From Protest to Power

The Algebra Project: Re-imagining Radical Pedagogy In The Movement

In this episode, SNCC Veteran Charlie Cobb leads an inter-generational conversation revealing an intimate portrait of the impact of Bob Moses, a legendary figure in the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement and founder of The Alphabet Project.  The conversation delves into Omo's understanding of his parents' civil rights legacy and how it has influenced his sense of identity and purpose. Omo shares his experiences with the Algebra Project, led by his father, Bob Moses. Transitioning to Java’s introduction to The Algebra Project, thoughts on radical pedagogy in Black communities, and reflections on the impact of the experience on her worldview, the three weave their perspectives, ideas, and reflections together to present a tapestry of this radical, impactful, and community-oriented figure. Dive into this episode to learn more about the broader challenges educators face in trying to teach advanced subjects to underserved students and how limited historical narratives result in us overlooking the role of ordinary people in driving social change.  PANELISTS: Charlie Cobb, SNCC veteran, SNCC Legacy Project Board and Author of 'This Nonviolent Stuff’ll Get You Killed: How Guns Made the Civil Rights Movement Possible. Omo Moses, Film Producer, Author, Former Executive Director, and founding member of the Young People’s Project (YPP) Java Galipeau, Former Algebra Project Student, Math Literacy Worker, and Co-founder of The Young People’s Project  Production of this podcast is being brought to you by the SNCC Legacy Project and the production team: Bunmi Samuel, Courtland Cox, Jason Ajiake, Jennifer Lawson, Khaleelah Harris, Kim Johnson, Kwame Brown, Kwame Brown II, Sharlene Kranz

Our Red Reality: Stories of Resistance in the Era of McCarthyism

In this episode, SNCC Legacy Board Member and Curator of the Civil Rights Movement Archive, Bruce Hartford, leads a reflection on the impact of McCarthyism in this eye-opening conversation with Dottie Zellner, Mary Louise Patterson, and William Minter. Centering stories of their upbringing to discuss the impact of McCarthyism and the Red Scare in the 1950s on individuals, families, and social movements in the United States States; surveillance, harassment, and fear tactics used by the government and law enforcement during this period are revealed in each family story of bravery and organized resistance.   Their discussion uncovers the ways McCarthyism was used by right-wing political groups used McCarthyism to undermine labor movements, civil rights progress, and academic/educational institutions. Through the promotion of a conservative, anti-communist agenda, a new socio-cultural climate colored this era a bright red.   Dive into this episode and learn more about how these specific tactics of fear and repression were revealed in the intimate stories of real families, and how they have resurfaced in more recent political movements like the Tea Party and MAGA.   For more information, follow us on social media @SNCCLegacy and visit: www.sncclegacyproject.org.

The Legal Strategies and Grassroots Activism

In this episode, we explore the critical legal strategies and on-the-ground activism that drove the Civil Rights Movement in America. Lawyer Fred Cooke provides historical context on the pivotal court cases and legal minds, like Charles Hamilton Houston and Thurgood Marshall, who crafted the legal framework to challenge segregation and inequality.  We then hear from #SNCCVeterans Frank Smith and Charles McLaurin, who share their personal experiences growing up in the Jim Crow South [https://snccdigital.org/events/black-veterans-return-from-world-war-ii/] and the sacrifices they made as young activists with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). They discuss the importance of local organizing and voter registration efforts in places like Mississippi, as well as the ongoing challenges of protecting the hard-won gains of the movement. The conversation explores the similarities between past civil rights protests and today's movements, emphasizing the need for effective organizing and hope in the face of adversity. For more information, follow us on social media @SNCCLegacy and visit: www.sncclegacyproject.org [www.sncclegacyproject.org].

Envisioning the Future of Social Justice

In this episode, #SNCCVeteran Judy Richardson sits down alongside Tiffany Loftin and Ajamu A. Dillahunt-Holloway for a dialogue on the lessons of the past and the challenges of the present. Judy shares her personal journey into the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) in the 1960s, describing how she found her "movement home" and the revolutionary values that defined SNCC's approach. Tiffany and Ajamu then recount their own paths into activism - from navigating the barriers of higher education as first-generation students, to building campus-based movements around issues like immigration reform and police accountability. The conversation delves into how the organizing principles of SNCC [https://sncclegacyproject.org/1st-principles-of-organizing/]continue to inform their work today, from the importance of centering directly impacted communities, to the strategic use of protests, boycotts, and electoral politics. They grapple with the complexities of the current political landscape, offering insights on mobilizing young people, pushing candidates on key issues, and envisioning new models of transformative change. For more information, follow us on social media @SNCCLegacy and visit: www.sncclegacyproject.org [www.sncclegacyproject.org].

Empowering the Next Generation: Youth Civic Engagement

This episode of the podcast focuses on the power to define and the power to decide, particularly as it relates to the work of students and young people [https://snccdigital.org/inside-sncc/the-story-of-sncc/birth-of-sncc/] in the community. #SNCCVeteran Courtland Cox interviews Wisdom Cole and Amari Fennoy, who discuss their roles in engaging young people under 25 in the fight for civil rights and political/economic freedoms.  They provide an overview of the NAACP Youth and College Division, which serves around 30,000 members focused on building, training, and organizing young leaders to address key policy issues like student debt, gun violence, and voting rights.  A key theme is the challenge of rebuilding trust and agency with young voters who have become disillusioned by broken promises and transactional relationships with political organizations. Wisdom and Amari share strategies for grassroots organizing, cultural education, and providing tangible resources to empower young people's civic engagement.The episode also explores differences in organizing on HBCU vs. PWI campuses, highlighting the importance of cultivating a strong voting culture and safe spaces for black students to discuss issues. For more information, follow us on social media @SNCCLegacy and visit: www.sncclegacyproject.org [www.sncclegacyproject.org].