Memories of the Movement

The Tavis Smiley Show

In honor of Martin Luther King Day, PRI presents this archive audio presentation of a 2009 hour-long special broadcast from “The Tavis Smiley Show.”

The years of the Civil Rights Movement are counted among the most volatile yet vibrant in American history. The people and events that shaped this period range from charismatic preachers and actors to students and domestic workers. To celebrate the courage, conviction and commitment of ordinary people who made extraordinary contributions to American social progress, PRI and Tavis Smiley present “Memories of the Movement.”

This commemorative features some of the personal, poignant, sometimes painful, yet powerful memories of the Civil Rights Movement from a few of the men and women who served on the front lines or played a vital role behind the scenes.

Guests include actors Danny Glover, Ruby Dee and Harry Belafonte; U.S. Representatives John Lewis and Eleanor Holmes Norton; former King attorney Clarence Jones; along with Reverend Garner Taylor, activist Marian Wright Edelman and many others.

For each person, it was a time that would change their lives. For America, it was a time that would redirect history.

“The Tavis Smiley Show” is a weekly show offering a unique blend of news and newsmakers in expanded conversations, along with feature reports and regular commentators. “The Tavis Smiley Show” is produced by Tavis Smiley productions, and distributed nationwide by PRI.

More “Tavis Smiley Show”

Will you support The World today?

The story you just read is available for free because thousands of listeners and readers like you generously support our nonprofit newsroom. Every day, reporters and producers at The World are hard at work bringing you human-centered news from across the globe. But we can’t do it without you: We need your support to ensure we can continue this work for another year.

Make a gift today, and you’ll get us one step closer to our goal of raising $25,000 by June 14. We need your help now more than ever!