civil rights icons
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Civil Rights Activist Marsha P. Johnson to be the First Transgender Person Given a Monument in America
A group of lawmakers in Elizabeth, N.J., authorized plans to build a monument to transgender civil rights activist Marsha P. Johnson. According to Union County officials, this would make Johnson the first transgender person in the country to be honored with a monument. ABC News reports that city officials met with the Johnson family on…
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'We Ran Strong and That Was a Revelation': Remembering Civil Rights Activist and Political Pioneer Emma Sanders
In light of the recent losses of civil rights icons Rep. John Lewis and Rev. C.T. Vivian, America, now in the throes of what is widely recognized as a revived civil rights movement, has had ample cause to reflect on some of the movement’s pioneering personalities and changemakers. And as we celebrate those legacies, there…
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Harlem Globetrotters Legend Curly Neal Dead at 77
For decades, Fred “Curly” Neal entertained massive crowds with his unique combination of humor, athleticism and exaggerated theatrics as the face of the Harlem Globetrotters. Sadly, the team revealed that Neal has transitioned at the age of 77. “Fred ‘Curly’ Neal—the Harlem Globetrotters icon known worldwide for his trademark shaved head and charismatic smile—passed away…
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Civil Rights Leader Bayard Rustin Pardoned 67 Years After Being Jailed For Having Sex With Men
It was hard enough to be a black in America at the height of the civil rights movement. To also be a gay at the time only furthered that hardship. Civil Rights leader Bayard Rustin was unfortunately a victim of laws put in place to punish those in the LGBTQ community. While much delayed, he…
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Rep. John Lewis Reveals Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis: 'I Am Going to Fight It'
Lawmakers and activists around the country voiced their support for longtime Congressman John Lewis after he announced Sunday that he is battling Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. The 79-year-old civil rights icon and Georgia representative said he plans to continue serving his district while undergoing treatment for the advanced disease. “I have been in some kind…
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University of Alabama's First Black Student Receives Honorary Degree 63 Years After Expulsion
In 1956, Autherine Lucy Foster broke racial boundaries when she enrolled at the all-white University of Alabama. Her enrollment was preceded by a lengthy court battle. She first applied to the university in 1952 but her acceptance was rescinded because of the color of her skin. After finally being able to attend, like many trail…
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After 90 Years, Maya Angelou’s Legacy Is Still Rising
“You may write me down in historyWith your bitter, twisted lies,You may trod me in the very dirtBut still, like dust, I’ll rise.” —Maya angelou, from “Still I Rise” Poet, author, singer, dancer, director and civil rights activist Maya Angelou would have been 90 years old today. In her 86 years of life, the incredible…
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A Legend’s Legacy: Jenny Lumet Remembers Life With Lena Horne
We know that talent tends to run in families, but screenwriter Jenny Lumet’s family is pretty extraordinary, even by Hollywood standards. Her father was legendary director, screenwriter and producer Sidney Lumet, who gave us such incredible films as Dog Day Afternoon, Network and my personal all-time fave, The Wiz. Of course, one of The Wiz’s…
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In Canada, You Can Now Use Bills With a Black Woman on Them
While Americans are still waiting to deposit Harriet Tubmans in their bank accounts, our neighbors to the north have just unveiled a new $10 bill that features their own civil rights pioneer Viola Desmond. As the Toronto Star reports, Desmond was honored Thursday in a ceremony in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where the new bill was…
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The Story of Rosa Parks’ Detroit Home Reveals Hard Truths About Her Life in the ‘Northern Promised Land That Wasn’t’
“Rosa Parks House in Berlin Has a Ticket Home to America,” the headline proclaimed. In 2016, Ryan Mendoza, an American artist based in Germany, deconstructed a wood-frame home Rosa Parks stayed in when she first moved to Detroit, and shipped it in two containers to Berlin. The home had originally belonged to Parks’ younger…
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