'1966: Civil Rights at 50' Opens at The Newseum In Time For MLK Day

PHOTO: Pennsylvania college students join the 1963 March on Washington, the largest civil rights protest in history. Photo Credit: Flip Schulke Archive; photo courtesy of The Newseum

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WASHINGTON, DC -- The Newseum opened its newest exhibit Friday, “1966: Civil Rights at 50,” which explores the dramatic civil rights events of 1966, from the rise of the Black Power movement to the shooting of civil rights protester James Meredith while on his solitary “March Against Fear” to promote voter registration.

The new display is part of an annual changing exhibit that explores the relationship between the news media and the civil rights movement of the 1960s.

The exhibit traces the rise of the Black Power movement from its roots in rural Alabama to the founding of the Black Panther Party in Oakland, Calif. Powerful images and artifacts illustrate pivotal moments such as civil rights leader Stokely Carmichael’s explosive speech calling for Black Power at a rally in Mississippi. The slogan “Black Power” soon became a rallying cry for African Americans across the country.

Print news artifacts in the exhibit include a June 1966 issue of Jet magazine that ran Associated Press photographer Jack Thornell’s images of the James Meredith shooting. One of Thornell’s gripping images of Meredith sprawled on the road in agony would go on to win the Pulitzer Prize for its searing depiction of racism in America. After the shooting, civil rights organizations joined forces to complete Meredith’s “March Against Fear,” regarded as the last great civil rights march of the 1960s.

Beginning at 9 a.m., on Saturday, Jan. 16, the Newseum began offering a free civil rights workshop for middle and high school teachers in the Washington, D.C., metro area. Participants will explore civil rights-related artifacts with a Newseum archivist, watch a Newseum-produced documentary and review strategies and resources to help them teach their students about the history of the civil rights movement.

Find information about parking and tickets for The Newseum here.