From Selma to Ferguson

In this episode, we dig into the BCAF vaults for our 2015 conversation entitled "From Selma to Ferguson," which commemorated the 50th anniversary of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The conversation, moderated by Emmy Award-winning news personality Barbara Rogers, features Dr. Dwight Hopkins of the University of Chicago, Dr. James Peterson, and Andrew Aydin, then-aide to the late Congressman John Lewis and co-creator with Lewis of the award-winning graphic novels March. (BCAF launched the 2nd book in the March series at its 2015 event.). They analyze the connections between the historical events in Selma and contemporary issues like the Ferguson protests. They explore key themes, including the importance of voter participation, the challenges of modern political obstruction and gerrymandering, and the need for new, decentralized forms of youth leadership in the social justice movement. The discussion emphasizes that while there has been significant progress in some areas, pervasive economic inequality and systemic barriers continue to affect African Americans, necessitating sustained activism and intergenerational collaboration.