202010 minPGdoc-short

Conversations in Context: Media

202010 minPGdoc-short

On August 9, 1961, freedom riders left Los Angeles for Houston, Texas, to protest the segregation of interstate transportation facilities.

Civil Rights Racial Justice

Genres

History

Channel: Smithsonian Channel

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Conversations in Context: Media

2020• 10 minPG

Synopsis

On August 9, 1961, freedom riders left Los Angeles for Houston, Texas, to protest the segregation of interstate transportation facilities.

Synopsis

Dometi Pongo speaks with Lonnie Bunch, the first African-American secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, about the role of media in the civil rights movement. They discuss the freedom riders who left Los Angeles for Houston on August 9, 1961, to protest segregation in interstate transportation. Bunch emphasizes how visibility and storytelling were crucial for the movement's impact. The conversation connects historical struggles for social justice with current events, illustrating the ongoing relevance of media in documenting these issues.

Deep Dive

Why Watch

See how Freedom Riders used media to fight segregation.
Meet Lonnie Bunch discussing the importance of visibility.
Find out how citizen journalists document current injustices.

Did You Know

On August 9th, 1961, Freedom Riders left Los Angeles for Houston, Texas.
The Freedom Riders momentarily desegregated a station in Houston.
Black newspapers have been telling their own stories since 1827.
Lonnie Bunch is the first African-American secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.

Perfect For

Civil rights historyMedia studiesSocial justice activism

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Frequently Asked Questions

What date did the freedom riders leave Los Angeles for Houston?

The freedom riders left Los Angeles for Houston on August 9th, 1961.

Who is Lonnie Bunch?

Lonnie Bunch is the first African-American secretary of the Smithsonian Institution and the founding director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture.

What role did media play in the civil rights movement?

Media was crucial in making the events of the civil rights movement visible to the public, as it helped to ensure that incidents of violence and injustice were reported and not hidden.

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