Each year on the third Monday of January, the nation observes the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. As a leader in the civil rights movement, King stood as a pillar of hope and a model of grace. His influence was pivotal in ending segregation and the national holiday provides an opportunity to reflect on the work that still needs to be done for racial equality.
Many current black activists are carrying on the legacy of King by helping end institutionalized and social racism. W&M Libraries provides access to resources that highlight today’s black activist who are upholding the values of King. Below is a curated list of streaming video and other resources:
TEDTalks: Kimberlé Crenshaw: The Urgency of Intersectionality
Now more than ever, it's important to look boldly at the reality of race and gender bias -- and understand how the two can combine to create even more harm. Kimberlé Crenshaw uses the term "intersectionality" to describe this phenomenon; as she says, if you're standing in the path of multiple forms of exclusion, you're likely to get hit by both. In this moving talk, she calls on us to bear witness to this reality and speak up for victims of prejudice.
TEDTalks: Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi: An Interview with the Founders of Black Lives Matter
Born out of a social media post, the Black Lives Matter movement has sparked discussion about race and inequality across the world. In this spirited conversation with Mia Birdsong, the movement's three founders share what they've learned about leadership and what provides them with hope and inspiration in the face of painful realities. Their advice on how to participate in ensuring freedom for everybody: join something, start something and "sharpen each other, so that we all can rise."
Black Lives Matter
In 2013 in Sanford, Florida, vigilante George Zimmerman was found not guilty of the murder of 17-year-old African American Trayvon Martin. As a result, the struggle against police violence flared up under the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter and turned into one of the biggest grassroots movements in the United States. This film interviewed co-founder Patrisse Cullors about the various forms of violence against black citizens, and why resistance is essential.
The Purpose of Power: How We Come Together When We Fall Apart
An essential guide to building transformative movements to address the challenges of our time, from one of the country's leading organizers and a co-creator of Black Lives Matter “Excellent and provocative... a gateway [to] urgent debates.”
True Justice: Bryan Stevenson's Fight for Equality
This feature documentary follows Bryan Stevenson – lawyer and founder of the Equal Justice Initiative – through his experiences as a capital defense attorney and advocate for community-based reform.
John Lewis: Good Trouble
The film explores Georgia representative's, 60-plus years of social activism and legislative action on civil rights, voting rights, gun control, health care reform, and immigration.