Virginia Tourism Corporation creates new Virginia Civil Rights Movement podcast

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) has announced that it has launched a new Virginia Civil Rights podcast.

On Jan. 28, VTC shared in a press release that it has created a new podcast to discuss Virginia's significant role during the Civil Rights Movement, as well as sharing the stories of people and communities that helped fight for equality. This podcast will be a part of the U.S. Civil Rights Trail Podcast.

The Civil Rights podcast will highlight impactful moments and movements across Virginia while telling the stories of citizens whose impacts have made a lasting effect. The podcast will feature firsthand accounts and commentary while providing historical context.

The series will feature historical events in Farmville, Fredericksburg, Danville and Richmond while featuring the voices of the people who lived the history, along with historians and scholars who have studied the impact, according to the release.

“Virginia’s civil rights story is essential to understanding the broader U.S. Civil Rights Movement,” said President and CEO of the VTC Rita McClenny. “Through this podcast, we are honoring the individuals who stood up for justice, often at great personal cost, while inviting listeners to engage more deeply with the places and stories that shaped our shared history. These narratives are powerful reminders that Virginia’s communities played a critical role in advancing civil rights in our nation.”

“We were thrilled to have participated in the USCRT Podcast,” said Cainan Townsend the executive director of the Moton Museum. “Being added to the trail in 2017 was a tremendous accomplishment for our institution, as it allows us to share a fuller and more cohesive narrative of the civil rights movement. People often do not associate civil rights history with the Commonwealth of Virginia, but I hope these episodes illuminate these stories and demonstrate the crucial role Virginia played in the fight for equality.”

The first three episodes go as follows:

Episode 1: Students Take a Stand

• Located in Farmville and Richmond
• Featured speakers include Joan Johns Cobbs, Jones Cobbs, Skip Griffen, Cainan Townsend and Gary Flowers.
• This episode tells the story of Barbara Jones, a teenager who led a student protest at her segregated school located in Farmville. This stand helped change and shap legal history in Virginia.

Episode 2: The Movement Arrives

• Located in Fredericksburg
• Featured speakers include Pamela Bridgewater, Lateefah Muhammad, Mary Malone, Calrence Todd and Gaila Sims
• This episode tells the stories of people who fought for change by protesting at schools and department store sit-ins.

Episode 3: The Price of Protest

• Located in Danville
• Featured speakers include Karice Luck-Brimmer, Sherman Saunders, Cassandra Newby-Alexander and Robert Vinson
• This episode provides a deep look into Bloody Monday, which was a public library protest and organized march that were met with violent backlash.

The Virginia Civil Rights podcast is available by searching for “U.S. Civil Rights Trail Podcast” on any podcast platform, such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and iHeartRadio.

For more imformation visit the Virginia.org website here.