings, bicycle tours, readings by young writers, gallery talks, and a music program of freedom songs. Along with the national broadcast of the new PBS documentary, Freedom Riders on Monday, May 16, these lively and instructive programs explore the central theme of our local civil-rights history.

Event Presentations at The African American Library at the Gregory School

Saturday, March 5 through August 20, 2011

Exhibit - “The Whole World Was Watching”

The photography exhibit chronicles a crucial period in American social and political history showing both the struggle, and victories of those fighting for Civil Rights in the 1960s. Poignant and deeply profound, the photographs in this exhibition portray historical turning points such as the Freedom Rides to the Deep South, the March on Washington, and the Selma-to-Montgomery March. The exhibit features 44 images by six photographers.

Saturday, March 5 - 2PM– 4PM

Exhibit Opening Reception

Performance by Thomas Meloncon

Saturday, March 12

Gallery Talk - 3PM

Danielle Burns, Curator at The African American Library at the Gregory School

Saturdays, April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

“Lunch with a Legacy” Series - 12PM

Join local community leaders as they discuss their involvement and memories of the Civil Rights Movement.

April 2 – Bubba Thomas

April 9 – John Guess Jr.

April 16 – Dr. Alvia Wardlaw

April 23 – Call Library for Information

April 30 – Call Library for Information

Saturdays, May 7, 14, 21, 28

Civil Rights Film Series - 3PM

May 7 – “Strange Demise of Jim Crow”

May 14 – “They Had A Dream Too”

May 21 – “The Good Fight: James Farmer Remembers the Civil Rights Movement”

May 28 – “Freedom’s Song: 100 years of African-American struggle and triumph”

Saturday, June 11

“Remembering the life of Houston Civil Rights photographer, Louise Martin.” - 3PM

Lecture by Dr. Sarah Trotty.

Saturday, August 20

Closing Reception - 3PM

Gallery talk with The Menil Collection Curator, Michelle White and Danielle Burns, Curator of both the The African American Library at The Gregory School and the Houston Museum of African American Culture.

About the Houston Public Library

The Houston Public Library (HPL) operates 35 neighborhood libraries, three HPL Express Libraries, a Central Library, the Houston Metropolitan Research Center, the Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research, The African American Library at the Gregory School, and the Parent Resource Library located in the Children’s Museum of Houston. Serving more than 4 million customers per year, HPL is committed to excellent customer service and equitable access to information and programs by providing library customers with free use of a diverse collection of printed materials and electronic resources, Internet, laptop and computer use, and a variety of database and reference resources with live assistance online 24/7.

For further information, visit the Houston Public Library at www.houstonlibrary.org or call 832-393-1313.