Throughout the month of Oct. 2020, the Center for the Study of the American South has partnered with community organizations to honor the life and work of pioneering African American journalist Ida B. Wells. From a keynote with veteran journalists, including a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter, to a dramatic reading performance, to high school students joining university scholars to discuss racial terror, the events were informative and eye-opening. Take a look at what you’ve missed!
Throughout the month of Oct. 2020, the Center for the Study of the American South has partnered with community organizations to honor the life and work of pioneering African American journalist Ida B. Wells. From a keynote with veteran journalists, including a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter, to a dramatic reading performance, to high school students joining university scholars to discuss racial terror, the events were informative and eye-opening. Take a look at what you’ve missed!
Closed captions available on YouTube; transcriptions coming soon.
Oct. 3 Keynote
We kicked off our month-long celebration of Ida B. Wells on October 3, 2020 with a panel discussion featuring veteran journalists Nikole Hannah-Jones (2020 Pulitzer Prize recipient), Ron Nixon (Associated Press Global Investigations Editor), and Topher Sanders (ProPublica Reporter and Peabody Award Winner). These esteemed journalists are founders of the Ida B. Wells Society in the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media.
Oct. 8 “History of Racial Terror”
Paris Miller, scholar and community organizer, presented on the history of racial terror lynchings in Orange County, North Carolina. Miller was joined by Dr. Seth Kotch Director of the Southern Oral History Program, plus high school students and Freedom Struggle Committee members KaLa Keaton (Middle Creek High School), Allison Jemerson (Raleigh Charter High School) and their teachers Matt Scialdone and Melani Winter. Q&A with the audience followed this session, moderated by Dianne Jackson.
Oct. 18 Dramatic Reading Performance of “Miss Ida B. Wells”
Kathryn Hunter-Williams, Teaching Associate Professor of Dramatic Art at UNC-CH, and actress Rasool Jahan (currently in Season 4 of Fox-TV drama, The Resident), conducted a staged reading of “Miss Ida B. Wells” by the late playwright and civil rights activist Endesha Ida Mae Holland. Actors took audience questions following the performance. This matinee session was moderated by Diane Robertson and Dr. Gloria Thomas.
Oct. 22 Life and Work of Louis Austin
NCCU Professors, Dr. Jerry Gershenhorn (History) and Brett Chambers (Communications) joined veteran Triangle journalist Cash Michaels to discuss the life and work of North Carolina editor and publisher Louis Austin, whose Carolina Times newspaper was the most important voice for Black North Carolinians at the height of Jim Crow segregation. Moderated by James Williams. This important examination of the African American press during Jim Crow was the fourth offering in a series of six October 2020 virtual events honoring pioneering African American Journalist Ida B. Wells.
Oct. 29 #BlackOutLoudUNC Documentary Screening
Viewing of the #BlackOutLoudUNC documentary, plus Q&A with Yet & Still artists, producers, and students, De’Ivyion Drew, Cortland Gilliam, and Jerry Wilson. The audience watch clips with us and joined in conversation with the artists, moderated by Renee Price. This documentary screening and discussion with producers and artists concluded our series of six October 2020 virtual events honoring pioneering African American Journalist Ida B. Wells.