Discussion: The significance of individuals, presidents and communities

Professor Tony Badger, Professor Joe Street and Professor Brian Ward discuss the African-American Civil Rights movement and examine different ways we might interpret the significance of key individuals, groups, institutions and events that played a role in its development and progress.

In this film individual civil rights campaigners' actions are discussed alongside those of key Presidents and the role of community groups. How some individuals stood out and became significant despite not necessarily being in positions of power is addressed in the context of those that were in positions of authority. The legacy of these different types and groups of people is explored through the key campaigns in Albany, Georgia, Freedom Summer and Birmingham, Alabama which demonstrate legacy and impact of the actions.