Category Archives: Hard-Won Liberty

Pastor Says Fight for Civil Rights Looks Different in 2021

In this article, Pastor Ron English reflects on the events of 2020 and considers what the struggle for freedom and equality will look like in the months and years ahead.

8 Leaders Who Carry On Martin Luther King Jr.’s Legacy

This article highlights some of today’s leaders in the ongoing struggle for freedom and equality.

Study of 2020 Protests Shows Difference Between Reality and Perception

Many Americans believe the majority of the social justice protests of 2020 were violent. The data collected by the political science professor featured in this article suggests otherwise.

The Angry Martin Luther King

Nearly 50 years after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., one writer urges readers to recall the power of his anger instead of thinking of him as a mythically happy character like Santa Claus.

Without the Right to Protest, America Is Doomed to Fail

The author of this opinion piece wants to remind those who call for an end to Black Lives Matter protests that the right to protest is crucial to the health of American democracy.

I’ve been fighting for freedom for years; now, I do it as an American citizen

Click on this link to read about an Egyptian political activist’s experience becoming an American citizen and his ongoing fight for democratic ideals.

How to Protect Civil Liberties in a Pandemic

COVID-19 has stripped us of some of our basic freedoms, forcing us to stay in our homes, wear masks, and observe social distancing guidelines. Now some people are worried about how government policies crafted in response to the crisis could restrict civil liberties.

John Lewis, lion of civil rights and Congress, dies at 80

Recently deceased, Congressman John Lewis was a true American hero. We remember his sacrifices and accomplishments as a civil rights activist.

How a book club is helping to keep ex-offenders from going back to jail

Reading books and writing poetry while in prison helped save Jimmy Santiago Baca from returning to a life of crime. A program in Washington, D.C., strives to make the same difference in the lives of prisoners.

Martin Luther King Jr.: Nobel Lecture

In 1964, Martin Luther King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his efforts toward equal rights for all. Read the speech he gave the day after accepting this honor.

Freedom and privacy in the time of coronavirus

A global epidemic doesn’t only provide medical challenges; it also forces countries to re-evaluate the freedoms and limitations of their people.

Colson Whitehead’s ‘Underground Railroad’ Is a Literal Train to Freedom

In this Fresh Air interview, author Colson Whitehead talks about how he re-imagined the escape from enslavement.

French Revolution

The American Revolution didn’t only bring freedom to Americans; it also helped fuel a revolution across the ocean in France. Learn about how the French people overthrew their monarchy and what the result of the revolution was.

The Speech That Brought India to the Brink of Independence

In August of 1942, Mohandas Gandhi gave an influential speech urging Indians to stand up for their liberty. Read to learn more about India’s struggle for independence and the historical significance of Gandhi’s speech.

LIBERTY! The American Revolution

The struggle for liberty is at the heart of the United States’ founding. Learn more about what led to the American Revolution and how it was won by exploring this interactive site.

Freedom of the Mind

When the body is imprisoned by captivity or injury, it’s essential for the mind to remain free. This BBC radio broadcast features the voices of people who survived lengthy captivity by keeping their minds active and hopeful.

Arab spring: an interactive timeline of Middle East protests

Sparked by the self-immolation death of a Tunisian fruit vendor, the Arab Spring protests swept across North Africa and the Middle East beginning in early 2011. Explore this interactive timeline for a wealth of information about the protests and what they achieved.