Before the Iranian Revolution in the 1970s, women there lived much in the way that American women did. Read about how the revolution was a giant step backward.
Category Archives: The Struggle for Freedom
Book Review: Ghosts of Revolution
Former political prisoner Shahla Talebi was held by both the Shah of Iran’s regime and the post-revolution Islamic Republic. Read a review of her harrowing memoir.
‘This is a civil rights movement that needs to have its due’: 25 years after the ADA
The Americans with Disabilities Act helped remove many obstacles, but as with any civil rights movement, there’s still a lot of progress to be made.
The trouble with democracy
Democracy may be the goal of a freedom movement or revolution, but once it’s established, people sometimes experience “dictator envy”—the wish to avoid the messiness and indecisiveness of a government by, for, and of the people.
Selma 50 years later: John Lewis’s memories of the march
A United States Congressman recalls his role in pivotal civil rights events of the 1960s.
Remembrances of the Mysterious, Maligned Soviet Censor
What kind of person becomes a censor? An American journalist learns who his Soviet nemesis was.
7 Famous Slave Revolts
Slavery has existed from ancient times to the present day. Learn about some famed revolts against this “peculiar institution.”
World Press Freedom Index
Freedom of the press is an essential liberty guaranteed in the U.S. by the First Amendment. Use this interactive map to find out how other countries rate.
Reverently and Defiantly, Czechs Honor Velvet Revolution’s Anniversary
In 1989, peaceful demonstrations toppled four decades of Communist rule in what was then Czechoslovakia. Twenty-five years later, the people of the democratic Czech Republic celebrated and reflected on this gentle revolution.
An Oral History of the March on Washington
The March on Washington in August of 1963 was about more than Martin Luther King’s stirring “I Have a Dream” speech. Find out first-hand what went into organizing it and what the experience was like.
Emancipation Proclamation
For many Americans during the Civil War, freedom began with the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. View and explore the Emancipation Proclamation at the National Archives.
Finishing the Dream
Great civil rights advances have been achieved in the United States, but there is still much to be done for the full equality of all. Explore this NBC site to learn about how far we’ve come and how far we have to go.
NAACP: A Century in the Fight for Freedom
The NAACP has worked from its founding over a hundred years ago to promote equal rights in the United States. Explore this multimedia exhibition from the Library of Congress to learn about the organization’s founders, history, and accomplishments.
What Democracy Means To Us Today
In 2015, the Magna Carta, one of the most important documents in English history, celebrated its 800th anniversary. The Magna Carta became the model for our own United States Constitution and Bill of Rights. Read about why we should never take a democratic society for granted, and explore the site to learn more.
“These Things Are My Father”: Letters Are All That’s Left Of Gulag Prisoners
During the mid-20th century, the Soviet Union (now Russia) held many prisoners in the gulag, a collection of forced-labor camps. Ordinary citizens who questioned the government might be taken away from their families and subjected to the harsh conditions of the gulag for decades. Read about what they left behind.
In northern Mali, music silenced as Islamists drive out artists
The west African nation of Mali stretches from arid desert to lush tropics and is home to rich cultural traditions in music, architecture, and ancient scholarship. Recently, though, its renowned musicians have faced threats that have sent them into hiding or across the globe in search of freedom.
Remembering Nina Simone as a Siren and Powerful Civil Rights Activist
Nina Simone was a popular pianist and jazz singer with an unmistakable voice. Some of her later songs are considered by many to be anthems of the civil rights movement. Read this brief introduction to Simone and listen to the two clips of her work.
The Legacy of Medgar Evers
Medgar Evers was a civil rights activist who fought racial discrimination in many forms. His murder in 1963 sparked national outrage that helped increase support for legislation that led to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Listen to this short piece about the lasting impact Evers’ life and work has had on his home state of Mississippi.
Maya Angelou’s Great Legacy
After the recent passing of Maya Angelou, the media was flooded with tributes, personal stories, and other works meant to honor her and her legacy. This tribute comes from Clarence G. Newsome, President of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
Woman with Down syndrome prevails over parents in guardianship case
People struggle for freedom and equal rights in many different ways. Jenny Hatch is a woman with Down syndrome who recently won the right to decide where and how she lives, after having had that right taken away from her for over a year.